Facts about Metal detectors and buying guide for metal detectors
If you mention the words metal detector to people, you will surely get different reactions, and this is because people see the use metal detectors in a variety of ways. For example, it is usual for airport security personnel to use handheld scanners on passengers and it is common for the safety guards to comb spectators' bodies before the concert. For people who frequent the beaches, they can also imagine people searching the sand with their metal detectors trying to find lost coins or jewelry that fall off from the bathers. Since all these events are usual, this makes metal detecting technology a big part of our daily lives.
But how do metal detectors work that they can be able to sense any objects made up of metal? We can only focus on consumer metal detectors although the information can also apply to larger metal detectors like the mounted detection systems we usually encounter on airports.
A typical metal detector that is light-weight can compose of only a few parts. and these are the following:
1. Stabilizer. Although some metal detectors do not have this part, this part is used to keep the unit stable so that when you sweep the head of the metal detector sideways or back and forth the whole equipment remains stable.
2. Control box. This contains the circuitry, batteries, controls, speaker and the microprocessor.
3. Shaft. This serves as the body of the equipment, and it connects the control box and the coil so it has a telescopic or adjustable stem that can be set to a more comfortable level for the user.
4. Search coil. This is the loop where actual metal detecting occurs. It is also known as the antenna, loop or search head.
5. Some metal detectors(detectorly.com/) have a jack for connecting headphones while other models have small LCD units on top of the control box, but this is optional.
Now this is how metal detecting happens. When you turn the unit on an audible signal occurs. The signal occurs because the current moves through the transmitter coil which creates an electromagnetic field in the search coil just like what happens when electricity runs on an electric motor. Since the polarity of the magnetic field is perpendicular to the coil, each time you move the head the current also changes in direction thus the polarity of the magnetic field also changes.
When you move the head of the equipment back and forth, the coil becomes parallel to the ground, so the magnetic field that is in the coil will be pushed down into the ground while the objects on the ground which also have magnetic fields pulses back their magnetic fields towards the coil. When there are pulses of pushing, and pulling back of magnetic fields, there is the creation of force because of the interaction of the magnetic fields of both the metallic objects that are beneath the coil and the magnetic field that is in the coil. Since the polarity of the objects that is beneath the ground is opposite with the polarity released by the magnetic field of the transmitter's coil, the magnetic field of the antenna's coil will be pushed downward while the object's magnetic field will be pulsing upward and this creates the signals from the speakers. Since different objects have different magnetic fields, the microprocessor on the equipment sense this, so it releases different signals based from how it was programmed on the machine's software and this is basically how the system of metal detecting works.
There are already many individuals who have their metal detectors. There are some who uses this device for detecting metallic objects just for fun and leisure. on the other hand, miners and treasure hunters make use of the same device to identify treasures and other metallic objects that are hidden underneath the ground and water. Nowadays, malls and other buildings are already using the same gadget. This is to detect and identify if a metallic object such as knives, guns, and similar objects have already entered their premises. Lastly, different members of the armed forces are already equipped with the same device. They are using such instrument, on the other hand, to identify land mines that are hidden underneath.
As we can see, there are already various uses for metal detectors and many sectors are already using it for their own purposes. But, do you already know how this specific gadget works and why it produces the detection that it is presenting to us as we use it?
Metal detectors are run by electric currents and magnetic field. To be able to understand how it works, we need to identify first the parts that enable it to perform its duties. It is typically composed of single or multiple coils. These coils consist of the transmitter and receiver coils. The antenna coil is the one responsible for creating the electric current which later produces the magnetic field. On the other hand, the receiver coil is the one responsible for identifying the depth and kind of metal that is being detected by the device.
Because of this technology, many industries and activities benefit from it. Malls and building benefit from this technology because they would be able to identify if harmful objects and equipment have already entered their premises. This is also true for private institutions and schools. There are also some industries that use this device. An example for this is the food processing industry. They make use of metal detectors so that they can identify if there are metallic objects that have been combined in their processed food. The metallic objects should be eliminated so that food poisoning can be avoided. Lastly, miners and even ordinary people use this same technology to detect treasures and other metallic objects that are hidden underneath the ground.
There are many uses of the metal detectors if we just want to enumerate more about its benefits and uses. However, we still need to keep in mind that the full advantages of this device would be fully enjoyed when the right device is being used. The right detector is identified by the manufacturer that offers it. If you want to have your metal detector for whatever reason you may have, it is important to remember that you have to choose a right provider. To be able to find one, you must read some reviews first about an individual product so that you can be confident about the services that you will be receiving later on.
