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DeepScan

®

Metal Scan

StudScan

AC Scan

1. INSTALLING THE BATTERY

Push in the battery door tab and open the door. Insert a 

new

 

9V alkaline battery, matching the positive (+) and negative (-) 

terminals 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. Please replace the 9V battery with a brand new 

battery immediately. 
Zircon

®

 stud finders and detectors, particularly those with LCD screens, require and 

consume a great deal of current from batteries.
For optimal performance, brand-new, recently purchased alkaline batteries are strongly 

recommended for use in these tools.
If you are experiencing any trouble with your tool, please replace the battery in your 

tool with a brand-new one, or contact your Zircon

®

 dealer or e-mail [email protected].

2. OPERATING TIPS

For optimum scanning results, it is important to properly hold the MultiScanner

 

L

550c

  

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 handle 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, 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. 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 to several 

weeks 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 30, 40, or 60 cm apart and are 38 mm in width. 

Anything closer together or a different width may not  

be a stud, joist, or firebreak.

• If display lights, or flashes, red in StudScan, DeepScan

,  

or Metal Scan modes, WireWarning

 Detection has indicated 

the presence of live AC electricity. Exercise extreme caution  

before nailing, cutting, or drilling.

Always turn off power when working near electrical wires.

SCANNING DIFFERENT SURFACES
Wallpaper: 

MultiScanner

 

L

550c 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:

 May take one week or longer to dry  

after application.

Lath & plaster:

 Due to irregularities in plaster thickness, it is 

difficult for MultiScanner

 

L

550c to locate studs in Stud modes. 

Change to Metal Scan mode to locate the nail heads holding 

wood lath to the studs. If the plaster has metal mesh reinforcement,  

MultiScanner

 

L

550c may be unable to detect through that material.

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 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 tool slowly. The Signal Strength Indicator may  

only display 1 or 2 bars when the tool locates a stud through thick surfaces.
MultiScanner

 

L

550c cannot scan for wood studs and joists through tile, concrete or 

carpet and padding. In problematic situations, try using Metal Scan to locate nails  

or screws that may line up vertically where a stud or joist is positioned.

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 30, 40, and 60 cm stud 

spacing practices.

3. SELECTING THE MODE

Move selector switch to the desired mode. ColorTrip

 display will light green in 

StudScan for finding wood or metal studs; green in DeepScan

 for scanning walls over 

19 mm thick; blue in Metal Scan for locating metal; and red in AC Scan for locating 

live AC wiring.
Unit will remain off if the Power Button is not pressed.

4. TURNING ON/CALIBRATING THE TOOL

•  Place MultiScanner

 

L

550c against the wall 

before

 pressing the Power Button in 

StudScan or DeepScan

 

mode.

•  Once powered on, the tool will automatically perform all calibrations. The LCD 

will 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. Continue to hold the Power Button down and keep the 

tool flat against the wall and begin scanning.

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

the scanner. 

narrow the scan area. This procedure can be repeated multiple times to narrow the 

scan area even further (

Figure C

). 

MAXIMUM SENSITIVITY

Unlike interactive calibration, maximum sensitivity is ideal when only an approximate 

location of metal needs to be determined. To achieve maximum sensitivity, calibrate 

the tool in the air, away from any obvious metal, by pressing and holding the Power 

Button. Then follow Steps 2 and 3 above. (Only Metal Scan mode can be calibrated off 

the wall to achieve maximum metal sensitivity.)

8. SCANNING IN AC MODE

AC Scan will only detect live (hot), unshielded AC wiring. Please refer to the WARNING 

statement in Section 6. WIREWARNING

 DETECTION for more important details and 

warnings about AC detection.

1. Move mode switch to AC Scan. Press the tool flat against the wall, then press and 

hold the Power Button. Wait for the beep to confirm calibration has completed before 

moving the tool. Display will light red with the AC icon to indicate the mode.
2. (

Figure A

) While holding the Power Button, slowly slide the tool across the surface. 

