Zircon A250 - Multifunction Wall Scanner Manual

Table of Contents

Contents

1 BEFORE YOU BEGIN
2 TROUBLESHOOTING & CONSTRUCTION TIPS
3 OVERVIEW
4 FIND A STUD
5 SCAN FOR METAL
6 REFINE THE METAL SCAN
7 SCAN FOR AC (alternating current)
8 REFINE THE AC SCAN
9 WORKING WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS
10 Documents / Resources
- 10.1 References
- 10.2 Download manual

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

ZIRCON^® STUD FINDERS WORK BY SENSING DENSITY CHANGNGES BEHIND THE WALL. OTHER OBJECTS CAN BE DETECTED ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE WALL. DO NOTOT ASSUME EVERYTHING DETECTED IS A STUD.

Always use a new alkaline battery with a valid extended exppiration date. Match battery direction to image inside of battery cavity.
Do not rely exclusively on the scanner to locate items behindnd a surface. Use other information to help locate such items before penetrating the surface, including construction plans, vvisible points of entry of pipes and wiring into walls such as in a basement, and standard stud-spacing practices.
Always start your scan in StudScan Mode which scans throuugh surfaces up to 3⁄₄" (19 mm) deep. Scanning in DeepScan^® Mode may detect an object further behind the waall that may or may not be a stud.
Always scan for studs at several different heights on the waall and mark the location of every target indicated by the stud finder. This is called "mapping the wall." Pipes and otherer objects will likely not give consistent readings from floor to ceiling, like a stud would.
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 bbelow windows, and above doors.
Other objects commonly contained in walls, floors, or ceilinggs are water pipes, gas lines, firestops, and electrical wiring.
Sensing depth and accuracy can vary depending on scanningng 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 tthe wall surface, the scanner may detect them in the same manner as studs. Caution should always be used when nailingng, 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 cmm) apart, are normally 11⁄₂" (38 mm) wide, and may be separated by firestops. Anything closer together, or of a differerent width, may not be a stud or joist.

TROUBLESHOOTING & CONSTRUCTION TIPS

SITUATION	LIKELY CAUSE	SOLUTION
Scanner detects objects other than studs in StudScan Mode or finds studs than should be there.	Electrical wiring and metal or plastic pipes be near to, or touching, the back of the wall surface.	Scan the area in Metal Scan and/or AC Scan to determine if metal or AC is present. 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. Standard studs measure approximately 1 1⁄ 2" (38 mm) between edges. Anything larger or smaller is likely not a stud (unless near door or window).
Area of voltage appears larger than actual wire during AC Scan	Voltage detection can spread on drywall by as much as 12" (30 cm) on each side of the wire	Narrow the scan detection: Turn scanner off. Turn it on again at the edge of where the wire was first detected. Repeat scan
Difficulty detecting metal.	Scanner was calibrated over metal object, or metal object is too deep or too small	The scanner may have been calibrated over a metal object, reducing sensitivity. Try calibrating in another location. Scan in both horizontal and vertical directions. Metal sensitivity is increased when metal object is parallel to sensor (located under the Zircon logo)
Metal object reading appears wider than actual size.	Metal has a greater density than wood	To reduce sensitivity in Metal Mode, recalibrate scanner over either of first two marks (see steps under SCAN FOR METAL).
Constant readings of studs near windows and doors.	Multiple studs are in use.	Double and triple studs are sometimes used around doors and windows. Headers are used above them. Detect outer edges so you know where to begin.
You suspect electrical wires, but do not detect any.	Wires are shielded by a metal conduit, braided wire or metallic wall covering	Use Metal Scan Mode to scan for metal, wire, or metal conduit.
	Wires deeper than 2" (50 mm) from the surface might not be detected	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
	Wires may not be live.	Plug a lamp into the outlet and turn it on to test whether wires are live.
Low Battery Indicator flashes and scanner does not operate	Low battery.	Install new 9-volt alkaline battery with valid extended expiration date.

OVERVIEW

Overview

4 scanning modes:

StudScan locates center and edges of stud (wood or metal) up to 3⁄₄" (19 mm) deep
DeepScan locates center and edges of stud up to 11⁄₂" (38 mm) deep
Metal Scan locates ferrous (magnetic) metal, such as steel, up to 3" deep (75 mm), and non-ferrous metal, such as copper, up to 11⁄₂" (38 mm) deep
AC Scan locates live, unshielded AC wires up to 2" (50 mm) deep

To activate scanner, press and hold Power Button.
If Power Button is not pressed & held, unit shuts off.

FIND A STUD

FIND A STUD - Part 1
FIND A STUD - Part 2
For best results, hold the scanner as shown (Figure A) and move slowly when scanning. Do not touch the surface during calibration or scan.

