OKM Pulse Nova
W-9 and vendor pack with every quote
Shipped direct from the manufacturer
A high voltage pulse induction detector shipping with two coil sizes, in your choice of open Delta or closed Omega design. The control unit is rated IP40, not waterproof, and OKM's own product page marks this model discontinued.
01
Delta and Omega are different coil shapes, not colors, and OKM rates them functionally identical
Delta and Omega are two different coil designs, not a paint choice. OKM's product page calls Delta an open search coil, lighter and easier to sweep through shallow water, favored by militaria hunters. Omega is a solid plate coil, a closed face that will not snag on stones or brush, favored by gold prospectors on stony ground. OKM's manual backs the equivalence claim: its spec tables list one shared technology line for each coil size, Delta and Omega together, with no separate performance figures for either shape. Choose the shape that fits your ground; there is no spec sheet difference to choose by. OKM's own page frames the coil design, Delta or Omega, as matching whichever variant is ordered. Call +1 888 850 6533, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Mountain Time, and we will confirm exactly which coils ship with your order before you buy.
OKM's own introduction to the Pulse Nova
OKM's own launch film for the Pulse Nova, from the OKM Detectors YouTube channel, embedded in the video slider on OKM's own product page.
02
Every order ships two coil sizes, an 18 cm one for surface finds and a 38 cm one for standard sweeps
The base kit ships one 18 cm coil and one 38 cm coil, in the Delta or Omega shape matching your variant. OKM's manual calls the 38 cm coil built for standard purposes and the 18 cm coil built to detect small objects near the surface. Both run the same technology, a Bifilar Mono Coil using High Voltage Pulse Induction. The 38 cm coil measures 375 mm across, 45 mm tall, approximately 0.80 kg, on a 1.50 m cable. The 18 cm coil measures 175 mm across, the same height, approximately 0.38 kg, on the same length of cable. Both coils are rated waterproof, unlike the control unit. A larger option exists for buyers who need more reach. OKM's Frame Coil Xi104 is a separate, optional accessory, not included in the box, compatible exclusively with the Pulse Nova system. It covers approximately 1 square meter, assembles to 1040 by 1040 by 60 mm, and weighs approximately 2.35 kg without its shipping tube or 3.26 kg with it. You carry it on straps rather than the telescopic rod, for larger objects and greater depth than either search coil reaches alone. Whether My Surveying Direct stocks the Xi104 as a separate line is not stated here. Call +1 888 850 6533 to ask.
03
The control unit is rated IP40, and OKM says plainly it is not waterproof
The control unit weighs 0.64 kg on its own, before the telescopic rod at 0.90 kg or either search coil. It measures 180 by 115 by 70 mm and runs on 4.8 to 20 V DC, drawing up to 3.16 A, 20 W maximum. OKM rates it IP40, and the manual states the limit outright: the unit is not weather or water proof, and moisture inside the electronics can destroy it. That rating covers the control unit only; both search coils carry their own, higher waterproof rating, so you can sweep them through shallow water even though the housing in your hand cannot get wet. A full charge runs approximately 8 hours at 25 degrees Celsius, OKM's own medial figure, with slight unit to unit variation possible. Recharging takes approximately 3 hours at 19 V. The control unit operates between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius and survives storage between minus 20 and 70 degrees Celsius. Feedback comes through an internal speaker or through wired or Bluetooth headphones. The manual is explicit that a search coil's own waterproofing does not extend to its cable connectors: keep those out of water even when the coil is submerged.
04
Ground balancing is mostly automatic, and pinpointing and the sweep pattern are skills you bring
Two knobs run the Pulse Nova in the field. The sensitivity knob sets how deep the coil reaches; push it higher and you find deeper objects, at the cost of more noise from nearby metal. The volume knob sets acoustic output and doubles as the trigger for Bluetooth pairing. Ground balancing is mandatory and mostly automatic, though the manual has you push and hold the sensitivity knob until the detector goes silent whenever a signal starts to flutter or the ground changes. Pinpointing and sweeping stay manual technique: three sweep positions, roughly 90 degrees apart, narrow down exactly where a target sits. The sweep runs about one second from side to side, coil held close to the ground at a constant height, each pass overlapping the last by at least half the coil's width. Bluetooth headphones pair over A2DP, the standard audio profile, using either the SBC codec or the faster aptX LL codec; pairing disables the internal speaker but leaves the wired headphone socket live. An LED flashlight clips onto the telescopic rod for what the manual calls night searches or investigations in dark rooms or chambers.
