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1. Pressure Level Page 80 Unit or Term Abbreviation Definition Dose Do Noise dose is a percentage number where 100 Dose 85 dB A for 8 hours Note that not only is the sound level important 85 dBA but also the time a person was exposed 8 hours Dose per Hour Hr Designed to show the Dose exposure over each hour Projected Dose Pr Projected dose allows the present accumulated dose over Noise Exposure Percentile Sound Levels LEp d the present logged time duration to be projected forward to give the predicted 8 hour dose This assumes the logged dose rate remains constant over the 8 hour period A time inhibit on Castle instruments prevents projections being made if the measurement duration is less than five minutes Personal noise exposure usually referred to a daily 8 hour rate Exposed means exposed whilst at work expressed in dB A Pale EE P 1 1 To LEp d 10log SC Where Te the duration of the person s personal exposure to sound Tg 8 hours 28800 seconds Pg 20 Pa PA 7 the time varying value of A weighted instantaneous sound pressure in Pascal s in the undisturbed field in air at atmospheric pressure to which the person is exposed The dB A level exceeded n of the time Page 81 Disclaimer Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of both the instrument described and the associated documentation Castle G
2. 6 Bap rc 7 Measuring belle qus at ise Epod ol ete pce ue tco cS pt cd iuc 7 Sound Level E Te Te 7 Reflections sheaa A 8 len Ile EE 8 Slow Weighting salad 8 Ese MEIER Agent Eerst 8 Impulse Weighting Model L Only eere 8 Frequency Weighting Alt Sia 9 A Eed lae iet bia EE 9 Ee A Eme 9 ZAIN CI Le EE 9g Overload and Under Range Conditions eene 10 ele ie befier DEE 10 Under Range CODSIBOE side n n eg 10 Meas ning Range TEE E ETT 11 Changing Range All models except GA257B 8 GA295 7L 11 Lock Keypad GA257B amp GA E E DEE 12 Ghiapter are e E IE HENRI ases 13 Erro MT E 13 Models Sra C 13 Models Lu CON 13 PM ee 14 Keypad Layout GA116 GA216 Models B 8 L sss 15 Keypad Layouts GA257L S GA257B sic t te sadi 16 Powering Your Odd VIBUBT d lid ake eod tec aa 17 Switching Your Sonus Meter On Off eene 18 A 19 Main Men Structural AI 19 Models GA1 16l GA2 16l GA1 16B GA2 16B GA257B s 20 Calibration CAL SO tuna aa A 20 Exposure Time ET lt OK ra ee Frequency Time Weighting WTG OK eren 2p Exchange Rate EXCH Sisa doo e3 Crterion CR le mmm 23 Threshold THR lt OK Mm 24 Keypad Lock LOCK EE 24 Display Contrast CONT SENS aan 25 Models GA1 16L GA2 16L DAeDLE scitis da ars 26 Ca
3. In the MENU display screen use the 4 w arrow keys as required until the following is displayed CONT lt OK Press and the instrument will display the following or c to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen CONT ADJ Use the A w arrow keys to adjust the contrast as required Press to confirm a change and the instrument will briefly display DONE Or press c to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Page 25 Models GA116L GA216L GA257L Calibration CAL It is recommended that the instrument s calibration is checked and adjusted where necessary with a calibrator before readings being taken The calibration should be re checked after taking readings to confirm the validity of the results The calibrators recommended for use are the Castle GA601 GA607 which supply typically 94dB 104dB relative to 2OuPa pressure at a frequency of kHz Press 3 to check the battery condition scroll to the battery indicator screen using the a vw arrow keys if required Replace the battery if the indication is low In the menu display screen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed CAL Press and the instrument will now display the previous calibration level e g 94 0 The calibration will be performed at the selected level e g 94 0dB but may be changed in O 1 or 1 dB steps using the following keys Page 26 Key Cal
4. Training is becoming an ever more important area of consideration to industry professionals and the Castle Training Academy is fulfilling the need for more and more companies every year The Academy now offers competence training along with IOSH and CIEH qualifications What is more look out for our NEW City amp Guilds provision All courses come with professional CPD points and many are eligible for CITB and Train to Gain grant funding You can see a full list of courses and book online on our website www castletrainingacademy com Castle Rent There are a number of reasons why rental may be the solution for you You may only have a one off use a special contract a limited budget or a need for supplementary products In any case our flexible booking system next day a m delivery and open pricing mean that you can address any of these issues without delay For long term contracts such as construction projects Castle Rent is also a tax efficient way to own equipment Finally for peace of mind what better way is there to try a product before deciding to buy it We even give you money back if you do purchase The Advantages of Castle Rent Easier on cash flow Rent for long or short term as you need it Let the Tax Man pay for you Try before you buy Four weeks for the price of three No on going maintenance costs Sourcing service for any other equipment you need www castle rent com Castle Care Measure
5. For a number of the early years the company focused on the development of sound and vibration measuring equipment This was then progressed by adding training courses rental and consultancy eventually leading to the Castle of today which is helping many customers deal with a vast range of health safety and environmental issues in a variety of ways The future is a very exciting place at Castle and we are working on many new initiatives with our customers firmly in mind Copyright This manual is copyrighted with all rights reserved The manual may not be copied in part or in whole without the prior written consent of Castle Group Ltd Precautions e Only operate the instrument as described in this manual e These are precision instruments protect from shocks and vibrations e Take special care with the microphone The diaphragm is made from a very thin metal and is easily damaged e Ambient conditions for the operation of the unit are as follows Temperature 10 C to 50 C Relative Humidity 25 to 90 e Protect the unit from extremes of temperature and humidity direct sunlight and air with a high salt or sulphur content e Always turn the unit off after use Remove the batteries from the instrument when not in use for extended periods of time e Do not use any solvents or cleaning agents on the instrument Use only a soft dry cloth or a soft cloth lightly moistened with water when necessary e Do not allow any conductive ob
