Last Updated On July 9th, 2018
Whenever metal detectors are mentioned, people have different views on how they work. Some people associate metal detectors to the search of a lost coin or another compatible metal item. Others have linked metal detectors to the airport security or the search that is conducted during specific events. All the views are varied. Metal detector technology cannot be detached from our lives. It has a range of use from leisure, security and in discovering the hidden treasures. A consumer-oriented metal detector technology should have provisions for entertainment and safety. Metal detecting is a fascinating hobby, and everyone taking part in the activity needs to have upgraded equipment. In case you haven’t participated in the metal detector leisure activity, this article will enlighten you on how metal detector work and other additional tips concerning the equipment.
Components of a Metal Detector
To understand how metal detectors work, you need to familiarize with the essential elements. However, it is not always that the metal detectors have the same parts. Some have different components performing different functions. The following are the primary component for every metal detector.
- The shaft is the centrepiece of the metal detector and can be attached to different components. It can be adjusted to the desired and the comfortable height.
- The stabilizer is the attachment that makes the metal detector stable for use. It makes the metal detector stable as you move around during leisure or while looking for the hidden metal treasures.
- The control box is the most sensitive part of the metal detector. It is the control unit of the gadget. You get the battery, microprocessor, the speakers and readouts among other vital aspects for controlling the device.
- The usually round or elliptical antenna is located at the lower part. It is the carrier of the coils that are used to detect the metals.
How The Metal Detector Works?
Once you know all the components of the metal detector, its operation is easy. However, if you focus on the different equipment, metal detectors can be complicated. However, the principle behind how metal detectors work is elementary. As you stroll through the beach, the backyard or the field of your choice, you will come across the hidden metals. The metal detector over the ground sends an audio tone alert every time it comes across a buried metal under the field.
The metal detector transmits a magnetic field and analyses it as it returns to the ground from which the metal is detected. The electricity generates the coil works as a transmitter and the magnetic field it transmits in the loop and causes power to flow to the metallic object.
The second coil receives when the metallic object is struck. It relays the information on to the control box through the attached cable. The weak magnetic field is amplified on reaching the control box. The handset that comes with your metal detector sends a distinct alert sound and a needle movement. After the alert, you will figure out the kind of metal under the ground. Some metal detectors have a technology that identifies the metal by distinguishing its type.