Security Metal Detectors Are a Sound Investment

In essence, metal detectors are simply devices which utilize electromagnetic induction to detect metal. The basic forms of this technology consist of an oscillator and a coil. The oscillator produces an alternating current that passes through the coil, which in turn produces an alternating magnetic field. If a piece of metal is near the coil, the eddy currents in the metal will be induced. In other words, these devices are able to detect the presence of metal even when you can't see it.

The first metal detectors were used primarily for mining and other industrial applications. Today, the technology has been appropriated for security uses on several different fronts. Metal detectors are capable of tracking land mines for the military, and are used more broadly by civilians to detect guns and knives in airport security or preceding a large event with many spectators.

There are several different models of Security Metal Detectors available. These range from handheld detectors to the sophisticated walkthrough systems used in airports.

Handheld detectors are typically wands that can be used to manually scan a person's body and detect if anything metal is being concealed. This kind of system is more likely to be employed at a concert or festival, in a venue that doesn't necessarily have a built-in security tags System.

Typically handheld wands are used if the expense of walkthrough detectors is unwarranted. Wands are battery-operated and signify the detection of metal by either a flashing red light or a light beeping sound. Occasionally, handheld detectors are used as a complement to walkthrough devices, to provide a second scan or someone who triggers the walkthrough device.

Handheld devices can be rented in many cases. If you go this route, you often have the option of hiring security personnel to set up the detectors and/or perform the screening during the event, if you so desire. Generally, if the patrons are prepared beforehand, this is a fairly efficient process that goes quickly.

The easiest, most convenient to use security screening devices, however, are walkthrough metal detectors. Though wand metal detectors are more affordable, they are harder on the operators who must bend to wave the wand up and down the body of each person. While practiced personnel can do this quite efficiently, it still slows down mass entry compared to a walkthrough detector.

Walkthrough detectors allow the personnel to simply watch for an alarm. As the person walks through, if the system detects metal it sounds an audible alarm. The drawback to this system, as many airport patrons have grumbled, is that other metallic items such as belt buckles, wallet chains and keys also set off the alarm. To adapt to this, patrons need to remove these items beforehand and pass through the detector without any metal. Plastic trays are often provided to hold any item that might trigger the alarm.

Generally if you buy or rent either a handheld or a walkthrough detector, everything you need to operate it successfully will be included. And once you have it set up, running the detectors is a pretty easy process. These systems also allow the user to adjust the sensitivity of the detector by following a few easy steps.

Sometimes people have questions as to whether interference will be caused if multiple detectors are used near one another. The simple answer to that is no. Multiple detectors can operate in a close proximity without interference.