Set mode to StudScan.
Hold scanner flat against wall, then press and hold Power Button. In 1–2 seconds, the unit will calibrate. A short beep confirms that calibration is complete.
DO NOT MOVE SCANNER DURING CALIBRATION.
While holding down the Power Button, slide the scanner slowly along the wall. When scanner finds Figure B the edge of a stud, EDGE displays. (Figure B)
Continue sliding. When scanner finds the center of a stud, CENTER displays, light illuminates, 3 bars show signal strength, and a buzzer sounds. (Figure C)

NOTE: If only two signal bars show (Figure D), stud may be too deep. Select DeepScan Mode, and repeat scan.

Scanner automatically recalibrates when in use. If an arrow shows (Figure E), the scanner was calibrated too close to a stud, then moved away. Arrow indicates the direction to the stud. This is ACT (Auto Correcting Technology).

SCAN FOR METAL

SCAN FOR METAL
Use Metal Scan to determine if the stud found is wood, or a metal stud or pipe.

Set mode to Metal Scan.
For maximum sensitivity, press and hold Power Button. Hold the scanner away from the surface until a short beep confirms calibration is complete, then place against the surface to be scanned.
While continuing to hold Power Button, slide the scanner slowly against the wall. Mark the spot where the most middle bars display. For a strong read, the scanner will light up and a steady beep will sound. (Figure F)
Continue sliding in same direction until bars reduce, then reverse direction.
Mark the spot where the display bars peak. The midpoint between the two marks is the location of the metal object.

NOTE: If the unit indicates a large area of metal, refine the scan to more accurately find the center.

REFINE THE METAL SCAN

Release Power Button, then position the scanner over one of the previous marks. This will reset to a lower sensitivity and narrow the scan area. (Figure G)
Press and hold Power Button, then repeat 3 and 4 under SCAN FOR METAL.
Repeat as needed for increased accuracy.
(Figure H)

NOTE: If any bars display, TE: If any bars display, metal is present. Small targets or targets deep below the surface may only show one or two bars, and the scanner may not be able to locate the center of the metal.

SCAN FOR AC (alternating current)

Use AC Scan to find live (hot) wiring. ALWAYS TURN OFF POWER WHEN WORKING NEAR ELECTRICAL WIRES (EXCEPT WHEN SCANNING).

Set mode to AC Scan.
Hold scanner flat against wall, then press and hold Power Button. A short beep confirms that calibration is complete. DO NOT MOVE SCANNER DURING CALIBRATION.
While holding Power Button, slide the scanner slowly against the wall. Mark the spot where the most middle bars display. For a strong read, the scanner will light up and a steady beep will sound. (Figure F)
Continue in same direction until bars reduce, then reverse direction. Mark the spot where the display bars peak. The midpoint between the two marks is the location of the live AC wiring. If the unit indicates live electricity over a large area, reduce the sensitivity of the scanner to refine the scanning area and more accurately locate the live AC wiring.

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.

REFINE THE AC SCAN

Release Power Button, then position the scanner over one of the previous marks. This will reset to a lower sensitivity and narrow the scan area. (Figure G)
Press and hold Power Button, then repeat 3 and 4 under SCAN FOR AC.
Repeat as needed for increased accuracy. (Figure H)

NOTE: AC Scan only detects live (hot) unshielded AC wiring. Refer to the WARNING statement under WireWarning Detection below for important details and warnings about AC detection.

WIREWARNING DETECTION
The Zircon^® WireWarning Detection feature works continuously in StudScan, DeepScan and Metal Scan Modes. When live AC voltage is detected, the warning indicator shows and display flashes. If scanning begins over a live AC wire, the indicator or middle bars (in AC Scan) will flash continuously.
Use extreme caution under these circumstances, or whenever live AC wiring is present.

THE SCANNER 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.

WORKING WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS

Wallpaper
This scanner 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
It may take a week or longer to dry after application. If it is difficult to locate a stud in StudScan Mode on dry or freshly-dried paint, switch to Metal Scan Mode to locate the nails or drywall screws holding drywall to the studs.

Lath and plaster
Due to irregularities in plaster thickness, it is difficult for this scanner to locate studs in either stud-scanning mode. Switch mode to Metal Scan to locate the nail heads holding wood lath to the studs. If the plaster has metal mesh reinforcement, the scanner will be unable to detect studs through that material.

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 and scan over the cardboard in DeepScan Mode. If irregular scanning results are received, switch to Metal Scan Mode to locate nails or drywall screws that line up vertically where a stud or joist is positioned.

Wood flooring, subflooring, or gypsum drywall over plywood sheathing
Use DeepScan Mode and move the scanner slowly. The Signal Strength Indicator may only display one or two bars when the scanner locates a stud through a thick surface.

This scanner cannot scan for wood studs and joists through carpet and padding. In problematic situations, try using Metal Scan to locate nails or screws that may line up vertically or horizontally where a stud or joist is respectively positioned.

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

Electrical wiring and pipes
Depending on the proximity of electrical wiring or pipes to the wall surface, the scanner 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, and are 11⁄₂" (38 mm) wide. Anything closer together, or of a different width, may not be a stud or joist.

FCC Part 15 Class B Registration

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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