6. user Measurement Time Overload Interval Duration GA216l Lp Leg Lmax Cpeak LE Lep d Projected Lep d Elapsed time Overload GA216L GA21 6L P Lp Leg peak LE Path Lep d DOSE Dose Per Hour L10 L90 L user Measurement Time Overload Interval Duration GA116B GA216B Lp Lmax Cpeak Elapsed time Overload GA257B Lp Leg Zpeak Pa h Lep d Projected Lep d DOSE Projected DOSE Dose Per Hour Elapsed time Overload GA257L Lp Leg peak LE Pa h Lep d DOSE Dose Per Hour Measurement Time Overload Interval Duration Display Digital 1 x 8 alphanumeric digit size 7mm x 5mm Liquid Crystal Display Display Refresh Rate 200ms Detector Characteristics RMS and Peak Warm up time lt 2 minutes Environmental Stabilization Time 30 minutes Page 60 Linear Operating Range IEC 61672 2002 Model I B Instruments Test start point for frequencies 31 5Hz 1kHz 4kHz and 8kHz Display Range Start Point dB 35 100 dB 74 0 55 120 dB 94 0 75 140 dB 114 0 A Weighted Frequency Hz Display Range 31 5 1000 4000 8000 dB dB dB dB 35 100 dB 410 606 41 0 1000 41 0 100 0 41 0 100 0 55 120 dB 550 806 55 0 120 0 55 0 120 0 55 0 119 0 75 140 dB 75 0 100 6 75 0 140 0 75 0 140 0 75 0 140 0 C Weighted Frequency Hz Disp
7. 23 0 24 0 25 0 Electrical Signal Input Electrical signals can be applied to the Castle Sonus range of sound level meters by removing the acoustical microphone and replacing with a dummy microphone having a series capacitor of 18pF 2 The BNC termination is then used to interface with a suitable signal generator with an output impedance of 6000 at 1kHz Maximum Peak to Peak Electrical Signal Input For No Damage Model Max Input Voltage V l amp B 7 0 T 21 0 Upper Frequency for Periodic Acoustic Testing 4kHz IEC 61672 3 2006 Windshield The effects of using the KG205 60mm windshield 31 5Hz 0 0 1kHz 0 2 63Hz 0 1 2kHz 0 2 125Hz 0 1 4kHz 0 7 2 50Hz 0 1 8kHz 0 0 500Hz 0 2 The meter conforms to the Standards quoted when fitted with the windshield Page 64 Microphone GA1 161 GA116L ACO L Electret Condenser Microphone Cartridge Type 7146A Microphone reference point is the centre of the diaphragm Type MK80 ACO 71464 Specification Diameter inch 0 5 Hesponse Type Free Field Polarization V 0 0 Frequency Range Hz 20 8000 sensitivity mV Pa 25 0 Sensitivity dB re 1V Pa 32 0 1 5dB Capacitance pF 18 0 Max Sound Pressure Level dB 146 0 Temperature Coefficient dB C 0 01 The pressure to free field correction value to be applied when used with a Castle calibrator GAG01 GA60 7 or B amp K42
8. B instruments please ensure that all required readings have been taken from the instrument before turning off the instrument as all data is lost when the instrument is powered off Page 18 Chapter 4 Main Menu Structure The Main Menu is activated by pressing the MENU Key once Pressing the Key again will return the instrument to the last parameter display screen unless multiple screens have been accessed in which case the sound pressure level parameter screen will be displayed Pressing the c Key always returns to the sound pressure level parameter screen unless sub menus are open in which case refer to the specific function in the user manual to determine its action Use the Up and Down Arrow Keys to scroll through the available options Press the key to select the required menu option Some options may also have further sub menus where further options are available Again use the 4 v Arrow Keys to scroll through the available options and use the OK key to accept Depending on your instrument model the following Menu options are available Page 19 Models GA1 161 GA216l GA116B GA216B GA257B CAL OK Calibrate Instrument ALL ET OK Set Exposure Time GA116l GA216 GA257B Set Frequency amp Time GA1161 GA116B ie SUN Weightings GA216 GA216B Calibration CAL OK It is recommended that the instrument s calibration is checked and adjusted where necessary with a calibrator before readings being taken
9. Projected LEp d Dose Projected Dose Dose per Hour Pascal Squared Hours Overload Yes No Page 49 The table below is a breakdown of all the possible display parameters with a brief description Please see the previous tables to determine which parameters your instrument displays Frequency and Time Weighted Sound Pressure Level LAF A Weighted Fast LAF 93 7 LCF C Weighted Fast LAS A Weighted Slow LCS C Weighted Slow Displays the Frequency Weighted Leq LAq 93 7 LAq A Weighted Leq LCq C Weighted Leq Maximum rms Sound Pressure Level Freq Weighted Amx 97 3 Amx A Weighted Max Level Cmx C Weighted Max Level Maximum Peak Level Reached Freq Weighted Fixed Cpk 100 3 Lok C Weighted Peak Level All except GA257B Zpk Flat or Linear Weighted Peak Level GA257B Only 00 01 33 Run time duration of REC MODE Elapsed Time hh mm ss Lep 87 1 Displays the Lep d Displays the projected Lep d assuming an exposure length Ple 78 6 set in the Exposure Time Sound Exposure Level Freq Weighted LAE 93 1 LAE A Weighted Sound Exposure Level LCE C Weighted Sound Exposure Level Do 27 2 Dose dependent on exchange and criterion Pr 212 Displays the projected DOSE assuming an 8 hour shift P2h 0 02 Indicates the energy that has been received in Pascal Squared Hours O L NO Overload latch that indicates if an OVERLOAD has occurred O L YES Can only be reset by pressing the C key Indi
10. The calibration should be re checked after taking readings to confirm the validity of the results The calibrators recommended for use are the Castle GABO01 GABU7 which supply typically 94dB 104dB relative to 2OuPa pressure at a frequency of kHz Press 3 to check the battery condition scroll to the battery indicator screen using the a w arrow keys if required Replace the battery if the indication is low In the MENU display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed CAL OK Press and the instrument will now display the previous calibration level e g 94 0 Page 20 The calibration will be performed at the selected level e g 94 0dB but may be changed in 0 1 or 1 dB steps using the following keys Key Calibration Level Adjustment dB a 0 1 v 0 1 i 1 0 o n 1 0 Ensure the calibrator is attached to the microphone by gently inserting the microphone into the cavity of the calibrator A certain amount of resistance should be felt whilst inserting the microphone as the o ring seal on the calibrator forms a seal around the microphone Ensure that the calibrator is switched on and set to the chosen level and all correction factors for atmospheric pressure and microphone type have been accounted for The pressure to free field correction value to be applied when used with a Castle calibrator GABO1 GA607 or a BGK4231 is as follows Calibra
