How do metal detectors work?

Metal detectors are very useful tools, which have been used for more than 100 years for multiple purposes. Its use seems to be increasingly simple and practical. But do we really know how a metal detector works?

This answer implies a complete explanation. While it is known that there are metal detectors for various environments and different purposes, we will see how the internal functioning of these devices is. 

In this article we will see, in detail, the process of metal detectors; to know how your metal detector works every time you go on a treasure hunters. In addition to this, we will see the technology they apply to work in any terrain such as the sea, swamps among others. And some basic terms so you can get more and more familiar with metal detectors.

Metal detector mechanism

All metal detectors comply with the same basic structure as explained below.

The simplest way to explain it is as follows: an electromagnetic field is generated from the coil of the metal detector to the site being explored, understanding any type of terrain.

Once this electromagnetic field has been sent to a certain point, if there is a metal, it becomes energized and sends, in response, its own electromagnetic field. This "communication" that exists between the detector coil and the detect metal allows this retransmission to create an alert that captures the metal detector and with it will emit a sound.

Now, perhaps with a more technical word is the dock all metal detectors have a three-docks mechanism consisting of a central dock that becomes an electric current transmitter that generates the electric field.

The other two docks that are in the outermost zone generate a balanced system since they are the electromagnetic field receivers that will cancel the current signals according to the position in which they are located. The end result is an magnetism and electricity field and once the object being searched goes through the electromagnetic field, which has created the metal detector, it will break into that field and so the alarm will automatically sound.

There are many types of metal detectors that, according to their advances in technology, are capable of being configured to perceive a certain electromagnetic wave. However, all detectors always comply with this basic operation. The key to the metal detector is in the type of coil that is used to do the search, since its size and type of composition will determine the effectiveness in the metal search.

Invention of the metal detector

Did you know that one of the first prototypes and designs of metal detectors was made by renowned inventor Alexander Graham Bell? Yes, even if you don't believe it, it's totally true.

The first device was designed in 1881 in order to locate a bullet that was housed in the body of the president of the United States James Garfield. The device was developed in a short time since Graham Bell wanted to save the president's life, after he had suffered an attack that ended up taking his life days later.

While it was a valuable act of the inventor, the surgeon doctors of President James did not believe his function was possible. However, when performing the first test the invention gave excellent results, when testing it on the president's body, the device gave some slight signs of metal arrest. However, both the mattress and the bed were made of metal and this interfered with the correct detection of the bullet. Alexander Graham Bell requested that the body be moved to a metal-free space and that request was denied.

It is absolutely true that from 1881 to the present time the mechanism of metal detectors has been perfected, although its procedure remains essentially the same. Now there are metal detectors that can, without any problem, ignore all noise interventions and determine what exactly you want to find.  

Parts of a metal detector

Finally, we bring a brief explanation about the parts of a metal detector. It is very important to know the general parts of a metal detector, although this structure is basic, some metal detectors may have variations in terms of technology or development of the parts, but in essence it should always contain the same elements:

Dish: it is the part of the metal detector that is closest to the terrain to be explored. That is why it is who sends the signal from the electromagnetic field and is also the element that receives it.

Control box: it is a space where all the circuits of a metal detector are, in it the magic is performed. This control box performs the electromagnetic field and receives the signals to emit the alarm.

Battery: obviously known is the part of the device that makes it work, not all metal detectors have the same type of voltage for their detector, the variation will depend on the levels of exploration that can reach.

In addition to these elements, you should also know that there are some basic terms that it is important that you know, for example:

Discrimination: refers to everything that the metal detector rejects according to a search criteria, some detectors already have a pre-established discrimination, while others have the ability to define what type of search is intended. There are at least 4 known forms of discrimination.

Soil mineralization: this term refers to the high or low amount of minerals that are naturally found in the soil and that may or may not interfere in the search for metals.

Land balance: it is a configuration that can be done in various ways to establish a level of land mineralization. With this it is expected that the mineralization of the soil is concentrated at a lower level and then the metal detector has the ability to find small objects in any environment in which it is located.

Objective: it is what is sought, that is, it is the object that is intended to be found by means of the metal detector. Depending on the orientation, shape and position in which the objective is, its finding may be more difficult.

All the elements of a metal detector are basic so that it can work well, after determining the objective and making a correct discrimination of the land to explore you can have a successful finding, so do not hesitate to try.

Depending on the mechanism of the metal detector is that they can be low frequency, multifrequency or pulses.

If you want more information about the ideal metal detector for your search, do not hesitate to contact us at WhatsApp +1786-909-3320 that our expert team is willing to help you.

In Detector Power we have a wide variety of metal detectors, that are trained to distinguish various types of metals. If you are interested in getting a metal detector that fits your interests do not hesitate to visit our page and find the detector that best suits to your needs.