What Frequency Is Best For Metal Detectors

When you think about metal detectors, you most likely remember the handheld scanners at a sporting event, concert, or the airport. And whereas this is true, the metal detector is a useful appliance that is useful across many other uses, from safety to leisure.

You can use the metal detector to find a broad range of metals, including coins, artifacts, relics, gold, silver, and jewelry.

For this reason, they are a common sight in schools, office buildings, government agencies, and prisons to make sure nobody is carrying a concealed weapon.

With that said, what is the ideal frequency do metal detectors work best? This must be a question you are asking yourself if you want to buy a metal detector, thereby know whether it is a viable option.

What Frequency Is Best For Metal Detectors

How Do Metal Detectors Work?

Before you are taken through what frequency is best for metal detectors, it is vital first to learn how these gadgets work.

Installed inside the metal detector is a stabilizer, shaft, control box, and search coil, all of which work together to help you detect metallic items. You will also find a jack in many of the systems where you can connect your headphones.

Metal detectors use three technologies to help you in your search for metal. These are;

  • Pulse induction (PI)
  • Very low frequency (VLF)
  • Best-frequency oscillation (BFO)

Using the technology found on metal detectors creates an electromagnetic field that allows you to find an item that conducts electricity after the magnetic field is sensed. When this happens, the metal detector produces the beeping sound many people usually associate it with.

The less expensive metal detectors can only find items that are not that far from the surface, typically around one foot. Nonetheless, the costlier models can find metal buried deeper, with even more advanced types able to specify the type of metal underneath the surface.


Which is The Ideal Frequency Mean In Metal Detecting?

Frequency refers to the number of waves for each unit of time, and it’s measured in kilohertz or kHz. It’s this number of electronic waves that the metal detector sends to the ground to sense metal.

The standard frequency for metal detector lies within the 3 to the 100-kilohertz range. This applies both to the beat frequency oscillator and the pulse induction kind of metal detectors.

Gold detectors are often known for operating at greater frequencies due to gold’s low conductive properties. Such detectors produce frequencies in the range of 45 to 61 Khz, much higher than that of hobby metal detectors of between 6.5 to 14 Khz.

There are two types of the frequency produced by metal detectors; high frequency and short frequency. But which of this is best placed for the metal detector?

Low Frequency

Low frequency is characterized by longer wavelength, and the metal detectors which produce this are not ideal at locating smaller items. They also are not suitable for finding low conductivity metals, including iron and gold.

However, when searching for highly conductive objects such as silver, low-frequency metal detectors are ideal. Furthermore, they are excellent for searching great depths so long the waves enter the ground with ease.


High Frequency

Metal detectors that generated high frequency as best suited for searching for tiny items such as small gold nuggets. You should also opt for them when searching for metals such as gold and iron since they have low conductivity. High frequency is usually characterized by shorter wavelengths.

It’s recommended to get a metal detector with high frequency as they guarantee greater accuracy nearer the surface. This is because they achieve less depth compared to low-frequency detectors and have greater sensitivity to ground mineralization interference.

Verdict

The perfect frequency recommended for the best metal detectors should ideally incorporate both low and high frequency. This should be between 6 to 8Khz as it provides you with both sensitivity and great depth.

There are other metal detectors which allow you to set the desired frequency. You can also find others that produce numerous frequencies simultaneously.

Types of Frequencies Found on Metal Detectors

There are two types of frequencies found on metal detectors. These are;

  • Single-frequency operation: This frequency only has frequency selection and is often found on the entry-level metal detectors. It is also referred to as a continuous wave.
  • Dual or Multiple Frequency operation: Other metal detectors produce more than one frequency simultaneously. This unique technology is referred to as full brand spectrum frequency technology, and it allows you to get the best accuracy and depth at the same time.

Conclusion

Metal detectors are, no doubt, outstanding innovations and can be used for different purposes. This article has offered you all the valuable insights if you desired to know what frequency is best for metal detectors.