Continue to hold in
the Power button
then slowly slide unit
horizontally across the
wall, right or left. As
you begin to approach
a stud, the red LEDs
will light successively,
from bottom to top.
When the top green
LED is lit, the SpotLite
®
beam shines, and a
steady tone sounds,
you have located the
edge of the stud.
Mark this spot.
Without releasing
Power button, continue
scanning beyond
marked spot until
green LED goes out.
Slide unit in reverse
direction to locate
other edge of stud.
Mark this second spot.
Middle of stud is
centered between the
two marks.
Squeeze sides
of clip to help
release clip end.
Slide 9-V battery
into compartment,
terminal side first,
matching (+) and
(–) terminals from
battery to case.
Replace the clip.
2. SELECTING THE MODE
Move selector switch to the desired mode:
STUD SCAN for finding wood or metal studs or
DEEPSCAN
®
for finding studs behind walls more
than ¾ inch (19 mm) thick.
Unit will remain off if Power button is not depressed.
3. FINDING A STUD
Always scan for studs with the scanner placed flat
against the wall. Move the mode
switch to STUD SCAN, place
the tool flat against the wall,
then press and hold the Power
button. Wait for beep to confirm
calibration has completed before
moving scanner.
1. INSTALLING THE BATTERY
NOTE: DO NOT LOOSEN OR REMOVE
SCREW ON THE BACK OF THE UNIT.
4. WIREWARNING
®
DETECTION
WireWarning
®
detection works continuously in
STUD SCAN and DEEPSCAN
®
modes. When live
AC voltage is detected, the WireWarning
®
light
comes on. If scanning begins over a live AC wire,
the WireWarning
®
indicator will flash continuously.
Caution: Wires deeper than 2 in. (51 mm) from
the surface, in plastic conduit, behind plywood
shear wall, or metallic wall covering may not
be detected. Use extreme caution in these
circumstances or whenever live AC is present.
Always turn off the power when working near
electrical wires.
5. OPERATING TIPS
For optimum scanning results:
• Hold the tool straight up and down, parallel to
the studs, and do not rotate the tool.
• Keep tool flat against the wall and do not rock,
tilt, or press hard 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.
• 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.
Lights start flashing
and unit starts beeping.
Unable to detect studs in
STUD SCAN mode.
Top green LED doesn’t
light when scanning; only
a few red LEDs light up.
The TruCal
®
icon
turns on but, when
scanning, unit doesn’t
do anything else.
Working in DEEPSCAN
®
mode and can’t detect
studs.
Detects other objects
besides studs.
You suspect electrical
wires, but do not
detect any.
Area of voltage
detection appears much
larger than actual wire
(AC only).
• Scan began on dense part of wall or
over a stud.
• Unit not flat against wall.
• Unit tilted or lifted during scan.
(All these factors affect proper
calibration.)
• Scanning surface is too dense or too
wet for unit to operate.
• Wall is particularly thick or dense.
• Unit may not be flat against the
wall.
• If it is in the DEEPSCAN
®
mode
(DEEPSCAN
®
is lit), you may have
calibrated over a stud.
• You may have calibrated over a
stud. (The error condition is disabled
in DEEPSCAN
®
mode because it is
twice as sensitive as STUD SCAN.)
• You may be holding the unit like a
TV remote, aiming it at the wall.
• Electrical wiring and metal or plastic
pipes may be near or touching back
surface of wall.
• Wires may be shielded behind
metallic wall coverings, plywood
shearwall, or other dense material,
or in conduit.
• The wires may not be live.
• Wires deeper than 2 in. (51 mm)
from surface may not be detected.
• Voltage detection can spread on
drywall as much as 12 in. (305 mm)
from each side of an actual
electrical wire.
• Turn unit off, move over a few inches, press Power
button, and start again.
• On rough surfaces, place a thin piece of cardboard on
wall, scanning over it to help slide unit more smoothly.
• Keep hand at least 6 in. (152 mm) from unit while you
calibrate and scan. Hold unit with thumb and index
finger no higher than handgrips. Be careful not to
move your fingers after calibration.
• Always hold unit parallel to the stud and move it
perpendicular to the stud you’re trying to locate.
• If you are using unit on a recently taped, painted, or
wallpapered wall, allow time to dry and try again.
• Switch to DEEPSCAN
®
mode to locate the stud.
• Interpret the the higest LED obtained as the stud edge.
• Hold unit so two Velcro
™
strips on the back make
contact with wall.
• Recalibrate unit in a different place and re-scan area.
• Move unit over a few inches and recalibrate.
• Hold unit so two Velcro
™
strips on the back make
contact with wall.