05
OKM's own air-test table gives four conditioned depths, and the up to 3 m figure on the box is not one of them
OKM's manual publishes its depths as air tests, not soil tests, and says so directly: object depths according to measuring in air. Varying soils and layers within the soil change a pulse induction detector's real depth, because its range shifts with the ground's magnetic permeability. The four figures below are what OKM actually measured, each against a stated object and coil. A 5 mm gold nugget: 18 cm with the 18 cm coil, 17 cm with the 38 cm coil. A 22 mm gold ring: 17 cm with the 18 cm coil, 34 cm with the 38 cm coil. A 0.5 liter beverage can: 65 cm with the 18 cm coil, 110 cm with the 38 cm coil, 155 cm with the Frame Coil Xi104. A steel barrel built to DIN EN 210: 115 cm with the 18 cm coil, 180 cm with the 38 cm coil, 310 cm with the Frame Coil Xi104. None of that is where the 3 m figure on the box comes from. OKM's product page and multiple dealer listings separately advertise a detection depth of up to 3 m, 9.8 ft, with no test object, coil or ground condition attached anywhere it appears. That number is not a specification. The tested figures above, each tied to a target object and a coil, are what OKM actually documents under test conditions, and they are the ones to plan a search around, not the number on the box.
OKM's own depth demonstration
OKM's own film on the Pulse Nova's depth performance, from the OKM Detectors YouTube channel, embedded in the video slider on OKM's own product page. The manual's own air-test depth table above supplies the conditioned depth figures on this page; the film does not.
06
OKM's manual carries a direct warning: buried ordnance from old conflicts can still be live
OKM's manual devotes a full warning section to what happens when a signal turns out to be old ordnance rather than a coin. Ground in many former conflict zones still holds buried relics from two world wars, and the manual is direct: do not dig or hack at a signal. A reddish color near the surface can mean rust traces, and curved or round shapes, buttons, rings, pegs, or anything resembling ammunition, bullets or shells, should not be touched or moved; old fuses have rusted over time and the slightest movement can break and trigger them, and moving cartridges or ammunition can create friction from the crystals inside and set them off. Mark the spot, leave it as found, and report it to the police. Used properly, OKM states the Pulse Nova normally poses no health hazard: its signals run at high frequency but low power, not harmful to the body under current scientific knowledge. Keep it roughly 50 meters, 150 feet, from large electric motors or unshielded loudspeakers. Never run it from a 115 or 230 volt mains supply directly; use only OKM's own chargers and batteries. A built in anti-tampering module destroys the control unit if it is opened improperly, and there are no parts inside for a user to service. OKM's warranty does not cover damage from accident, neglect or abuse, including dropping the unit in water, using it in rain, or leaving it exposed to heat and damp; recharge the battery every three months when the unit sits idle.
07 FOR UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
OKM's own product page marks the Pulse Nova discontinued, and we will confirm availability before you order
OKM's product page carries a standing notice: this product is no longer manufactured, and names the OKM Evolution NTX as its replacement. Call +1 888 850 6533, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Mountain Time, and we will confirm current manufacturer availability before you order, and point you to the Evolution NTX if that is where OKM has actually moved. My Surveying Direct is an authorized OKM dealer and ships the Pulse Nova direct from the manufacturer. We take purchase orders from universities, colleges and government agencies. Call the same number for a quote, a W-9, or help choosing between the Delta and Omega shape for your ground.
