background image

INSTALL 9-VOLT BATTERY 

Always use a new alkaline

 

battery 

with an extended expiration date.  

Match battery direction to image 

inside of battery cavity.

WARNING

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.

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.

WARNING

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.

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. 

Do not touch the surface 

during calibration or scan.
1. 

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.

2. 

While holding down the Power Button, slide the tool 

slowly along the wall. 

3. 

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

)

4. 

Without releasing Power 

Button, continue the scan direction 

until the Red EDGE Light and the 

SpotLite Pointer turn off, then 

reverse direction.

5. 

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.

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 1

1

2

" (38 mm) wide. Anything closer 

together, or of a different width, may not be a stud or joist.

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)

LIMITED 1 YEAR WARRANTY
Zircon Corporation (“Zircon”) warrants to the product 

owner that this product will be free from defects in 

materials and workmanship for one year from the 

original date of purchase. Any defective product 

returned to Zircon within the warranty period to the 

address below, freight prepaid, along with proof of 

purchase, will be repaired or replaced, at Zircon’s 

option. Repair or replacement may be made with a 

new or refurbished product or components, at Zircon’s 

sole discretion. If the returned product is no longer 

available, Zircon may replace the product with a 

similar product of similar function. This warranty is 

limited to the electronic circuitry of the product and 

original case of the product, and specifically excludes 

any damage caused by abuse, modification, handling 

contrary to these instructions, other unreasonable use, 

or neglect. This is your sole and exclusive remedy for 

breach of this Limited Warranty.
This Limited Warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, 

express or implied, and no other representations or 

claims of a similar nature will bind or obligate Zircon. 

Any implied warranties applicable to this product 

that cannot be disclaimed are limited to the one year 

period following its purchase. This Limited Warranty 

does not cover consumable parts, including batteries, 

or software, even if packaged with the product.  

IN NO EVENT WILL ZIRCON BE LIABLE FOR ANY 

SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES 

RESULTING FROM POSSESSION, USE OR MALFUNCTION 

OF THIS PRODUCT.
Some states do not allow limitations on certain 

implied warranties and/or the limitation on incidental 

or consequential damages, so the above limitations 

and exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty 

gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have 

other rights which vary from state to state. 
Return products for warranty service, freight prepaid 

with proof of purchase (a dated sales receipt) to:
Zircon Corporation 

Attn: Returns Department 

1580 Dell Avenue 

Campbell, CA 95008-6992 USA
Be sure to include your name and return address.  

Allow 4–6 weeks for delivery. 
Customer Service: 1-800-245-9265 or 1-408-963-4550 

Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. PT 

[email protected] • www.zircon.com
©2018 Zircon Corporation • P/N 66091 • Rev C 05/18 
SpotLite, StudSensor and Zircon are registered 

trademarks or trademarks of Zircon Corporation.

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 1

1

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.

StudSensor

 

HD

25 

Edge-Finding Stud Finder

EN

Visit www.zircon.com for the 

most current instructions.

FCC Part 15 Class B Registration Warning: This device complies  

with Part 15 of FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following  

two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, 

and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including 

interference that may cause undesired operation.

ZirconCorporation

ZirconTV

ZirconTools

 | 

ZirconToolPro

ZirconTools

SpotLite

®

 Pointer

Stud Edge Groove

Battery Door Tab 

(door on bottom)

Ergonomic Grip

Power Button

Red EDGE Light

Green READY 

Light

Figure C

Figure B

Figure A

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.
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 1

1

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.

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