Zircon StudSensor HD70 - OneStep Centre-Finding Stud Finder Manual

The Zircon StudSensor^™ HD70 OneStep^™ detects both the centre and edges of wood and metal studs and joists in walls, floors, and ceilings in one step. It features a blue backlit display, Target Spotlight, and patented SpotLite^™ Pointer. WireWarning^™ detection also automatically detects and alerts you of live AC wires.

INSTALLING THE BATTERY

Push in the battery door tab at the bottom of the tool and open the door. Insert a new 9V battery, matching the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals to the icons printed on the back. Snap the battery into place and replace the door.

Low Battery Indicator: The Low Battery Indicator icon displays when the battery level is getting low. While the tool will still operate, the battery will need to be replaced soon. When the battery icon begins to flash and is the only icon displayed on the screen, the battery level is too low and not sufficient to power the tool for proper operation. Replace with a brand new 9V battery immediately.

OPERATING TIPS

For optimum scanning results, it is important to properly hold the StudSensor^™ HD70 and move slowly when scanning. The following tips will provide more accurate scanning results:

• Grasp the handle with your thumb on one side and your fingers on the other side. Make sure your fingertips are resting on the tool and not touching the surface being scanned or the scanning head of the tool.
• Hold the tool straight up and down, parallel to the studs, and do not rotate the tool.

• Keep the tool flat against the wall and do not rock or tilt the tool when slowly sliding across the surface being scanned.
• Avoid placing your other hand, or any other part of your body, on the surface being scanned. This will interfere with the tool's performance.
• If you're receiving erratic scanning results, it may be a result of humidity, moisture within the wall cavity or drywall, or recently applied paint or wallpaper that hasn't fully dried. While the moisture may not always be visible, it will interfere with the tool's sensors. Please allow a few days for the wall to dry out.
• 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.
• To avoid surprises, remember that studs or joists are normally spaced 41 or 61 cm apart and are 38 mm in width. Anything closer together or a different width may not be a stud, joist, or firebreak.

SCANNING DIFFERENT SURFACES

Freshly painted walls: May take one week or longer to dry after application.

Wallpaper: The StudSensor^™ HD70 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.

Extremely 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. Calibrate, with cardboard in place, in DeepScan^™ mode.

Wood flooring, subflooring, or gypsum drywall over plywood sheathing: Use the DeepScan^™ mode and move the tool slowly. The Signal Strength Indicator may only display 1 or 2 bars when the tool locates a stud through thick surfaces.

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

StudSensor^™ HD70 cannot scan for studs and joists through concrete, carpeting, or padding.

In StudScan mode, the StudSensor^™ HD70 will NOT be able to scan through dense materials such as glass, ceramic tile, and foil.

Note: Sensing depth and accuracy can vary due to moisture, content of materials, wall texture, and paint.

Indoor use only.

Do not rely exclusively on the detector to locate items behind the scanned surface. Use other information sources to help locate items before penetrating the surface. Such additional sources include construction plans, visible points of entry of pipes and wiring into walls, such as in a basement, and in standard 41 and 61 cm stud spacing practices.

TURNING ON/CALIBRATING THE TOOL

Place StudSensor^™ HD70 flat against the wall, then press and hold the Power button. The LCD will illuminate and display all icons until calibration is complete. Upon completion of calibration, the SpotLite^™ Pointer and buzzer will momentarily activate and the tool will begin continuous measurements.

Note: It is important to wait for calibration to complete (1–2 seconds) before moving the scanner.

ACT^™ (Auto Correcting Technology): During scanning, the tool will provisionally recalibrate itself when needed. This recalibration is usually transparent and no indication is made. If an arrow icon illuminates, the tool was calibrated near or over a stud and then moved away. The arrow indicates the direction of the missed stud.

FINDING A STUD

Always start with the scanner placed flat against the wall, then press the Power button. Wait for beep to confirm calibration has completed before moving the tool.

Slowly slide tool across surface. EDGE indication will illuminate, indicating location of the stud edge.

Continue sliding tool. When the centre of stud is located with three bars on the Signal Strength Indicator, some segments of the Target Indication bars, CENTER indication, and SpotLite^™ Pointer will all illuminate, and the buzzer will sound.

In cases of deeper studs (thicker walls), when the centre of the stud is located only one or two bars will show on the Signal Strength Indicator and only some segments of the Target Indication bars will illuminate. If you still can't locate a stud, try the next step.

Note: The tool may detect other objects behind the wall such as pipes and conduit. See Operating Tips for ways to confirm that you found a stud.

DIFFICULTY LOCATING A STUD? TRY DEEPSCAN™ MODE

If you have difficulty locating a stud after following Section 4, it could be that the stud is deep (the walls are thick). With the unit still placed flat against the wall and turned on, quickly (within one second) release and re-press the Power button. The StudScan mode indication will turn off and the DeepScan^™ mode indication will turn on, indicating that the tool has entered DeepScan^™ mode. The centre of a very deep stud will be indicated by some segments of the Target Indication bars illuminating.

MARKING THE CENTRE OF THE STUD

Once an object is located, mark the location where the SpotLite^™ Pointer illuminates. This is the centre of the stud.

WIREWARNING™ DETECTION

Zircon's WireWarning^™ detection works continuously. When live AC voltage is detected, the AC WireWarning^™ indicator will appear in the display. If scanning begins over a live AC wire, the AC WireWarning^™ indicator will flash continuously. Use extreme caution in these circumstances or whenever live AC is present.

Electrical field locators may not detect live AC wires if wires are more than 51 mm from the scanned surface, in concrete, encased in conduit, present 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 POWER, 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.

Always turn off power when working near electrical wires.

HELPFUL HINTS

(See also Operating Tips)