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REFERENCE
Specifications
Control unit
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 180 x 115 x 70 mm |
| Weight | 0.64 kg |
| Input (max) | 4.8-20 V DC, 3.16 A, 20 W |
| Safety class | IP40 |
| Operating time | Approx. 8 hours, fully charged, at 25 degrees C |
| Charging time | Approx. 3 hours at 19 V |
| Feedback | Acoustic (internal speaker, or Bluetooth/wired headphones) |
| Operating temperature | 0 to 40 degrees C |
| Storage temperature | -20 to 70 degrees C |
| Waterproof | No. The manual states plainly: "The unit is not weather or water proof, moisture within the electronics can destroy the unit" |
Coil technology and the Delta/Omega variant distinction
| What Delta and Omega mean | Delta and Omega are genuinely different coil designs, not a cosmetic or color choice. OKM's own product page describes Delta as "open search coils," preferred by militaria prospectors working in the field and in shallow water because they are lighter and easier to handle underwater; Omega as "solid plate coils," suited to stony ground because the closed face does not snag on stones or brush, and favored by experienced natural gold prospectors |
| Functional equivalence | OKM's own product page states Delta and Omega offer identical range and functionality; the manual's spec tables list one set of dimensions and one technology line for each size, shared across both variants ("Search Coil DELTA38 / OMEGA38" and "Search Coil DELTA18 / OMEGA18") |
| 38 cm coil (Delta38 or Omega38) | Diameter 375 mm, height 45 mm, cable length approx. 1.50 m, weight approx. 0.80 kg, Bifilar Mono Coil High Voltage Pulse Induction, waterproof: Yes |
| 18 cm coil (Delta18 or Omega18) | Diameter 175 mm, height 45 mm, cable length approx. 1.50 m, weight approx. 0.38 kg, Bifilar Mono Coil High Voltage Pulse Induction, waterproof: Yes |
| 38 cm coil purpose | The manual describes the 38 cm coil as being "for standard purposes" and the 18 cm coil as being "to detect small objects near the ground surface" |
| Frame Coil Xi104 (optional accessory, not included) | Mono Coil, High Voltage Pulse Induction, approx. 1 sq m coverage. Disassembled Ć 130 x 1120 mm, assembled 1040 x 1040 x 60 mm. Weight approx. 3.26 kg with its shipping tube, 2.35 kg without. Waterproof: No. Used without the telescopic rod, carried on straps by one or two people, for larger objects and greater search depths than either search coil |
| Frame Coil Xi104 compatibility | OKM's own accessory page states it is compatible exclusively with the Pulse Nova system |
Controls and operating modes
| Sensitivity knob | Regulates search coil sensitivity; higher sensitivity finds deeper objects but increases noise and disturbance from nearby metal |
| Volume knob | Regulates acoustic output volume; also used to trigger Bluetooth headphone pairing |
| Ground balancing | Mandatory for proper operation. Mostly automatic; the remainder is applied by pushing and holding the Sensitivity Knob until the detector goes silent. The manual recommends repeating this "when the sound signals of the metal detector are getting noisy and start to flutter" or when ground conditions change |
| Pinpointing | Manual procedure: sweep the coil from a first position across the anomaly, then from a second position at roughly 90 degrees, repeating from a third position if necessary, to establish the target's location and extent |
| Sweep technique | The manual specifies an approx. 1-second sweep from side to side, coil kept close to the ground and at constant height, each pass overlapping the last by at least half the loop's width |
| Bluetooth headphones | Compatible with any Bluetooth headphones supporting A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) with either SBC or aptX LL (Low Latency) codec. Pairs to the Control Unit via the Volume Knob; connecting Bluetooth headphones disables the internal speaker but not the wired headphone socket |
| LED flashlight | Attaches to the telescopic rod via a mounting plate and rubber band; described by the manual as helpful "for night searches or investigations in dark rooms or chambers" |
Detection depth (manufacturer's air-test table, not a field guarantee)
| Test condition | OKM's own manual states these are air tests ("object depths according to measuring in air"), not soil tests, and that "varying soils and layers within the soil will also affect the ultimate depth of the detector" and that a pulse induction detector's effective depth changes with the ground's magnetic permeability. Actual field depth is not this table |
| Gold nugget, 5 mm | 18 cm (Delta18/Omega18 coil), 17 cm (Delta38/Omega38 coil) |
| Gold ring, 22 mm | 17 cm (18 cm coil), 34 cm (38 cm coil) |
| Beverage can, 0.5 L | 65 cm (18 cm coil), 110 cm (38 cm coil), 155 cm (Frame Coil Xi104) |
| Steel barrel (DIN EN 210) | 115 cm (18 cm coil), 180 cm (38 cm coil), 310 cm (Frame Coil Xi104) |