Mark the location where you get the highest AC indication (the most Target Indication 

Bars on the screen). If it is a strong signal, the SpotLite

 Pointer will also illuminate 

and a steady beep will sound. Continue in the same direction until the Target 

Indication Bars reduce.
3. Without releasing the Power Button, reverse direction (back towards the previous 

mark) and mark the location where the Target Indication Bars peak. The midpoint 

between the two marks is the approximate location of the live AC wiring.
As with Metal Scan, you can perform interactive calibration in AC Scan to adjust the 

tool’s sensitivity to live AC. If your scan indicates live AC over a large area, you can 

refine the scanning area and narrow the location of the AC target by following Step  

4 below.
4. (

Figure B

) To further pinpoint the location of the live AC target, release the 

Power Button. Place the tool on the wall over one of your previous marked locations, 

calibrate, and scan the area again. This will reset the tool to a lower sensitivity and 

narrow the scan area. This procedure can be repeated multiple times to narrow the 

scan area even further 

(Figure C

).

If you directly calibrate over an area with live AC, the middle Target Indication Bars 

and red screen will flash on and off. Release the Power Button, slide the tool 7–8 cm 

to the left or right, and begin your scan again.

The MultiScanner

 

L

550c, with advanced ColorTrip

 display, lights green in StudScan 

and DeepScan

, blue in Metal Scan, and red in AC Scan mode. When AC WireWarning

 

is detected in StudScan, DeepScan

, or Metal Scan modes, screen will light, or flash, red.

•  StudScan: Locates the center and edges of wood and metal studs up to 19 mm deep
• DeepScan

: Locates the center and edges of wood and metal studs up to 38 mm deep

•  Metal Scan: Detects ferrous (magnetic) metal (such as 13 mm rebar) up to 75 mm deep 

and non-ferrous (non-magnetic) metal up to 38 mm deep

•  AC Scan: Detects live unshielded AC wires up to 50 mm deep

DeepScan

®

Metal Scan

StudScan

AC Scan

DeepScan

®

Metal Scan

StudScan

AC Scan

DeepScan

®

Metal Scan

StudScan

AC Scan

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

SpotLite

 Pointer

Mode  

Selector  

Switch

Battery (Door Tab)

StudScan/ 

DeepScan

  

Mode Indicator

Low Battery  

Indicator

AC Icon

ColorTrip

 Display

Target 

Indication 

Bars

Center/Edge/Metal 

Indicator

Auto Correcting 

Indication

Signal Strength 

Indicator

Power Button

ACT

 (Auto Correcting Technology)

 

During scanning, the tool will 

automatically recalibrate itself 

when needed. This recalibration is 

transparent and no indication is made. 

If an arrow icon illuminates, the tool 

calibrated near or over a stud and then 

moved away. The arrow indicates the 

direction of the missed stud.

5. FINDING A STUD

Always scan for studs with the scanner placed flat against the wall.  

Move the mode switch to StudScan, 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.  

Display will light green with the word “StudScan” to  

indicate the mode.

Slowly slide the tool across surface. EDGE indication  

will illuminate, indicating location of the stud edge.

Continue sliding the tool. When the center of a stud  

is located, the three bars on the Signal Strength Indicator,  

the middle 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  

center of the stud is located, only two bars will  

show on the Signal Strength Indicator and only the  

SpotLite

 Pointer and middle segments of the Target  

Indication Bars will illuminate. If you still cannot locate 

a stud, try DeepScan

 mode. Display will light green  

with the word “DeepScan” to indicate the mode.

Note: To determine if the object located was a wood stud,  

metal stud, or pipe, scan the location in Metal Scan mode.  

In Metal Scan, only the metal drywall screws will be found  

in wood studs, while metal will be indicated throughout  

the entire metal stud or pipe. To better determine if the  

target object is a metal stud or pipe, studs usually run  

floor to ceiling whereas a pipe may not.

6. WIREWARNING

 

DETECTION

Zircon’s WireWarning

 Detection feature works continuously in StudScan, DeepScan

and Metal Scan modes. When live AC voltage is detected, the AC Icon will appear 

in the display and the display will light red until AC is no longer detected. If scanning 

begins directly over an area with live AC wire, the AC Icon and display will flash red 

continuously. Use extreme caution under these circumstances or whenever live AC wiring 

is present.