11. The number of cyclical variations per unit time Octave Bands Hz Frequency ranges in which the upper limit of each band is twice the lower limit Octave bands are identified by their geometric mean frequency or centre frequency Sound Power W The acoustic power of a sound source expressed in Watts Sound Power Level Ly The acoustic power radiated from a given sound source as related to a reference power level typically 1012 WJ expressed in decibel as W Ly 1 Olog s aB 10 or Ly 10log W 12008 W acoustic power in Watts Le 1 Watt 120 dB for Lyy Sound Pressure P Fluctuations in air pressure caused by the presence of sound waves Sound Pressure SPL The ratio expressed in decibels of mean square sound Level pressure to a reference mean square pressure which by convention has been selected to be equal to the assumed threshold of hearing P SPL 20log P Where SPL Sound Pressure Level P Root Mean Square sound pressure Po 2x 105 Nm 20uPa RMS Weighting A dB A An electronic or digital filter in a sound level meter which Network approximates under defused conditions the frequency response of the human ear The A Weighting network is the one most commonly used Equivalent Leoy The equivalent continuous level which is a measure of the Continuous energy content of a sound over a time period It gives a Frequency single figure expressing the equivalent of a varying level It is Weighted Sound an energy average
12. has a different sound incidence angle The sound incidence angle determines the angle the instrument is held relative to the actual noise source being measured 1 Free Field Sound Incidence Angle O Point the sound meter directly towards the noise source 2 Pressure Sound Incidence Angle 90 Point the sound meter at 90 towards the noise source 3 Random Incidence Point the sound meter at approximately 70 towards the noise source All Sonus meters are supplied with Free Field measurement microphones Microphone Polarisation Microphones require a polarisation voltage to operate and are manufactured in two ways 1 Externally Polarised These microphones require an external charge for the microphone to operate which is generally 200V and supplied by the sound level meter 2 Pre Polarised These microphones generate the polarisation voltage internally and do not require the externally generated 200V polarisation charge All microphones supplied with Sonus meters are Pre Polarised Page 4 Microphone Sensitivity The sensitivity of a microphone is determined by the output voltage it produces for a defined sound source Microphones are manufactured with numerous sensitivity levels and operate within a specified tolerance Different microphones of the same model may therefore give slight differences in readings when used on the same sound meter To allow for this all Sonus meters have been designed to accommodate any va
13. have an overload latch indicator which can be viewed by scrolling through the available parameters Depending on whether an overload has occurred or not the overload latch screen will display either off the following Oh GNO O L YES On models I and B if an overload has been latched it can be removed in Stop Mode or Record Mode by resetting the parameters On model L instruments a latched overload can be removed in Stop Mode by resetting parameters and if in Record Mode it is automatically removed when the recording has been stopped Under Range Condition An under range condition occurs when the noise source is more than 0 1dB below the bottom of the range selected at which point an under range indicator will flash on the display of your meter In such circumstances it is highly recommended to change to a higher range with a higher sensitivity i e more gain as your meter will be out of specification The under range indicator will flash for a minimum of one second or while the under range condition remains Where the noise source is more than O 5dB below the bottom of the selected range no value or under range warning is displayed Page 10 Measuring Ranges The Sonus instrument range has been specifically designed to utilise only three measuring ranges The three available ranges ensure complete accuracy throughout the entire dynamic range whilst ensuring the instrument remains low power to maximise operational
14. life from one PP3 battery The measuring display ranges available are as follows Models L dB Models B dB 30 100 35 100 50 120 55 120 70 140 75 140 Please note that the GA257L and GA257B Dose meter models operate on the fixed range 70 140 dB and 75 140 dB respectively Changing Range All models except GA257B and GA257L dB To change the measuring range press the key on the keypad The current measuring range will be shown and indicated with an asterisk o0 120 55 120 Use the Up and Down Arrow Keys ay to scroll through the available ranges Press MCN to select the required range The instrument briefly displays the following to confirm a change has been made and returns to the last parameter screen unless multiple screens have been accessed in which case the sound pressure level parameter screen will be displayed DONE dB Press the key to return to the previous screen without selection If multiple screens have been accessed the sound pressure level parameter screen will be displayed Press the key to return to sound pressure level parameter screen without making a selection Heturning to the previous screen is also possible Page 11 Lock Keypad GA257B and GA257L DECH immediately place the instrument in Lock mode The instrument will constantly display the battery status To UNLOCK the keypad press C OK then C respectively It is also possible to LOCK the k
15. weighting is very different from Slow Fast and Impulse weighting in that it is not an rms quantity It is simply the crest of the sound pressure level and it is shown as the highest Peak achieved within the measuring period The rise time of the Peak is extremely sharp and it is not uncommon for the Peak to be much higher than the SPL rms Lmax Lmin Peak Lmax is the highest rms sound pressure level within the measuring period with slow fast or impulse time weighting selected Lmin is the lowest rms sound pressure level within the measuring period with slow or fast time weighting selected Peak is the crest linear of the sound pressure within the measuring period not rms Leq Equivalent Continuous Sound Pressure Level Leq is the constant noise level that would result in the same total sound energy being produced over a given period lt can be measured using A C or Z frequency weighting TIME MINS Page 74 Leq can be described mathematically by the following equation 2 la 10108 PU Co Cit o Where Leq is the equivalent continuous linear weighted sound pressure level re 20 Pa determined over a measured time interval TM sec s P t is the instantaneous sound pressure of the sound signal Pg is the reference sound pressure of 20 uPa When the instantaneous A weighted sound pressure PA of the sound signal is introduced then the equivalent continuous A weighted sound pressure leve