| Unconditioned marketing figure | OKM's own product page advertises a "detection depth of up to 3 m (9.8 ft)" figure, with no test object, coil, or ground condition stated anywhere it appears. That number is not a specification: the tested figures above, each tied to a target object and a coil, are what OKM documents under test conditions. |
Safety and cautions (from the manual)
| Danger of explosion during excavation | OKM's manual carries a dedicated warning section, quoted in full: "Unfortunately, the last two world wars also made the ground in many places of the world a potentially explosive scrap heap. A host of those lethal relics are still buried in the ground. Do not start digging and hacking for an object wildly when you receive a signal of a piece of metal from your device. Firstly, you might indeed cause irreparable damage to a truly rare find, and secondly, there is a chance that the object reacts in an insulted way and strikes back. Note the color of the ground close to the surface. A red or reddish color of the ground is an indicator of rust traces. As regards to the finds themselves, you should definitely pay attention to their shape. Curved or round objects should be a sign of alarm, especially if buttons, rings or little pegs can be identified. The same applies to recognizable ammunition or bullets and shells. Leave ammunition where it is, do not touch it and, most importantly, do not take any of it home with you. The devices of war made use of rocker fuses, acid fuses and ball fuses. Those components have been rusting away in the course of time, and the slightest movement may cause parts of them to break and be triggered. Even seemingly harmless objects such as cartridges or large ammunition are anything but that. Moving such an object may cause those crystals to produce friction, leading to an explosion. If you come across such relics, mark the place and do not fail to report the find to the police. Such objects always pose a danger to the life of hikers, walkers, farmers, children and animals." |
| Anti-tampering | "The device has a built in anti-tampering module which will destroy the unit if it is improperly opened. There are no end user serviceable parts on the inside of the unit" |
| Health hazards | "If used properly this device normally does not pose any health hazards. According to current scientific knowledge, the high-frequency signals are not harmful to the human body on account of their low power" |
| Magnetic field clearance | "Avoid strong magnetic fields, which may occur in places where there are large electric motors or unshielded loudspeakers. Try to avoid using this equipment within 50 meters (150 ft) of this type of equipment" |
| Voltage | "Never use the 115/230 Volt main supply directly." Use only the approved chargers, batteries and rechargeable batteries included in the scope of delivery |
| Search coil vs. control unit waterproofing | "The search coil is waterproof but the electronics are not. Thus, always prevent any moisture or water from entering the control housing and never allow the cable connectors to become submerged in water" |
| Storage and battery care | Recharge batteries every 3 months when the unit is not in use, to retain performance; do not let batteries fully discharge before recharging; charge only with the OKM Power Pack or approved chargers included with the unit |
| What voids the warranty | The manual states damage from accident, neglect or abuse is not covered, and separately warns against getting rid of bushes or flattening area by swinging the unit wildly, dropping it into water, using it in the rain, leaving it exposed overnight, storing it somewhere dew can form, leaving it in a hot car trunk, spraying lubricants/cleaners/sealants/chemicals onto the electronics, or attempting to modify or repair the detector's electronics |
Delivery scope
| Control unit | 1x, with carrying strap |
| Telescopic rod | 1x |
| Search coils | 1x 18 cm coil, 1x 38 cm coil, in the design (Delta or Omega) matching the ordered variant |
| LED flashlight | 1x, attachable to the telescopic rod |
| Bluetooth headphones | 1x, wireless, with charging cable |
| Charger | 1x, with charging cable |
| Travel adapter set | 1x |
| Quick start guide | 1x |
| Not included | Frame Coil Xi104 is a separate, optional accessory and does not ship in the standard box |
Ordering
| Dealer status | My Surveying Direct is an authorized dealer for OKM German Detectors |
| Manufacturer product status | OKM's own product page carries a standing notice: "This product is no longer manufactured. As successor product we recommend OKM Evolution NTX," linking to that replacement. Call +1 888 850 6533 to confirm current manufacturer availability before ordering. |
| Purchase orders | Accepted from universities, colleges and government agencies |
| Shipping | Shipped direct from the manufacturer |
| Speak to us | +1 888 850 6533, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5 Mountain Time |