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Wood Stud Deep Stud

Metal Stud

Deep Metal

Zebra (LCD)

WOOD

The Ryobi Electronic 

StudTech Pro™

 locates wood 

and metal studs, metal rebar and hot unshielded AC 
wiring in walls. It features a large LCD for easy read, a 
high impact case for durability, and a soft touch rubber 
grip. Use 

StudTech Pro™

 to detect wood or metal 

studs up to
1-1/2” (38mm) deep. For metal rebar in concrete, 

StudTech Pro™

 can detect up to 2” (51mm) deep.

• Toggle switch to select detection of wood/metal  
  studs (drywall depth up to 3/4”), deep wood/metal  
  studs (drywall depth up to 1-1/2”), and metal rebar.
• LCD bar graph readout
  (not for Deep metal mode)
• Soft rubber grip
• High impact housing
• Auto power off after 2 minutes
  when left unattended
• Low battery indicator
• 9 Volt battery included

•  Toggle “mode” switch to “metal” to detect metal studs 

up to 3/4” behind drywall.

• Toggle to “wood” mode to detect wood studs up to 

3/4” behind drywall and metal studs up to 1” behind 
drywall.

•  Toggle  to  “deep”  mode  to  detect  wood  and  metal 

studs up to 1-1/2” behind drywall.

•  Toggle to “deep metal” to detect metal rebar up to 2” 

deep in concrete.

    

Situations 

Possible Causes

 

Solutions

•  Choose desired detection mode by cycling the 

various modes with the “MODE” button on the front 
face of unit.

No indications.

LCD shows “Zebra”

 

 

Indications in too
many places.

•  No studs in that area.
•  You have accidentally 

calibrated over a stud.

  Over-the-stud calibration 

error.

•  Scan began on dense part 

of wall or over stud.

•  Unit not flat against wall.
•  Unit was  rocked or lifted  

during scan.

•  Detect other objects  

besides studs.

•  Electrical wiring and metal/

plastic pipes may be near

  or touching back surface of wall 

ESTP004

StudTech Pro™

SELECT MODE

•  Move several inches to the left or right and start 

again.

• 

Select “Deep” stud and start again. 

 

 

 

• Release On/Off button, move over a few inches, 

press On/Off button, and start again.

•  On rough surfaces, place piece of cardboard on 

wall, scanning through it to help slide unit more 
smoothly.

•  Always hold 

StudTech Pro™

 parallel to stud or joist 

and move across it.

   
•  Because studs are normally spaced 16 in. (406mm) 

or 24 in. (610mm) apart and are 1-1/2 in. (38mm) 
wide, beware of anything closer together or of a 
different width.

•  All modes except Deep Metal have sequential level 

indicators ( bar graph) on the LCD.

• After calibration has finished,

  slowly slide unit across wall

  right or left. As you begin to

  approach a stud, the

  sequential levels on the LCD

  will increase, and peak at the

  stud edge for Wood Stud and Deep

  Stud modes, and  for Metal Stud mode. Mark this 

spot to indicate stud edge.

•  Continue scanning beyond the marked spot until 

the peak level disappears then slide unit in reverse 

direction to locate the other edge of stud. Mark this 

second spot. Center of stud is the middle between 

the two marks.

MODE

DEEP WOOD METAL

AC

9 volt

FEATURES

INSTALLING THE BATTERY

•  Open battery door at the back of unit.

•  Attach a 9 Volt battery to the connector.

• Put the battery into the compartment. 

• Close battery compartment door.

This product is a consumable item. Therefore it is 

warranted against defective parts and labor only and 

not misuse or deterioration of the product through 

normal wear and tear for a period of 2 years from 

date of purchase.

WARRANTY

983000-344
     8-03

SPECIFICATIONS

POWER ON

•  Press and release the “ON/OFF” button to power on 

the unit.

Reminders:

Wood Stud Mode - detect wood studs in drywall of 

3/4” deep and detects in drywall meteal studs up to 
1” deep.