16. 0 100 0 90 120 dB 90 0 80 6 50 0 120 0 50 0 120 0 90 0 119 0 70 140 dB 70 0 100 6 70 0 140 0 70 0 140 0 70 0 140 0 For the GA257L instrument refer only to the display range 70 40dB Page 62 Total Measuring Range The difference between the lowest possible measurement on the most sensitive range and the highest level on the least sensitive range at a frequency of 1kHz Models I amp B Model L A Weighted 41 0 140 0 dB 32 0 140 0 dB C Weighted 41 0 140 0 dB 33 0 140 0 dB Z or LIN Weighted N A 34 0 140 0 dB Peak Operating Range 1kHz Display Range Models T 8 B Models L 30 100dB 63 0 103 0 40 0 103 0 90 120dB 830 123 0 60 0 123 0 70 140 dB 103 0 143 0 80 0 143 0 Acoustic Frequency Range Microphone Frequency Range Hz ACO 7146A 20 to 8000 ACO 7052 20 to 8000 Electrical Characteristics Frequency Range Hz 1 to 20000 Reference Points Models I B Model L Description Value Value Sound Pressure Level 94 0dB 94 0dB Range 95 120 50 120 Frequency 1kHz 1kHz Page 63 Typical Electrical Self Generated Noise Level Model A Weighting dB C Weighting dB Z Weighting dB 38 0 NA T amp B 32 0 L
17. 31 is as follows O 2dB The capsule can be removed by unscrewing anti clockwise although great care must be taken when doing this to avoid damage to either the capsule or the instrument Re fitting is a reverse of the above Type MK80O ACO 7146A Typical Microphone Response 16Hz 0 0 1kHz 0 0 31 5Hz 0 0 2kHz 0 0 63Hz 0 0 4kHz 0 1 125Hz 0 0 akHz 0 7 250Hz 0 0 16kHz 1 0 500Hz 0 0 Typical Actuator to free field correction factors dB of an MK80 ACO 71464 microphone Based on 500Hz 0 200Hz 0 0 e okHz 1 0 315Hz 0 0 3 15kHz 1 2 400Hz 0 0 4kHz 1 9 o00Hz 0 0 okHz 2 0 630Hz 0 0 6 3kHz 2 5 800Hz 0 0 akHz 3 8 1kHz 0 0 10kHz 4 6 1 25kHz 0 2 12 5kHz 6 8 1 6kHz 0 4 16kHz 8 8 2kHz 0 5 eOkHz 10 0 Microphone GA21 61 GA216B GA216L GA257B GA257L MK79 ACO je Electret Condenser Microphone Cartridge Type 7052 Microphone reference point is the centre of the diaphragm Type MK79 ACO 7052 Specification Diameter inch 0 5 Hesponse Type Free Field Polarization V 0 0 Frequency Range Hz 20 8000 sensitivity mV Pa 25 0 Sensitivity dB re 1V Pa 32 0 Capacitance pF 18 0 Max Sound Pressure Level dB 146 0 Temperature Coefficient dB C 0 01 The pressure to free field correction value to be applied when used with a Castle calibrator GAGO1 GA607 or B amp K4237 is as follows O 2dB The cap
18. 52 1997 A1 2001 GA257B GA257L IEC 61252 1993 BS EN 61252 1997 A1 2001 Time Weighting GA116l SLOW and FAST according to IEC 61672 1 Class 1 GA116L SLOW FAST and IMPULSE according to IEC 61672 1 Class 1 Page 58 GA216l GA216B SLOW and FAST according to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 GA216L GA257L SLOW FAST and IMPULSE according to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 GA257B FAST according to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 Frequency Weighting GA116l A and C weightings according to IEC 61672 1 Class 1 GA116L A C and Z weightings according to IEC 61672 1 Class 1 GA216l GA216B A and C weightings according to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 GA216L GA216L P GA257L A C and Z weightings according to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 GA257 A weighting according to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 Peak Frequency Weighting GA116l C weighted to IEC 61672 1 Class 1 GA116L C weighted to IEC 61672 1 Class 1 Z weighted to IEC 61672 1 Class 1 GA216l GA216B C weighted to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 GA216L GA21L P GA257L C weighted to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 Z weighted to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 GA257 Z weighted to IEC 61672 1 Class 2 Page 59 Measurement Parameters GA116l Lp Leg Lmax Cpeak LE Pa h Lep d Projected Lep d DOSE Projected DOSE Dose Per Hour Elapsed time Overload GA116L Lp Leg Lmax peak LE Path Lep d DOSE Dose Per Hour L10 L90 L
19. D 3 Cosi CASTLE SONUS RANGE Sound Level Meter amp Dose Meter Operating Manual www castlegroup co uk GROUP e Thank you for buying a Castle product am sure you will find both the goods and the service to be of the highest quality but if not then please feel free to write to me personally and will ensure that your needs are dealt with immediately This manual is designed to show you the operation of the goods you have purchased and a very brief insight into acoustics itself If you would like to become a competent person in the eyes of the law then you may like to know more about our Competent Persons training course for the Noise at Work Regulations It is my intention for Castle Group Ltd to provide a complete range of Noise and Vibration products and Services of the highest standard If you would like to know more about any of our other products and services then please telephone on 44 0 1723 584250 Simon Bull Managing Director To the Safety Health and Environment Professional The issues faced every day by Health Safety and Environmental professionals are vast and varied At Castle we have spent a lot of time developing products and services to make your life easier Castle Group Ltd are one of the leading international group specialists in technical safety health and environment solutions Whether you are in Industry Construction Local Authority or anywhere there are safety or en
20. ETUP In the menu display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed Press to enter the SETUP sub menu page Depending on your instrument model the following SETUP options are available Instruments GA116L GA216L GA257L omar mw INTERVAL ALL CONTRAST ALL See User Mode for further details Page 28 Frequency Weighting FREQ WGT The frequency weighting of the instrument can only be changed if the instrument has the User Mode set to ALL See User Mode for further details Channel 1 is always ON and fixed to A Weighting Channel 2 can either be C or Z weighted and can be switched OFF either by User Mode selection or selecting only A weighting In the SETUP display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed FREO WGT Press and the instrument will display the currently selected Frequency Weighting indicated with an asterisk A F Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display Description A Channel 1 A Frequency Weighting AC Channel 1 A Frequency Weighting Channel 2 C Frequency Weighting Channel 1 A Frequency Weighting Channel 2 Z LIN Frequency Weighting A Z Press to confirm a change and the instrument will briefly display DONE Or press c to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen If the frequency weighting i
