Common Ghost Hunting Tools

The following is a list of gear that people use while investigating paranormal activity. There’s just about no method to determine what piece of equipment will detect strange activity during an investigation, or when this activity will actually occur. Makes you wish they would make a “Ghost Finder Tool” then again because I can see them I kind of am that tool.

Audio recorders – Used for capturing “EVP”, or electronic voice phenomenon. EVP essentially consists of voices or other sounds that come out on the tape but weren’t audible at the time of the investigation. The hypothesis is that these vocalizations and sounds have a basis in the paranormal
Note: The objective is to capture unexplainable phenomenon, and to eliminate anything that may be naturally explainable. Voices of investigators, rustling from passing feet, distant noises such as automobiles, airplanes, mechanical noise from the recorder itself – these are all examples of things that must entirely be eliminated prior to any conclusion can be made of an actual occurrence of EVP.

Cameras – This had better actually be the starting point for any paranormal investigation. Many times objects will show up on film that wasn’t visible to the eye when the photo was taken.

Compass – A compass may be employed as an inexpensive alternative to an EMF meter. Unfortunately, while the EMF meter is a scientific instrument designed for the purpose of detecting and measuring these types of magnetic field disturbances, the use of a compass is a far more random way for measuring such activity.

EMF meter – Once again, all anomalous activity is believed to be composed of, created by, or associated with some form of measurable energy. EM or electro-magnetic energy is purported to be one of these types of energy.

Flashlights – Just one of the common sense tools to carry on any investigation. Carry one just in case, but also think about all the reasons not to use it, not the least of which is all the pictures and video frames that it will show up on, leading to possible false-positive evidence.

Thermometers – Thermometers of both the non-contact and ambient varieties are useful in identifying rapid temperature changes and cold spots, two types of phenomenon associated with paranormal activity. While non-contact thermometers are quite useful in detecting temperature drops on the horizontal plane 360° around the investigator, and perhaps at a trajectory of as high as 30-35° from horizontal, they are far less useful indoors, and almost worthless outdoors at a trajectory of above 40° from horizontal. Indoors, the non-contact thermometer will be almost completely unable to pick up on the ambient air temperature of a room, and will only register the average temperature of the closest solid surface directly in front of it. Outside, when aimed above 40° from horizontal, they will register false positive cold numbers that can dip as much as 50° below ambient, sometimes more. It is unknown why this phenomenon occurs, but non-contact thermometer users should be wary of these severe limitations.

Video cameras – Some video cameras are sensitive to infrared light and are able to pick up anomalous, activity that is not visible to the naked eye. Also, still pictures are useful for stop-action, but motion video can aid in the identification of unknown activity as natural or anomalous.