Deep Stud Mode - detect wood and metal studs in 

drywall of 1-1/2” deep.

Metal Stud Mode - detect metal studs in drywall of 

3/4” deep.

Deep Metal Mode - detect metal rebar within 2”

• 

When the unit powers on or the detection mode 

is changed, the unit needs an initial calibration 
before use for about 2 seconds. Hold the unit in still 
position flat against the testing surface until the bar 
graph on LCD disappears, and a beep sound is 
heard, indicating successful calibration.

CALIBRATION

i.

 

The user is required not to move the unit during 

calibration.

ii. If the calibration fails, the LCD will

  display the error “Zebra” display.

  The unit may be over a

  stud. The user should power off and re-calibrate the 

unit by powering it on again several inches left or 

right from the previous location.

Reminders:

Wood Stud Deep Stud

Metal Stud

Deep Metal

Zebra (LCD)

WOOD

Wood Stud Deep Stud

Metal Stud

Deep Metal

Zebra (LCD)

WOOD

SCANNING

i.

 

Deep Metal mode does not have any intermediate 

levels, and will turn on all level segments 
simultaneously when metal is detected.

Reminders:

ii. If no stud was found, the unit may have been 

placed over a stud or the drywall is too thick. The 

user should re-calibrate the unit by powering it on 

again several inches left or right from the previous 

location, or use Deep Stud mode for scanning studs 

behind drywalls.

•  Press the AC button “   “ to toggle the AC detection 

ON and OFF. The “AC” symbol will be displayed to 
indicate that AC detection is now active.

•  Sweep the unit against the wall, when hot 

unshielded AC wiring presence is detected, the 
“lightning” symbol 

Wood Stud Deep Stud

Metal Stud

Deep Metal

Zebra (LCD)

WOOD

 will be displayed and a high 

pitch sound will be generated.

AC DETECTION

•  Press and release the ON/OFF button to power off the unit.

POWER OFF

i.

 

The unit will power off after being left unattended for 

2 minutes. The built-in timer for the auto-off function 
is reset when the mode button is pressed or the 
peak indicator of the bar graph is turned on.

ii. The hourglass symbol “     “ will flash for 30 seconds 

before power off.

iii.The unit will retain the status of selected mode and 

AC function after power off.

Reminders:

•  When the battery is close to empty, the LOW 

BATTERY icon “        “ will begin to flash.

LOW BATTERY DETECTION:

i.

 

Remove the battery to prevent deterioration if the 

unit is to be stored for an extended period of time.

Reminders:

Wood Stud Deep Stud

Metal Stud

Deep Metal

Zebra (LCD)

WOOD

Wood Stud Deep Stud

Metal Stud

Deep Metal

Zebra (LCD)

WOOD

Wood Stud Deep Stud

Metal Stud

Deep Metal

Zebra (LCD)

WOOD

up to 1-1/2”

 

WARNING:

 To avoid risk of electric shock, 

ALWAYS

 turn power off when working near electric wires. Avoid 

nailing, cutting or drilling in walls where electrical or plumbing may be present. Do not permit children to use this 

device. It is not a toy.

Depending on proximity of electrical wiring or pipes to 
the wall surface, the 

StudTech Pro™

 may detect them 

in the same manner as wood or metal studs. Caution 

should always be used when nailing, cutting or drilling 

in  walls,  floors  and  ceiling  that  may  contain  these 

items.  To  avoid  electrical,  plumbing,  etc.  remember 

that  studs  or  joist  are  normally  spaced  16”  (406mm) 

or 24” (610mm) apart and are 1-1/2” (38mm) in width. 

Anything closer together or a different width may not 

be  a  stud,  joist  or  rebar.  Always  turn  off  the  power 

when working near electrical wires.

OPERATING NOTES

RYOBI TECHNOLOGIES INC.

1428 Pearman Dairy Road

 Anderson, SC 29625

www.ryobitools.com

Telephone: 1-800-525-2579

ESTP004

StudTech Pro™

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