Electrical field locators may not detect live AC wires if wires 

are more than 50 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.

7. SCANNING IN METAL MODE

1. Move mode switch to Metal Scan. Place the tool flat on the wall, then press and 

hold the Power Button. Wait for the tool to beep to confirm calibration has completed. 

Display will light blue with the word “METAL” to indicate the mode.
2. (

Figure A

) While holding the Power Button, slowly slide the tool across the surface. 

Mark the location where you get the highest metal indication (the most Target 

Indication Bars on the screen). If the signal is strong, the SpotLite

 Pointer will also 

illuminate and a steady beep will sound. Continue in the same direction until the 

Indication Bars reduce.
3. Without releasing the Power Button, reverse direction (back towards the previous 

mark) and mark the location where the Target Indication Bars peak. The midpoint 

between the two marks is the approximate location of the center of the metal object.

INTERACTIVE CALIBRATION

Interactive calibration is the act of calibrating the tool closer to the target to reduce 

the tool’s sensitivity. In Metal Scan, you can perform interactive calibration to adjust 

the tool’s sensitivity to metal. This is ideal when your scan indicates metal over a large 

area. To refine your scanning area and narrow the location of the metal target, follow 

Step 4 below.
4. (

Figure B

) To further pinpoint the location of the metal target, release the  

Power Button. Place the tool on the wall over one of your previous marked locations, 

calibrate, and scan the area again. This will reset the tool to a lower sensitivity and 

WARNING

WARNING

WARNING

MultiScanner

   L550c OneStep

Multifunction Wall Scanner

EN

Detects other objects besides studs  

in StudScan mode. 
Finds more targets than there  

should be.

• Electrical wiring and metal/plastic pipes may be  

near or touching back surface of wall.

• Scan the area in Metal Scan and AC Scan to determine if metal or hot AC is present.

• Check for other studs equally spaced to either side 30, 40, or 60 cm apart or for the same stud at several places 

directly above or below the first scan area.

• A stud reading would measure approximately 38 mm apart from each edge; anything larger or smaller is most 

likely not a stud if not near a door or window.

9. HELPFUL HINTS

 

(See also Section 2, OPERATING TIPS)

 

Situation

Probable Cause

Solution

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 product freight prepaid with proof of purchase date (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 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. PST 
[email protected] • www.zircon.com
© 2017 Zircon Corporation • P/N 69444 • Rev A 11/17

Visit www.zircon.com for the most current instructions.

ACT, ColorTrip, DeepScan, MultiScanner, OneStep, SpotLite, WireWarning, and Zircon are registered trademarks or trademarks of Zircon Corporation.

Constant readings of studs near 

windows and doors.

Display flashing red.

• Double and triple studs are usually found around  

doors and windows. Solid headers are above them.

• Tool calibrated directly over an area where live  

AC was detected.

• Detect outer edges so you know where to begin.

• Release the Power Button, slide the tool 7–8 cm to the left or right, and begin your scan again.

You suspect electrical wires, but do not 

detect any.

Tool not operating.
Flashing Low Battery Indicator.

• Battery level low for proper operation.

• Replace with brand new 9V alkaline battery.

• Wires are shielded by metal conduit, a braided  

wire layer, metallic wall covering, plywood shear 

wall, or other dense material.

• Wires deeper than 50 mm from surface might not  

be detected.

• Wires may not be live.

• Try Metal Scan mode to see if you can find metal, wire, or metal conduit.

• 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.

Use CAUTION when nailing, sawing, or drilling into walls, floors, and ceilings where these items may exist.

Image of metal object appears wider 

than actual size.

• Metal has greater density than wood.

• To reduce sensitivity, recalibrate MultiScanner

 

L

550c

 

over either of first two marks (Metal Scan mode only.  

See Section 7)

Difficulty detecting metal.

• Tool calibrated over metal object.

• Metal targets too deep or 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 Zircon logo.

Area of voltage appears much larger  

than actual wire (AC only).

• Voltage detection can spread on drywall as much  

as 30 cm laterally from each side of an actual 

electrical wire.

• To narrow detection, turn unit off and on again at the edge of where wire was first detected and scan again.

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