Franklin Sensors ProSensor M150/X990 Stud Finder with Live Wire Detection and 9-Sensors, Wood & Metal Stud Detector/Wall Scanner, Made in The USA

Love it. LOVE IT. Had a nightmare trying to find actual studs using one of those Chinese stud finders, it gave me false readings all over the place. Sure it was fancy with different depth readings and it claimed it could detect steel and whatever, but -- it was a nightmare to use. Threw it in the trash.Saw all the 5-star reviews on Franklin. Practically no "features", it just tells you where the stud is, and gives you a really really good indication where the center of that stud is.It's got a series of sensors, and each one lights up when it detects a density difference behind the drywall. The practical effect is that it shows five red lights when there's a stud there. You can slide it up, down, sideways, whatever, those five lights will show where the stud is. Move it side to side, and the five lights will move across the sensor, targeting exactly where the stud is. And if you move the sensor so it's centered over the stud, then a green light pops up to show you where the center is.This particular unit also senses live electrical wire behind the drywall. It doesn't give you fancy graphs or drawings like the crapola cheapo sensors; instead it just lights up a yellow "electricity" symbol if it detects live wires. You can move it up, down, and around, to narrow where the wires are.Those other sensors are like all-in-one multitools, but I've had a few and they all just suck. The Franklin is like a sledgehammer -- it does exactly what it does, it doesn't do anything else, it has one job, and it NAILS that job.

The Franklin Sensors ProSensor M150 is a standout tool for anyone tackling home improvement projects. Equipped with 9 precision sensors, it offers unparalleled accuracy by simultaneously detecting the full width of studs, including their center and edges. This feature is particularly beneficial for locating both single and double studs, which can be challenging for other stud finders. The LED display provides clear visual feedback, enhancing confidence during installations. Additionally, the built-in live wire detection adds an extra layer of safety, alerting users to potential electrical hazards behind the wall. With its user-friendly design and reliable performance, the ProSensor M150 is a valuable addition to any toolkit

The algorithm in the firmware of this stud finder is very effective in walls that are constructed with vertical studs. Unfortunately it will give misleading results if the “studs” are installed at a 45 degree angle by a “framer” who cut them too long in a half-wall and then just glued them to the drywall (and no, these were not sway braces - they weren't even nailed at the bottom plate). Moral of the story: if the studs are not indicated by the stud finder at same horizontal location in the top, center and bottom of the wall, something strange is going on. I still consider this a very good stud finder.

Easy to use on drywall to find studs and centers, mixed results with horsehair plaster walls and lathe. Was able to find a few in the plaster, so not a total fail.

This is a great device for detecting studs behind drywall. A night and day difference between the old one-sensor Zircon I've used in the past versus this one with several independent sensors. Since there are multiple sensors, it's easy to see how wide the studs are without having to go back and forth and marking up the edge of the stud on the dry wall. Also nice to see the sensor closest to center turn green. Definitely saves time to be able to view the size of the studs I'm working with before deciding to drill into the wall.I've had mixed results with the live wire detection. The live wire alert will sometimes pop up without me moving the scanner on the wall. I'm assuming that occurs when I'm near a live wire but not exactly on top of the wires. Unsure. But at least it's a warning there may be electrical dangers I may encounter at the current location.Even if you don't go with this detector, spend the extra money to get a detector with the same form factor with multiple sensors. That's the most important part of these scanners.

Finally, a stud finder that works! In the past I have bought the magnet type and another kind of electrical scanners. None have been reliable for my use with textured dry wall and I've ended up having to drill small holes to find them. This design is different and works great. Shows red lights as you move back and forth over the studs and even gives a green light when it learns / finds the center. If there was a Nobel Prize given for tools this one might win it and it's affordable too.

Finally a stud sensor that works every time. It really finds the exact center of a stud quickly and also finds electrical wiring. I have had two other sensors which had marginal success. This unit worked first time every time. The only place it had a little trouble was on an exterior wall with insulation and stucco mesh behind the drywall. It differentiated fairly well and with a little practice, I was able to get a fairly accurate result on the exterior wall. It is intuitive and easy to use. Really happy with the accuracy of the sensor.

Instantly shows multiple studs with crazy accuracy. No more guessing or sliding around the wall forever. Picks up metal and live wires too. If you’re doing installs — this is the one to get.