Zircon StudSensor L30 - Edge-Finding Stud Finder Manual

Table of Contents

Contents

1 BEFORE YOU BEGIN
2 Parts and Features
3 INSTALL 9-VOLT BATTERY
4 POWER UP
5 FIND A STUD
6 OVER-THE-STUD WARNING
7 WIREWARNING DETECTION
8 WORKING WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS
9 TROUBLESHOOTING & CONSTRUCTION TIPS
10 Documents / Resources
- 10.1 References
- 10.2 Download manual

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

ZIRCON^® STUD FINDERS WORK BY SENSING DENSITY CHANGES BEHIND THE WALL. OTHER OBJECTS CAN BE DETECTED ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE WALL. DO NOT ASSUME EVERYTHING DETECTED IS A STUD.

Always use a new alkaline battery with an extended expiration date. Match battery direction to image inside of battery cavity.
Do not rely exclusively on the tool to locate items behind a surface. Use other information to help locate such items before penetrating the surface, including construction plans, visible points of entry of pipes and wiring into walls such as in a basement, and standard stud-spacing practices.
Always scan for studs at several different heights on the wall and mark the location of every target indicated by the stud finder. This is called "mapping the wall." Pipes and other objects will likely not give consistent readings from floor to ceiling, like a stud will.
Readings should always be consistent and repeatable.
Zircon^® stud finders are recommended for interior use only.
Studs normally run from floor to ceiling, except above and below windows, and above doors.
Other objects commonly contained in walls, floors, or ceilings are water pipes, gas lines, firestops, and electrical wiring.
Sensing depth and accuracy can vary depending on scanning environment conditions such as mineral content, moisture, texture and consistency of the wall materials.
Always turn off power when working near electrical wires.
Depending on the proximity of electrical wiring or pipes to the wall surface, the tool may detect them in the same manner as studs. Caution should always be used when nailing, cutting, or drilling in walls, floors, and ceilings that may contain these items.
Studs and joists are normally spaced 16 or 24" (40 or 60 cm) apart, are normally 1¹⁄₂" (38 mm) wide, and may be separated by firestops. Anything closer together, or of a different width, may not be a stud or joist.

Parts and Features

INSTALL 9-VOLT BATTERY

Always use a new alkaline battery with an extended expiration date. Match battery direction to image inside of battery cavity.
INSTALL 9-VOLT BATTERY

Do not rely exclusively on the tool to locate items behind a surface. Use other information to help locate items before penetrating the surface, including construction plans, visible points of entry of pipes and wiring into walls such as in a basement, and standard stud-spacing practices.

POWER UP

To activate tool, press and hold Power Button. If button is not held, unit shuts off.

FIND A STUD

The tool is designed to locate the edges of wood and metal studs up to ³⁄₄" (19 mm) behind the scanned surface.
The accuracy of the position of a stud found is typically within ¹⁄₈" (3 mm).

For best results, hold the tool as shown (Figure A), and move slowly when scanning.
FIND A STUD - Step 1
Figure A

Do not touch the surface during calibration or scan.

Hold tool flat against wall, then press and hold Power Button. In 1 – 2 seconds, the unit will calibrate, and the Green READY Light will illuminate.
DO NOT MOVE TOOL DURING CALIBRATION.
While holding down the Power Button, slide the tool slowly along the wall.
When the tool reaches the edge of the stud, the Red EDGE Light will illuminate, the SpotLite^® Pointer will shine, and a steady tone will sound. Mark the spot. (Figure B)

Figure B
Without releasing Power Button, continue the scan direction until the Red EDGE Light and the SpotLite^® Pointer turn off, then reverse direction.
Slide the tool until the other edge of the stud is detected and mark this as well. (Figure C) The center of the stud is the midpoint between the two marks.

Figure C

OVER-THE-STUD WARNING

If scanning begins directly over a stud, the tool will emit a continual beep.
If this happens, restart the scan in a different location.

WIREWARNING^® DETECTION

WireWarning^® Detection works continuously during a scan. When live, unshielded AC voltage is detected, the WireWarning^® Detection Indicator lights up.
If scanning begins over a live AC wire, the WireWarning^®Detection Indicator will flash continuously. (Figure D)
WIREWARNING® DETECTION
Figure D

Use extreme caution under these circumstances, and whenever live AC wiring is suspected.