21. LU models only all data captured can be saved to the internal flash memory and viewed or downloaded to Castle s noise analysis software dBdataPro as and when required All instruments start in Stop mode Whilst the instrument is in Stop mode on T and B models noise activity is not monitored and parameter calculations are halted during this period On L models calculations are displayed but not stored in flash memory Model T B Instruments Whilst in Stop mode the meter will flash between the current parameter and the following STOP To enter Record mode press the STOP RECORD Key be on your instruments keypad and the following is briefly displayed REC MODE During Record mode the noise activity is analysed and all parameters available on your instrument are calculated All functions can be held so that they do not update by pressing the em key again The meter is now again in STOP mode In STOP mode the display may be read as normal allowing the user to take note of any required readings Toggle operation using the key as required Always RESET data before Record mode is entered See Reset Data for more information Page 44 Model L Instruments On L model instruments whilst in Stop mode only the parameter name and value are displayed To enter Record mode press the STOP RECORD Key om on your instruments keypad and the following is briefly displayed REC MODE Data
22. Slow LAI A Weighted Impulse LCF C Weighted Fast ol LCS C Weighted Slow LCI C Weighted Impulse LZF Z Weighted Fast LZS Z Weighted Slow LZI Z Weighted Impulse Displays the Frequency Weighted Leq LAq A Weighted Leq sa LCq C Weighted Leg LZq Z Weighted Leq Maximum rms Sound Pressure Level Freq Weighted Amx 97 3 Amx A Weighted Max Level iue Cmx C Weighted Max Level Cmx C Weighted Max Level Maximum Peak Level Reached Freq Weighted Cpk 100 3 Cpk C Weighted Peak Level Zpk Flat or Linear Weighted Peak Level Lep 87 1 Displays the Lep d Do 27 2 Dose dependent on exchange and criterion P2h 0 02 Indicates the energy that has been received in Pascal Squared Hours LAE 93 4 Sound Exposure Level Freq Weighted LAE A Weighted Sound Exposure Level 110454 dB A level exceeded for n of the time n 10 90 and user selectable L10 L90 Lxx O L NO Overload latch that indicates if an OVERLOAD has occurred O L YES Can be reset by pressing the C key in Stop mode 00 04 33 Duration of Record mode Measurement Time MT hh mm ss Duration of the selected Recording Interval Period PER 10s e remaining Only available in Record mode Indicates when values are O or significantly lower than the bottom of the current range selected e g when instrument is first powered on or after being reset whilst in STOP mode Page 52 Chapter 7 Downloading Saved Recordings Model L Only As standard
23. Variations Sonus L GA116L Class 1 Ln s User Selectable Modes GA216L Class 2 Ln s User Selectable Modes Available in either class 1 or class e this top of the range model is a Noise at Work and Environmental Sound Meter boasting a combined Integrating Sound Level Meter and Dose Meter with full data logging capability Simply unplug the Sound Meter Microphone and plug in the Dose Meter cable to convert to a fully functional Dose Meter This model also features dual measurement capability meaning two versions of applicable parameters can be measured simultaneously This feature means you only ever need to measure once to capture all the data you need The instrument has user selectable operating modes for instant automatic setup of the instrument for Noise at Work or Environmental parameters alternatively the instrument can be configured manually to meet your exact requirements Analysis of recorded data can be achieved by transferring the data from the instrument into the software dBdataPro using the instruments USB port GA257L Dose Meter This model is a dedicated Dose Meter with full data logging capabilities which also features dual measurement capability meaning two versions of applicable parameters can be measured simultaneously This feature means you only ever need to measure once to capture all the data you need Analysis of recorded data can be achieved by transferring the data from the instrument into the softw
24. acturers Data Uncertainty figures for all manufacturers data are under review at the time of going to print Please contact Castle Group Ltd for up to date information Page 71 EC Declaration of Conformity C The CE marking of this Castle Product indicates compliance with the EMC Directive Castle Group Ltd declares that the e GA116 GA216 GA257 Pocket Sound Level Meters have in accordance with the following Electromagnetic Compatibility Directives e 89 336 EEC been designed and manufactured to the following specification e EN61326 1 1997 A1 1998 with the following Tests e Radiated Emissions EN55022 1995 Class B e FSD EN61000 4 2 1995 Levels t4kV C BkV A e Radio frequency EM field amplitude mod ENG 1000 4 3 1996 Level 3V m No differences in radio frequency emissions are apparent between the available operating ranges where applicable on the Sonus range of instruments Approved cables for use with the Castle Sonus Range of instruments to comply with these standards Cable Order Code Length USB Download Model L ZL1107 02 1 8m Microphone Extension ZL1084 01 4m Microphone Extension ZL1084 10 70m We hereby declare that the instruments named above have been designed to comply with the relevant sections of the above referenced specifications and that the above named instruments comply with all essential requirements of the specified Directives EMC tests conducted at the
25. all model L instruments are shipped with Castle s dBdataPro LITE noise analysis software The full version of the software is available by purchasing a simple license key consult your software user manual or contact Castle for further details Using the software dBdataPro it is possible to download the stored recordings on your meter to your PC allowing the data to be viewed and printed in professional reports Communication between a PC and your Sonus meter is made via the 9 pin connector at the right side of your instrument to a free USB port on your PC or laptop The cable is supplied as standard with all Sonus instruments Your Sonus Instrument has specialised USB drivers that MUST be installed correctly for the instrument to successfully download For comprehensive instructions please refer to the dBdataPro user manual The instrument does not need to be placed in any special mode or any menu option selected to download simply follow the operational instructions for the software and also ensure the following Supplied USB drivers are installed correctly Instrument is ON Communication cable attached to instrument and PC Software version 3 0 or higher is installed It is highly recommended that data is not downloaded whilst the instrument is currently in Record mode and recording data Under such circumstances it is possible that transferred data may become corrupt Page 53 Chapter 8 Miscellaneous Available A
