Update: The 12V radar scanner is finally available, but according to the 7 reviews already up on Amazon, which all rate it poorly, there might be something wrong with the scanner’s design, construction, or performance quality. The common complaint is with the wall scanner giving false readings.
We were disinvited from the media event where the scanner was introduced and have not received a test unit, and so we cannot validate or refute the negative early reviews we’ve read.
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Dewalt has come out with a new addition to their 12V Max cordless platform – a hand-held radar scanner. Other recent test and measurement additions to Dewalt’s 12V lineup include a sub-$1000 thermal imaging camera and new smaller diameter cables for their inspection camera.
The new radar scanner, model DCT418, utilizes radar sensing technology to detect AND identify wood, ferrous metal, non-ferrous metal, live electric wires, and PVC. Its power is not limitless, but it can sense and identify these materials behind drywall, plywood, concrete, marble, and ceramic tile up to 3-inches thick.
Although designed as a wall scanner, the DCT418 can probably be used on floors and ceilings as well as long as users keep in mind the 3-inch maximum sensing depth.
The scanner has a pre-scan mapping mode that reduces setup time by eliminating the need for calibration and manual setting changes.
It also features a tracking bar that counts the number of objects detected in a 9.8-foot section, and a confidence meter that corresponds to signal strength.
The 1-battery 12V Max kit (DCT418S1) is priced at $300.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
This post was originally published on Jan 30th, 2013, and republished on Oct 18th, 2013, with minor updates.
Brian Buehler
I hope you get one of these to review. Bosch has a similar tool that is far more expensive (and poor reviews at the Bosch site).
CecilTheTurtle
I’d be interested to see how well it does with plaster and lathe.
Bobby
I purchased the Bosch sometime back… Actually returned it the very next day, as it would constant erroneous readings… Hope Dewalt does better…
joe
nice that it will be available as bare.
Dave
I just recieved this tool and I am not impressed. It gives inconsistent and false readings. It does an ok job for studs but is not reliable for electrical and plumbing. Not worth
$300
Sefron2000
Disappointing to hear the reviews coming in are -negative, since I have been waiting months to buy this to. I currently use the Franklin Sensors ProSensor 710 for home, but I’m now looking into buying a more professional Digital Wall Scanner for work; Bosch GMS120 – after recently watching Tools in Action video review of it.
Q: ToolGuyd will you ever have any upcoming reviews or recommendations on any digital Wall Scanners, to recommend for DIY home users or professionals?
LORDDiESEL
I’ve been using the Franklin Pro at work for a couple months now. I love it! Everyone on site asks to use it all the time.
Javier
That’s the problem with all wall scanners is that none of them are perfect. Especially since people pay a pretty penny for these things nobody’s going to be satisfied unless it works consistently.
Bob
I just received the unit after waiting for delivery from Amazon.
A disappointment considering the price.
A simple smooth wall with half inch drywall and wood studs every 16″, the scanner had 3 false indications, once indicating a wood stud was a metallic pipe, and 2 wood studs were shown as PVC pipe. It did detect 2 studs as wood and an electrical wire running down a stud to a wall switch, but overall that is poor. I will be sending it back to Amazon.
Greg
All the amazon reviews are horrible. I would not touch this thing with a 10 foot pole.
Brian
So, no “realtime” imaging? It won’t show me the corpses that got plastered over in the 1800’s?
Chris
I returned mine to amazon. All I can say is it’s a POS. my magnetic stud finder @ $5 was more accurate. It also can’t find electrical and pipe though. But it is $295 cheaper. I’m not happy they released this for sale knowing it didnt function correctly.
Tim
What a disappointing POS!!!! I can’t believe that I’ve waited since June for this utterly worthless $300.00 tool, this thing can barely find a stud and often incorrectly
detects it as PVC. A $20.00 zircon stud finder can do a better job than this thing can, Save your money.
Jason
I was wondering Stuart if you have heard that Dewalt has a stop sale on the unit. It’s been scrubbed from Dewalt’s webpage. I wonder if they have just gave up on the unit as not workable with the technology and price point they want.
Stuart
I was not aware of this, thanks for the note! I looked at Amazon’s now 16 1-star reviews, and one of them mentions that Dewalt suggested they return their defective product or bring it to a service center.
I don’t really expect to hear back from Dewalt about this. The problems either resulted from a poor design, poor production quality, poor quality control, a lack of testing or a combination of these or similar factors. It will be best if they just sweep the debacle under the rug until they work out all the bugs.
Jason
It seemed like they were having issues the time they gave as a ship date slipped really bad it took almost 8 more months before it even showed up at online retailers and as you mentioned it’s only got 1 star reviews. The other thing is I have not seen any reviews posted up of the unit it’s only previews at the Dewalt event.
Charles Tipper
I have one of these units and I love it, I have not picked up a stud finder since I got this unit. In fact the other day it work too well! I was getting really weird readings it was giving me everything behind the wall, PVC, metal, wire,, wood etc. it was determined that the radar scanner was picking up the items on a shelf on the other side of the wall In my work shop. Once I removed the items from the shelf it gave me the proper readings.
I don’t know why people are having problems with this unit, using it as described in the instructions and it works perfectly fine; It’s fantastic!
Richard
Bosch D-Tect 150SV is another useless tool. The price is very high for a silly tool.
They should reduce the price, about 5 times, for the quality of those products.
Don’t buy them, all are very weak and OVERPRICED!