THE TOOL MAY NOT DETECT LIVE CURRENT IF WIRES ARE MORE THAN 2" (50 mm) BELOW THE SCANNED SURFACE, IN CONCRETE, ENCASED IN CONDUIT, BEHIND A PLYWOOD SHEAR WALL OR METALLIC WALL COVERING, OR IF MOISTURE IS PRESENT IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR SCANNED SURFACE.

DO NOT ASSUME THERE ARE NO LIVE ELECTRICAL WIRES IN THE WALL. DO NOT TAKE ACTIONS THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE WALL CONTAINS A LIVE ELECTRICAL WIRE. ALWAYS TURN OFF THE ELECTRICAL, GAS, AND WATER SUPPLIES BEFORE PENETRATING A SURFACE. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN ELECTRIC SHOCK, FIRE, AND/OR SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

WORKING WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS

Wallpaper
This tool functions normally on walls covered with wallpaper or fabric, unless the materials are metallic foil, contain metallic fibers, or are still wet after application. Wallpaper may need to dry for several weeks after application.

Freshly painted walls
Paint may take a week or longer to dry after application.

Lath and plaster
Due to irregularities in plaster thickness, this tool is not recommended for use on lath and plaster.

Highly textured walls or acoustic ceilings
When scanning a ceiling or wall with an uneven surface, place thin cardboard on the surface to be scanned. This tool cannot scan for wood studs and joists through carpet and padding.

Electrical wiring and pipes
Depending on the proximity of electrical wiring or pipes to the wall surface, the tool may detect them in the same manner as studs.

Caution should always be used when nailing, cutting, or drilling in walls, floors, and ceilings that may contain these items.

Studs and joists are normally spaced 16 or 24" apart (40 or 60 cm), and are 1¹⁄₂" (38 mm) wide. Anything closer together, or of a different width, may not be a stud or joist.

warning NOTE: Sensing depth and accuracy can vary depending on scanning environment conditions such as mineral content, moisture, texture and consistency of the wall materials.

This tool is not designed for use with:

Ceramic floor tile
Carpeting and padding
Wallpaper with metallic fibers
Freshly painted walls that are still damp (may take one week or longer to dry after application)
Lath and plaster walls
Foil-covered insulation board
Glass or any other dense material
Surfaces thicker than ³⁄₄" (19 mm)

TROUBLESHOOTING & CONSTRUCTION TIPS

SITUATION	LIKELY CAUSE	SOLUTION
No indications.	No studs in the area.	Move tool several inches (13 – 15 cm) to the left or right and start again.
READY Icon shows but nothing happens when scanning.	Tool may not be flat against wall.	Hold tool so that the pads on the back make full contact with the surface.
Unit beeps repeatedly.	Tool was calibrated over a stud or on dense part of wall.	Turn tool off, move over a few inches (5 – 8 cm), press Power Button, and start again.
Unit beeps repeatedly.	Tool tilted or lifted during scan.	On rough surfaces, place thin cardboard on wall, scanning over it to help slide tool more smoothly.
Tool detects objects other than studs or finds more studs than should be there.	Electrical wiring and metal or plastic pipes may be near to or touching the back of the wall surface.	Check for other studs equally spaced to either side at 12, 16 or 24" (30, 40, or 60 cm), or check for the same stud at spots directly above or below the first scan area. Studs will run straight up and down, from floor to ceiling, while pipes may change direction. Standard studs measure approximately 1¹⁄₂" (38 mm) between edges. Anything larger or smaller is likely not a stud (unless near door or window). Use caution when nailing, sawing or drilling into walls, floors and ceilings where these items may exist.
Electrical wires suspected but WireWarning^® Detection does not alert.	Wires are shielded by a metal conduit, braided wire, or metallic wall covering. Wires deeper than 2" (50 mm) from the surface might not be detected. Wires may not be live.	If there is an outlet switch, turn it to ON position while scanning, but turn OFF when working near the wires. Use extra caution if the area has plywood, thick wood backing behind drywall, or walls that are thicker than normal. See above. Plug a lamp into the outlet and turn it on to test whether wires are live.

FCC Part 15 Class B Registration Warning: This device complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

this device may not cause harmful interference, and
this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

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