Monday, January 26, 2009

Features You Need in a Portable Metal Detector

By Ann Triune

Like a regular metal detectors, a portable metal detector is made to find metal objects. However, the portable one is designed specifically for more personalized use such as searching for metal or weapons carried by people, clothes, bags, or other objects.

Portable metal detectors have sensitive surfaces and special shapes that make them easier to operate, move around, and transport. Their uses vary from detecting metal, live wires, or wood stud location at home, which is ideal for most home owners. They can also be used as body scanners in business areas.

There are two types of portable metal detectors. There are hand held devices and walk-through metal detectors. Hand held metal detectors are light and easy to carry, with a small pouch or a wrist strap. Walk-through metal detectors come in small bags. They are foldable and easy to set-up and can be functional within five minutes.

A list of the technical features in a portable metal detector includes the following:

- 9V battery power supply - Adjustable sensitivity - Battery life in continuous operation is maximum of 50 hours with NiMH batteries, and 150 hours with alkaline batteries - Built-in buzzer with high-intensity pulsed acoustic alarm - Indicator lamps for power on, alarm, and low battery charge - Operating temperature of 5 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 to 60 degrees Celsius) - Relative humidity at 0 to 95 percent - Shock-resistant - Three-position switch with visible or with audible and visible alarms - Vibration function to enable silent work - Weighs 1 lb (0.4 kg), more or less

The indicator light will flash if the metal detector battery is low or has insufficient voltage. Models with rechargeable batteries take four to six hours to charge. Fortunately, portable metal detectors do not consume too much energy when in use, so you do not need to charge everyday.

A metal detector is not designed to locate or pinpoint the location of metal objects or implants inside the body. There are other devices made to do that instead.

Portable metal detectors have indicator lights and sounds to alert you of its status. If the indicator light is green, this means the device is switched on. If it is amber, this means the battery is low, and you will need to recharge before it dies. If the light is red, this means it has detected metal. Some metal detectors vibrate or sound off. A metal detector cannot determine if an object is magnetic or not, though.

The portable metal detector should conform to the international standards applicable for electrical safety, EC regulations, and EMC. This is to make sure that the metal detector works properly and is not defective.

A portable metal detector operator does not need specialized training to use the device. It can be used for personal reasons such as fixing your home or searching for lost things, or for business reasons. These include uses in places that require tight security such as airports, banks, bars, businesses, courtrooms, malls, schools, and other public areas. - 15485

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