26. and electrical noise from both the microphone and the sound level meter Measuring data that lies within 10dB of the lowest quoted level on the lowest measuring range may be influenced by the self noise of the system See Technical Specifications for inherent noise levels and range limits Page 7 Reflections The sound level meter operator and the sound level meter itself can interfere with the measurements being made reflecting the noise signal The instrument case for the Sonus range of sound level meters has therefore been designed to minimize reflections whilst also being of rugged construction To minimize reflections from the operator hold the sound level meter at arm s length mount the sound meter on a suitable tripod adapter required or use a microphone extension cable if applicable Time Weighting The time weighting is a time constant that modifies the response of the instrument to fluctuating noise levels Without time weighting the meter display would fluctuate following the measured noise level and would be unreadable the selected time weighting therefore softens these fluctuations over the time periods described below and in doing so the meter has a more readable display Depending on your instrument type see Technical Specifications for further details the following standardised time weightings are available Slow Weighting Shows a slow rise in the Sound Pressure Level even for a sharp rise in the noise leve
27. are dBdataPro using the instruments USB port Page 2 Sonus GA116l Class 1 GA216l Class 2 Available in either class 1 or class 2 this model is a low cost integrating sound level meter that measures simultaneous Leq and peak measurement for assessments and compliance with the Health and Safety at work Act Noise at Work Regulations 1989 Sonus B GA116B Class 1 GA216B Class 2 Available in either class 1 or class 2 this model is a general purpose low cost non integrating sound level meter that can assist with compliance to the Health and Safety at Work Act Noise at Work Regulations 1989 GA257B Dose Meter A low cost dedicated Dose Meter giving simultaneous Sound Exposure Le and peak measurement for assessments to the Noise at Work Regulations 1989 Page 3 Chapter 1 Microphone Measurement microphones by the very nature of their manufacture are precision components that are easily damaged through incorrect use Great care must be taken when using the instrument to ensure the longevity of the microphone PLEASE NOTE THAT DEPENDING ON YOUR INSTRUMENT MODEL IT MAY BE SUPPLIED WITH A PROTECTIVE WHITE PLASTIC CAP COVERING THE END OF THE MICROPHONE IF SUPPLIED THIS CAP MUST BE REMOVED PRIOR TO USING THE INSTRUMENT Microphone Types Three different types of microphone are manufactured each designed for measuring noise in different applications which is out of the scope of this manual Each one however
28. ascertain the acoustic emissions of machines it has a much broader spectrum than that of the A weighting curve e Zero or Z weighting often termed un weighted lt may vary between differing instruments as its characteristics are very dependent on the quality of the microphone and associated pre amplifier It is often used in conjunction with octave band filters A typical Z weighted response would be flat from 20 Hz to 16 KHz Page 73 Time weighting Fast Slow Impulse and Peak It is important to understand that the SPL is an rms root mean square quantity and is therefore averaged within the constraints of an averaging time constant These time constants are helpfully termed Slow Fast and Impulse and are sometimes referred to as the time weighting The SPL therefore is not only affected by the frequency weighting but by the time weighting of the instrument also Hence by selecting Slow on the sound level meter a sharp rise in noise will be shown as a gradual rise in the SPL alternatively a sharp fall in noise will be shown as a gradual decrease in the SPL By using the Fast weighting on the instrument in both of the above scenarios the SPL will rise and fall on a more rapid scale The Impulse response is not as commonly used as the above it is used in situations of sharp impulsive noises typically a piling operation may require an impulse time weighting It has a very fast rise time but a very slow exponential fall time The Peak
29. ation of the noise exposure lt is intended to be used to measure the daily exposure of a worker and therefore is dependent on shift duration Unlike DOSE LEp d is displayed as a dB A value and is derived from the equation shown below 2 1 PE LEp d 10lo At at i 910 28800 P Note the similarity between this definition and that of Leq Since LEp d is normalised to 8 hours the LEp d would equal the 8 hour Leq of a worker exposed for 8 hours Although similar to Leq LEp d will present a different value to the Leq if the exposure time is greater than or less than 8 hours See tables D1 D2 and D3 The relationship between LEp d and DOSE is given by the following equations LEp d 85 10 log DOSE 100 For a criterion level of 85 LEp d L 10 09 p t T Where t logging time T 8 hours reference 28800 seconds Note that LEp d is a logarithmic measurement as opposed to DOSE which is a linear function Hence DOSE can be added arithmetically but since LEp d is logarithmic values cannot be added arithmetically Each time the sound level increases the LEp d increases If the exposure time doubles say 4 hours to 8 hours the LEp d increases by 3dB Page 79 Glossary of Acoustical Terms This section describes and defines many terms used in acoustics Unit or enm Term Abbreviation Definition Decibels dB Ten times the logarithm to base 10 of the ratio of two mean square values of sound pressure Frequency Hz
