How it works (see figure B)
The measuring tool checks the base material of the sensor area (17) in the measurement direction A up to the maximum detection depth.
Metal objects (e.g. copper pipe or reinforcing steel) and live cables (50–60 Hz) are automatically searched for during each measurement. The metal/electricity button (4) will light up to provide confirmation.
To also search for wood in dry walls, press the wood button (5). This function is confirmed by the wood button (5) lighting up. To switch off the wood detection function, press either the wood button (5) or the metal/electricity button (4) so that the wood button (5) turns off.
Note: Only switch on the wood detection function for searching in dry walls with a wooden substructure. On other surfaces, the measurement result may be impaired.
Position the measuring tool on/against the surface being inspected. The light-up ring (1) will light up to indicate readiness to measure.
Hold the measuring tool uniformly by the gripping surface (8). Do not change your grip during the measurement and, in particular, do not touch the sensor area (17).
Always move the measuring tool in a straight line in direction B over the surface, applying light pressure, without lifting it off or changing the pressure. The measuring tool should primarily be moved transversely to the object you are searching for. If you do not know how the object is aligned in the wall, perform a cross measurement (see figure C).
Important information for locating steel reinforcement: The measuring tool first needs to detect that it is a substrate with a meshed steel reinforcement. To do this, move the measuring tool in a circular motion (> 30 cm diameter) over the substrate before taking the actual measurement. Once this is done, do not lift the measuring tool off the substrate then perform the measurement as usual. Ideally, the measurement should pass over an intersection point and a single mesh of the steel reinforcement.
Detection Indicators:
- If no object is detected below the sensor area, the light-up ring (1) will light up green. The measuring indicator (b) is empty and no audio signal will sound.
- When the measuring tool approaches an object, the light-up ring (1) will light up red. As the measuring tool gets closer, the amplitude in the measuring indicator (b) will increase and the audio signal will sound more quickly.
- Above the centre of an object, the measuring indicator (b) will indicate the maximum amplitude of the measurement, the object centre indicators (a) will light up and an audio signal will sound. The light-up ring (1) will continue to light up red.
- When the measuring tool moves away from the object, the object centre indicators (a) will turn off, the amplitude in the measuring indicator (b) will decrease and the audio signal will sound more slowly.
Objects are only displayed roughly the first time you move over the centre and boundaries of the object.
In order to then locate the exact centre of an object, move the measuring tool back in the direction of the object without lifting it off until the object centre is indicated again (the object centre indicators (a) will light up).
In order to locate the boundaries of the object with greater precision, continue to move the measuring tool in a straight line from the object's centre until the light-up ring (1) is no longer lit up red.
The marking hole (2) is located above the central measuring point. If necessary, you can use this to mark the centre or boundaries of the object.
Note: After you have marked an object through the marking hole (2) (e.g. with a pencil), you will need to start a new measurement because the measurement may be impaired by the pencil.
The type of object found is indicated on the display:
(h) | Non-magnetic metal, e.g. copper pipe | |
(g) | Magnetic metal, e.g. rebar | |
(f) | Live, e.g. power lines | |
(e) | Non-metallic, e.g. wooden beams |
- The cable must be live. You should therefore connect electricity consumers (e.g. lights, appliances) to the electricity cable you are trying to find. Switch on the electricity consumers to ensure that the electricity cable is live.
- The 50–60 Hz signal from the electricity cable must be able to reach the measuring tool. If the cable is in damp walls (e.g. > 50 % humidity), behind metallic foil (e.g. thermal insulation) or in an empty metal pipe, the signal will not reach the measuring tool and you will not be able to find the cable.
- The measuring tool must be sufficiently earthed. To do this, hold it firmly (without gloves) by the gripping surface (8). Make sure that you are in good contact with the floor. Insulating shoes, ladders or platforms may compromise your contact with the floor. The floor must also be earthed in order for live cables to be detected.
- The 50–60 Hz signal from the electricity cable must be stronger along the cable than in its immediate vicinity. If the wall is very damp or poorly earthed, the signal will be the same strength throughout the wall. This will result in the measuring tool indicating that it has found a signal over a large area, but it will not be able to detect the exact location of the cable.
In this instance, it may be helpful to place your free hand on the wall 20–30 cm from the measuring tool in order to conduct the signal away from the wall. However, you should not change the position of your free hand during the measuring process.
- Multi-phase (known as three-phase current or heavy current) electricity cables cannot be detected as live cables because the signals from the different phases cancel each other out. You can, however, detect multi-phase electricity cables at shallow depths as metal objects.
- Conductive wall surfaces, such as certain tiles, may result in electricity cables no longer being indicated or the light-up ring (1) lighting up red over a large area.
- Flat lying electricity cables (up to max. 2–3 cm in depth) may also be indicated as metal objects. However, this does not apply to solid-wire cables.
- Switch off power consumers and make sure that live cables are de-energised before drilling, sawing or milling into walls, ceilings or floors. After performing any kind of work, check to ensure that objects placed on the substrate are not live.
- When the wood detection function is switched on, other objects, such as water-filled plastic pipes, power cables or gas lines, may be indicated as non-metallic objects in certain circumstances. Before drilling, sawing or milling, use other sources of information to check that the object found is actually a wooden beam and not another object (e.g. a plastic pipe, power cable, gas line).
- Nails and screws in the base material may result in wooden beams being identified as metal objects.
- Wider objects can be identified by the light-up ring (1) lighting up red over a wide area. Under certain circumstances, wide objects may not be indicated to their entire extent.
- Before drilling, sawing or routing into walls, refer to other sources of information to ensure that you eliminate hazards. As the measuring results can be influenced through ambient conditions or the nature of the wall, there may be a hazard even though the measuring indicator (b) does not indicate an object in the sensor area, no audio signal sounds and the light-up ring (1) lights up green.