Metal detectors are being used by different establishments and individuals nowadays. Because of its prominence, different types of detectors have already been created. Here are the three basic kinds of detectors based on the technology that it is employing:

– Very Low Frequency (VLF)
The Very Low Frequency (VLF) type of technology for metal detectors is the device that is composed of two sets of coils. Each of these sets is composed of the transmitter coil and the receiver coil. The term “very low frequency” is associated with the receiver coil.

The transmitter coil is the part of the VLF metal detector that is the one basically responsible for the detection of the metallic objects underneath the ground or somewhere else. The transmitter coil sends the alternating current that later produces the magnetic field upon contact with a metallic object. This is the part of the VLF metal detectors that is responsible for the push and pull movement of the device to the ground upon detection of metallic object.

On the other hand, the receiver coil still does the same action as the transmitter coil. However, it does not have the same intensity. Instead, this part is using a very low frequency current and magnetic field. After detection, it transmits the electric current and magnetic waves to the control box. The control box, then, will identify the kind of metallic object that is being detected and how deep it is on the ground.

– Pulse Induction (PI)
The technology of pulse induction (PI), on the other hand, is called as such because of the sudden burst or pulse that is created by the device. This kind of metal detector is composed of a single coil with a transmitter and receiver. At times, it may also be composed of 2 or 3 coils.

The mechanism involved in this kind technology is the production of current burst. The device produces short pulse that is being transmitted to the coil. This, in return, generates short magnetic field. In every burst and generation of magnetic field, the magnetic field reverses polarity. This will eventually collapse and will create electrical spike. This process then creates the reflected pulse that is necessary in the identification of a metallic object.

– Beat Frequency Oscillator (BFO)
The metal detectors that make use of the technology of beat frequency oscillator or BFO are similar in VLF detectors in a way that it uses two coils. The first coil in this kind of detector is found in the search head while the other coil is in the control box. The difference this device has compared to VLF detectors is the mechanism that it employs.

BFO detectors are those that make use of radio waves. The oscillator of this kind of device produces thousands of electric pulses when used. The coil in the search head receives these pulses and converts it into radio waves. The radio wave frequencies are then submitted to the control box where it produces clear tone. The tone changes when the detector interacts with a metallic object due to the magnetic field that has been created through the interaction of electric current and magnet. This is the reason why the device would be able to detect a metallic object.

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