30. cates when values are O or significantly lower than the bottom of the current range selected e g when instrument is first powered on or after being reset whilst in STOP mode Page 50 Model L Parameter Instrument Sound Pressure Channel 1 ALL Sound Pressure Channel 2 ALL Can be OFF and User mode dependent Leq Channel 1 ALL ALL Leq Channel 2 Max rms Level Channel 1 Can be OFF and User mode dependent GA116L GA216L User mode dependent Max rms Level Channel 2 GA116L GA216L Can be OFF and User mode dependent Peak Level Channel 2 ALL Can be OFF and User mode dependent LEp d ALL User mode dependent Dose ALL User mode dependent Dose per Hour Pascal Squared Hours Sound Exposure ALL User mode dependent ALL User mode dependent GA116L GA216L User mode dependent L10 GA116L GA216L User mode dependent L90 GA116L GA216L User mode dependent User Percentile GA116L GA216L User mode dependent Overload Yes No ALL Measurement Time ALL ALL Interval Period Record mode Only The following table below is a breakdown of all the possible display parameters with a brief description Please see the previous tables to determine which parameters your instrument displays Page 51 Frequency and Time Weighted Sound Pressure Level LAF A Weighted Fast LAS A Weighted
31. ccessories GA607 Dual Level Calibrator Class 1 GA601 Single Level Calibrator Class 2 PCOO7 dBdataPro Noise Analysis Software ZL1107 02 USB Download Cable 1 8m KAO20 Weatherproof System MW402 Weatherproof Microphone Housing PSU4 SONUS Power Supply ZL1094 01 Microphone Extension Cable 1m ZL1064 01 AC Output Cable 1m KG205 Windshield 60mm MK79 ACO 7052 25mV Pa Microphone Capsule Class 2 MK80 ACO 7146A 25mV Pa Microphone Capsule Class 1 MK579DP1B Dose Meter Plug in Microphone Capsule and Assembly KG204 Dose Meter Windshield KG205 Windshield 60mm KAO10 Small Attach Case Holds Instrument and Calibrator 6LR61 9V Battery Pack of 10 Only available for model L instruments Page 54 Warranty and After Sales Service Castle Group Ltd design and manufacture precision instruments which if treated with reasonable care and attention should provide many years of trouble free service In the event of a fault occurring during the warranty period the instrument should be returned to Castle Group Ltd in its original packaging or to an authorized agent Please enclose a clear description of the fault or symptom Details of the warranty cover are available from Castle Group Ltd or an authorized agent All instruments are designed to meet rigid British and International Standards An annual calibration is recommended to ensure that these high
32. cording is stopped Approximately 2100 interval periods can be recorded on your instrument before the internal flash memory is full Always ensure the interval period is set accordingly such that the total recording period is suitable Example To record over a period of 10 hours Convert period length to minutes 10h 60m 600m Convert period length to seconds 600m 60s 36000s Min Interval Period 36000 2100 17 14s The nearest available selection above an interval period of 17 14 seconds would therefore be chosen i e 1 minute 5 minutes on GA257L The above calculation is based on an instrument with no logs stored in the internal flash memory if logs are already stored on the instrument then these would need to be taken into account before using the calculation See Chapter 5 for more information In the SETUP display screen use the 4 v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed INTERVAL Press EH the instrument will display the currently selected Interval Period indicated with an asterisk Page 31 Scroll through the available Interval Periods using the 4 w arrow keys Display Description OFF Intervals OFF Cumulative Data Only 1s 1 second interval period 10s 10 second interval period 4m 1 minute interval period om 5 minute interval period 10m 10 minute interval period 15m 15 minute interval period 30m 30 minute interval period 60m 1 hour inte
33. ds of the audible frequency range however the attenuation at the lower end is much less than with A Weighing The response has a flat area between 200Hz and 1250Hz and has 38B points at 31 5Hz and 8kHz It is generally used for the acoustic emissions of machinery and for peak sound levels Z Weighting Zero Often referred to as the FLAT or LIN response this weighting has a virtually flat response over the entire audible frequency range having 3dB points at 10Hz and 22kHz Frequency Weighting Curves Z Weighting A Weighting 1 A C Weighting 10 100 1000 10000 100000 Frequency Figure 1 Frequency Weighting Curves Page 9 Overload and Under Range Conditions Overload Condition An overload condition occurs when the peak signal starts to exceed the signal handling capability of the pre amplifier circuitry If the noise source is greater than 0 5dB over the top of the range selected an overload condition occurs and an overload indicator is displayed on your meter The overload indicator will flash for a minimum of one second or while the overload condition remains OVERLOAD In such circumstances it is highly recommended you change to a higher range with a lower sensitivity i e less gain as your meter will be out of specification An overload indication can occur in both Stop or Record Mode on L models and only in Record Mode for models T and B All models
34. e changes and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Frequency Time Weighting WTG OK In the MENU display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed WTG OK Press and the instrument will display the currently selected Frequency and Time Weighting indicated with an asterisk A F Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display Description A D A Frequency Weighting Slow Time Weighting A F A Frequency Weighting Fast Time Weighting C F C Frequency Weighting Fast Time Weighting C S C Frequency Weighting Slow Time Weighting Press to confirm or to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Page 22 Exchange Rate EXCH OK In the MENU display screen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed EXCH OK Press EH the instrument will display the currently selected Exchange Rate indicated with an asterisk Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display 3dB 4dB odB Press to confirm or to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Criterion CRIT OK In the MENU display screen use the A v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed CRIT OK press CE and the instrument will display the currently selected Criterion Leve
