EMF Detectors Explained

All one has to do is watch any of the vast array of ghost-hunting shows available to know that various tools exist when investigating haunted locations. One of the most frequently harnessed is the EMF detector.

Wielded by everyone from Zak Bagans of Ghost Adventures to spectral sleuths on YouTube, EMF detectors are a widely used tool in the ghost-hunting community. Many models of these instruments are available, from complex tri-field versions to old-school single-field models. But what exactly do they do?

Read on to understand the inner workings behind these scientific tools and how to employ one to detect the presence of the dead.

Looking to pick up your own pocket-size device? Check out our signature EMF Detector, crafted by ghost hunters who value dependability, quality, and ease of use. It is just one fascinating ware among our collection of haunting novelties and top-quality ghost-hunting gear.

How Does an EMF Detector Work?

An electromagnetic field detector also called an EMF meter or EMF reader, contains an advanced sensor precisely designed to detect fluctuations in electromagnetic fields. Paranormal investigators and theorists believe that the presence of certain entities results in disturbances in these fields.

EMF meters locate these changes in electromagnetic fields, whether major or minor, rendering them an integral tool for many in the ghost-hunting community. 

What Is An EMF Detector?

EMF meters aren’t a tool used solely for ghost-hunting purposes. They’re also utilized in medical settings, industrial contexts, and other scientific scenarios. Fundamentally, an EMF reader detects electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in an environment. 

Electricians and industrial workers have carried these devices for years to alert them to possible electromagnetic radiation from power lines, cell towers, and other electronics. It wasn’t until 15 to 20 years ago that the paranormal community began adopting them for their own purposes. 

Electromagnetic fields exist all around us. Some are alternating current (AC) fields, like those stemming from electrical wiring and appliances, while others are direct current (DC) fields. DC fields emanate from the Earth itself and aren’t detected by EMF meters. To pick those up you’d need something known as a Gauss meter or a magnetometer.

EMF readers only locate AC fields. Fortunately, this is all that’s needed for ghostly detection. According to many enthusiasts, ghosts and spirits can cause fluctuations in electromagnetic fields. Whether they are purposefully interacting with them or unintentionally influencing them is unknown.

As these fields are not visible to the naked eye, variations are only discernible through certain tools, turning these fluctuations into measurements.  The strength of these magnetic fields is measured in milligauss (mG), representing 1/1000 of a gauss. A gauss is the standard unit for magnetic fields, but to detect minor fluctuations, a smaller measurement is needed. 

How To Use An EMF Detector for Ghost Hunting

Before setting out and assessing the environment with an EMF reader, it’s good to know what to look for and how to ensure you’re reading your device correctly.

To use your EMF detector for ghost-hunting, you’ll need to begin by determining a baseline for the environment you are investigating. This reading should always be taken at the start of any examination to establish a standard or normal reading for that area. 

To establish a baseline, you can read inside and outside the location. You may also walk around the area and record the lowest and highest readings you get. Take the average of these two numbers — this is the baseline.

Compare this to your base reading every time you see a surge or increase. Spikes that are more than 1.5 points above the baseline reading are considered significant. Many models will also delineate upticks in electromagnetic fields by lights ranging from green (to delineate low levels) to red (to indicate higher levels). 

Walk around slowly to see if you experience any changes in the electromagnetic field. Steadily move the reader in various positions to seek out changes in the environment. When you notice shifts or spikes in EMFs, follow them. Record your readings to find where the strongest sources are. 

To avoid false readings, keep your EMF meter a fair distance from digital and electrical devices emitting electromagnetic fields. Remember, you’re looking for ghosts, not faulty wiring. When you experience energy spikes, be sure to rule out other factors. Cell phones, electronics, and even wiring in the walls can be to blame for false readings. 

Lastly, feel free to use the EMF meter in conjunction with other items to get a more thorough reading of the area. 

Tips for Using an EMF Meter

That’s the essence of electromagnetic field detection. Some other tips and tricks for using an EMF reader in spirit investigations include: 

• Positioning — Begin by holding the EMF meter waist high, keeping it in front of you as you walk. Move the meter up, down, left, and right as needed. 
• Be Steady — Keep the device steady and upright, and maintain a slow pace as you walk around your chosen location. Rushed movements or excessively waving the detector around can result in inexact readings.  
• Bring Additional Tools — If you detect a presence, you may wish to confirm the company of a spirit with additional ghost-hunting tools. Consider nonelectrical instruments, like pendulums or dowsing rods, to avoid interference.  
• Be Safe — Steer clear of locations that are dangerous when ghost hunting and never trespass. EMF readers will not detect security guards or angry property owners.  

Origins of the EMF Reader

Enter an internet search for “who invented the EMF detector,” and you won’t find a simple answer. However, one of the first detectors used for otherworldly investigations, the K2 Meter, came on the market in the 1990s, originating in Central New York. Invented by Keith Tupper, it was originally intended for safety purposes. 

Ghost-hunting suppliers soon began purchasing the device, and by 2007, the TAPS team featured it on the show Ghost Hunters, elevating it to a new status. Additional versions, such as the MEL Meter, were made in subsequent years. 

The Mel-Meter 8704, which measures both EMF and temperature, was created by electrical engineer Gary Galka specifically for ghostly communication after Gary’s daughter tragically died in a car accident in 2004. 

The basic model was released in 2008, and Gary went on to create a further line of ghost-hunting devices, from rem pods to spirit boxes. Still sold today, these devices are on the costlier side of the equipment spectrum. Anyone seeking out high-quality instruments knows that the best ghost-hunting equipment is determined by balancing price and quality. 

Fortunately, modern EMF models have made this technology more affordable without compromising on design or quality. Our EMF Detector for ghost hunting was carefully crafted with spirit detection in mind, tested, and designed by paranormal investigators from some of America’s most haunted destinations. 

Electromagnetic field detectors are just one tool in our arsenal of ghost-hunting gear and spooky offerings. Look around to familiarize yourself with all our otherworldly merchandise, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok for new releases. 

Sources:

• https://anightamongghosts.com/articles/understanding-the-k2-meter-in-paranormal-investigations/ 
• https://www.scienceofgadgets.com/post/what-you-can-measure-with-an-electromagnetic-field-meter 
• https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central-ny/news/2020/10/22/-ghost-hunting–tools-created-in-central-new-york 
• https://gizmodo.com/meet-the-emf-meter-the-little-tool-that-ghost-hunters-5875212 
• https://theothersidetv.ca/ghost-hunting-resources/ghost-hunting-tips-tricks/electromagnetic-field-meters-emf/ 
• https://ghosthuntersequipment.com/blogs/the-ghost-gazette/the-story-of-the-authentic-k2-meter 
• https://fringeparanormal.wordpress.com/2020/10/08/the-sad-but-true-history-of-the-mel-meter/
• https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna47180620
• https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/the-science-behind-the-ghostbusters-pke-meter