The
Haunted Playground teams uses all sorts of fascinating equipment
to gather data on our hunts. In the weeks to come, we'll be
posting more and more data clips for you to enjoy.
Though
we have many terrific investigative instruments, we don't
have all of these terrific toys below! That being said, we
wanted to touch on some of our favorites. (You can check out
the EVP page for audio equipment suggestions.)
For those of you who are looking to either upgrade or acquire
new ghost hunting tools, here are some of the equipment types
used in paranormal investigative efforts.
Night
Vision Cameras
If you watch any paranormal
TV, particularly Most Haunted or Ghost Hunters, you are most
likely pretty familiar with night vision, or infrared cameras
by now. The reflection of the infrared beams through the dilated
iris is what make the TV hosts and investigators appear to
have "glowing" eyes.
The
human eye sees electromagnetic radiation in the 380 to 760
nm band as visible light. Energy at the short end of the visible
spectrum 380 - 450 nm is violet, blue 450 - 490 nm, green
490 - 560 nm, orange 590 - 630 nm. While the longest visible
waves 630 - 780 nm appear red. As you go toward 905nm infrared
radiation it becomes invisible to the eyes, but you could
sense it with your skin. Anything that is warmer than its
surroundings emits infrared rays.
If
you are working with Night Visions cameras, it's important
to know where they are located, or where they point. Not knowing
when an invisible IR light source is on you can be tricky,
as you will always be tempted to look toward the IR LED. Viewing
up close near the IR-invisible LEDs with only a quarter of
one watt of power to them will destroy your eyes if you stare
into them, so be at least 3 feet away, or be sure not to stare
straight into them!
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Thermal Cameras
One
of the greatest ghost hunting tools ever -- the thermal camera!
It is widely known that paranormal phenomenon tends to draw
energy out of the surrounding environment to manifest and
/ or occupy a space, leaving the surrounding space cooler,
creating a "cold spot".
Using
a thermal camera, an investigator can then document the "image"
of the cold or warm spot, and often times, capturing the image
of the paranormal source.
Thermography
measures surface temperatures by using infrared video and
still cameras. These tools see light that is in the heat spectrum.
Images on the video or film record the temperature variations
of the object's skin, ranging from white for extremely warm
regions to black for cooler areas.
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EMF and other Energy Detectors
EMF
stand for Electro-Magntic Field, and it is this field is often
times the calling card for paranormal activity. Spirit life
literally exists on a different wave-length, and this vibrational
"dimension" tends to disturb ours via placing ripples
in the Electro-Magnetic field. Ergo, catch a ripple in the
field, and you're closer to catching a ghost!
There
are earthbound items that create EMF fields as well, such
as anything electrical -- wires in a wall, electrical outlets,
or even old cast iron plumbing! . So before you decide you've
bagged the biggest ghost of all time -- look around and make
sure that you're not standing right next to the washer and
dryer! Because of the 220 Watt dryer outlet giving off an
unusually high amounts of EMF, more people experience a "creepy,
being watched" feeling while in the laundry room! Yes,
folks, our bodies are EMF detectors. Where do you think the
term "Hair standing up on the back of your neck"
came from?
These
are a few great detectors to check out. If you enjoy what
you see, there is a much greater selection for purchase online
at Paranormal
Investigation Outfitters.
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(Recommended for
Beginners!) GAUSSMASTER: This meter offers an easy-to-read
analog scale, a unique built-in audio signal and an auto
shut off switch when not picking up energy changes. It's
hand-held, lightweight and easy to use in both light and
dark locations. |
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TRI-FIELD
METER: This device combines magnetic and electric readings
in one unit for fast and accurate measurements. It has
been adapted for paranormal research for several years
and can be used by hand in taking readings of locations.
A much higher sensitivity than other meters. |
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ION
DETECTOR: This device can be adjusted to measure positive,
or in paranormal investigation cases, negative ions separately.
The ions in the air will measure a high disturbance when
spirit energy is present. Also detects radiation, electrical
storms and radon -- perfect for field work. |
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MONITOR
4: GEIGER COUNTER This device measures Alpha, Beta, Gamma
and X-ray radiation and like other devices of this type,
searches for fluctuations in radiation which will point
to a disturbance in spirit energy. It can also be used
to check background levels of radiation in a location
and uses a Geiger Mueller tube with a mica window. |
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REMOTE
IR THERMAL PROBE-METER (THERMAL SCANNER) This thermal
scanner is pocket-sized and measures temperatures down
to 0 degrees with amazing accuracy. Essential in investigations
for measuring extreme changes in temperature and paranormal
activity. |
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IR
THERMOMETER WITH TYPE K PROBE: Measures temperature remotely
and, most importantly, locally! Combines a high resolution
IR non-contact thermometer for checking temps at a distance
with a probe that measures air, surface or internal temperatures
at the location of the meter. |
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LED
Clip Light: This is handy if the EMF meter screen is not
back-lit --- or an investigator just needs to be able
to take notes on his clipboard in the dark. The large
clip holds onto hats, pockets and clipboards. Inc ase
you drop your keys in the dark, you're covered. |
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Clairvoyant
Danielle and Sensitive Tammy
Unlike
many paranormal research groups who believe that tapping the
abilities of Clairvoyants and Sensitives on an investigation
undermines the scientific validity of the findings, we don't
subscribe to that mentality. To us, that would be like saying
if a doctor gives you antibiotics, then you really aren't
getting better -- it's just the medicine. Or if the hunting
dog flushed the bird out of the bush, and the hunter makes
a kill, the kill then doesn't count since it was the dog that
found the duck. It JUST doesn't make much sense.
Danielle
and Tammy have been utilized by our team to point us in the
direction of some incredible hotspots that we were then able
to apply our equipment in order to document the presence of
paranormal activity. We use and abuse these two with reckless
abandon, and they keep coming back for more. Tammy and Danielle
are our spiritual hunting dogs. If it's hiding, they'll find
it.
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