• Check for other studs equally spaced to either side
12, 16, or 24 in. (305, 406, or 610 mm) apart or for
the same stud at several places directly above or
below the first scan area.
• Use extra caution if the area has plywood, thick wood
backing behind drywall, or thicker-than-normal walls.
• If a switch controls an outlet, make sure it is ON for
detection, but turned off when working near
electrical wires.
Always turn off power when cutting, nailing, or
drilling near electrical wires.
• To narrow detection, turn unit off and on again at the
edge of where wire was detected and scan again.
Always turn off power when cutting, nailing, or
drilling near electrical wires.
Probable Causes
Solutions
Situation
• To avoid surprises, remember that studs or
joists are normally spaced 16 in. (406 mm) or
24 in. (610 mm) apart and are 1 ½ in. (38 mm)
in width. Anything closer together or a different
width may not be a stud, joist, or firebreak.
Always turn off the power when working near
electrical wires.
WORKING WITH DIFFERENT MATERIALS
StudSensor
™
Pro SL-AC is for use on dry interior
walls only.
Note: Sensing depth and accuracy can vary due
to moisture, content of materials, wall texture,
and paint.
StudSensor
™
Pro SL-AC can scan effectively
through most sheet materials, including:
• Bare wood flooring (in DEEPSCAN
®
mode)
• Linoleum on wood base
• Gypsum drywall over plywood sheathing
• Wallpapered walls (if dry)
• Textured ceilings if uniform thickness (place a
thin piece of cardboard on ceiling and scan over
it to avoid damage to texturing)
StudSensor
™
Pro SL-AC is not designed to scan
materials such as:
• 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
StudSensor
™
Pro SL-AC
Stud Finder
Stud Edge
Groove
SpotLite
®
Pointing System
WireWarning
®
Detection
STUD SCAN
Mode LED
Power
Button
TruCal
®
LED
DEEPSCAN
®
Mode LED
Mode Switch
DeepScan, SpotLite, StudSensor, TruCal, WireWarning, and Zircon are registered trademarks or trademarks of Zircon Corporation.
Visit www.zircon.com/support for the most current instructions.
6. HELPFUL HINTS
(See also number 5, Operating Tips)
The StudSensor
™
Pro SL-AC features two
scanning modes:
• STUD SCAN: Locates the edges of wood
and metal studs up to ¾ in.
(19 mm) deep
• DEEPSCAN
®
: Locates the edges of wood
and metal studs up to
1 ½
in.
(38 mm) deep
WireWarning
®
detection automatically
detects and alerts the user to live AC
wires in STUD SCAN and DEEPSCAN
®
modes. When AC voltage is detected, the
AC WireWarning
®
icon will be displayed
on screen.
Note: This product is intended
for use in the U.S.A. and
Canada only.
LIMITED 1 YEAR WARRANTY
Zircon Corporation, (“Zircon”) warrants this product to be free from defects
in materials and workmanship for one years from the date of purchase. Any
in-warranty defective product returned to Zircon*, freight prepaid with proof
of purchase date and $5.00 to cover postage and handling, will be repaired or
replaced at Zircon’s option. This warranty is limited to the electronic circuitry and
original case of the product and specifically excludes damage caused by abuse,
unreasonable use or neglect. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, express
or implied, and no other representations or claims of any nature shall bind or
obligate Zircon. Any implied warranties applicable to this product are limited to
the one year period following its purchase. IN NO EVENT WILL ZIRCON BE LIABLE
FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM
POSSESSION, USE OR MALFUNCTION OF THIS PRODUCT.
In accordance with government regulations, you are advised that: (i) some states
do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts and/or the exclusion
or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations and/
or exclusions may not apply to you, and further (ii) this warranty gives you specific
legal rights and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state.
Return product freight prepaid with proof of purchase date (dated
sales receipt) and $5.00 to cover postage and handling, to:
Zircon Corporation
*Attn: Returns Department
1580 Dell Avenue
Campbell, CA 95008-6992 USA
Be sure to include your name and return address. Out of warranty
service and repair, where proof of purchase is not provided, shall be
returned with repairs charged C.O.D. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for delivery.
Customer Service, 1-800-245-9265 or 1-408-963-4550
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PDT
www.zircon.com • [email protected]
U.S. Patents 5352974, 5619128, 6023159, 6259241, 6291970,
Canadian Patents 2141553, 2341385, 2353156, Japanese Patent
3581851, E.U. Patents Pending, German Patent 69333884.9,
French Patent 0657032, U.K. Patent 0657032
©2009 Zircon Corporation • P/N 59459 • Rev C 06/09
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.