35. ed on the instrument defaults into Stop Mode To set the instrument into Record Mode press the om key located on your instruments keypad see Stop Record Mode in Chapter 5 for more information To place the instrument back into Stop Mode press the em key again Page 13 All Models Changing the settings of your instrument and performing a calibration are all found under the Main Menu To activate the Main Menu press the Key on your instruments keypad Use the Up and Down Arrow Keys v to scroll through the available options Press the key to select the required menu option or press the c key to cancel and return to the parameter display screen Some options may also have further sub menus where further options are available Again use the Up and Down Arrow Keys to scroll through the available options The Main Menu is described in detail in Chapter 4 Page 14 Keypad Layout GA116 GA216 Models B and L SN gg ca IN Wij OK Up Arrow K A Down Arrow Cancel Main Menu Measuring Hange Information Stop Record Power On Off Figure 2 Keypad Layout Sound Meter Page 15 Keypad Layout GA257L 8 GA257B OK Up Arrow Down Arrow Cancel Main Menu Lock Keypad Information Stop Record Power On Off Figure 3 Keypad Layout Dose Meter Page 16 Powering Your Sonus Meter Your Sonus meter can be powered from either one 9V PP3 battery and Model L instr
36. eypad on GA116L and GA216L models through the options available under the Main Menu Use the same procedure as above to UNLOCK the keypad The LOCK feature is used to lock the instrument keypad All keypad functions are therefore disabled including the POWER key This function is often used to avoid inadvertent operation or tampering while the instrument is being used Page 12 Chapter 3 Getting Started All models of the Sonus range of instruments have two modes of operation referred to as e Stop Mode e Record Mode Whilst the instrument is in Record Mode the noise activity is analysed and all parameters available on your instrument are calculated On LU models only all data captured can be saved to the internal flash memory and viewed or downloaded to Castle s noise analysis software dBdataPro as and when required Whilst the instrument is in Stop Mode on T and B models noise activity is not monitored and parameter calculations are halted during this period On L models calculations are displayed but not stored in flash memory Models and B During Stop Mode and whilst viewing parameter display screens the display Will flash between the parameter and the following STOP Models L During Stop Mode and whilst viewing parameter display screens the displayed parameter name will not blink LAFx 49 4 Non Blinking Parameter Name Indicates Stop Mode On all models when the meter is first switch
37. firm your selection and proceed to MINUTES and then SECONDS using the same procedure Press c to cancel changes and return to the SETUP screen Page 38 User Mode MODE The option to set a User Mode is only available on GA116L and GA216L instruments Selecting a User Mode is a quick and straightforward way to correctly set your instrument up for taking measurements Parameters are only displayed and recorded where required In the MENU display screen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed MODE Press and the instrument will display the currently selected User Mode indicated with an asterisk Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display Description ALL Select MODE ALL New Select MODE Noise At Work ENV Select MODE Environmental Press to confirm a change and the instrument will briefly display DONE Or press c to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Selecting a User Mode sets the instrument as follows Mode Description ALL Freq Weighting A C Time Weighting FAST Percentiles ON Now Freq Weighting A C Time Weighting FAST Percentiles 0FF ENV Freq Weighting A Time Weighting FAST Percentiles ON See Parameters Chapter 6 for further information on viewable and recorded parameters based on the selected User Mode Page 39 View Saved Logs LOGS Select this optio
38. ge EE 97 Chapter ui o 98 ales A A hesy ikcanteed on T RAM o8 Ghiapter 10 WE 73 A Guide to Acoustical Terms and Unit at doi eruat eeu tria cu 73 A A Cn b ae Instrument Detallada di daa ae Table of Figures Figure 1 Frequency Weighting GCurves esses cr rra 3 Figure 2 Keypad Layout Sound Merter 15 Figure 3 Keypad Layout DoseM6eter seien eenteente EEN 16 Introduction Thank you for purchasing your product from Castle Group Ltd The Sonus range of pocket sound level meters brings simplicity and power to the worlds of Noise at Work and Environmental sound monitoring From a basic sound pressure meter to full data logging combined sound and dose meter the range of systems covers a wide diversity of applications Mobility of instrumentation is essential for effective noise measurement As the name indicates the Castle Sonus Pocket Meter packs all the necessary features into pocket sized proportions Future Proof The built in firmware for these meters is designed to suit future upgrading for feature enhancements legislative changes or instrument upgrades Details are mailed to customers as soon as they become available With the Castle range of Sonus Pocket meters you will always be in step with the law and market requirements Periodic enhancements or bug fixes to the software will be supplied free of charge for a period of one year from the purchase date Page 1 Sonus
39. has saved logs Take extreme caution when deleting logs as they cannot be recovered In the MENU display screen use the A v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed DELETE Press and the instrument will display the following ONE LOG Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Mode Description ONE LOG Delete Individual Saved Logs ALL LOGS Delete ALL Saved Logs Press ECH confirm or c to cancel and return to the parameter display screen If ONE LOG is selected then the available logs are sorted by date and time first select the date the recording was made and then select the time using the following procedure Scroll through the available dates using the 4 wv arrow keys Press to exit without selection MA confirm the selection the instrument will then display the currently saved logs by time recorded Scroll through the available times using the a v arrow keys Press to exit without selection and return to the date list 9 confirm the selection For either ONE LOG or ALL LOGS the following is displayed CONFIRM Press ER confirm or c to cancel and return to the parameter display screen When deleted the instrument will return to the parameter display screen Page 41 Set Instrument Defaults DEFAULTS In the MENU display screen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed DEFAULTS Pre
40. he exposure time halves the DOSE given the same sound level Projected DOSE DOSE measurements usually require the noise exposure to be measured over a full 8 hour working day This can be simplified by using Projected DOSE Projected DOSE allows the present accumulated DOSE over the elapsed logged time duration to be projected forward to give the predicted 8 hour dose For example if you had been logging for 30 minutes with an accumulated DOSE of 5 the Projected DOSE would show 596 x 8 hours O 5 hours 80 DOSE i e you would receive an 80 DOSE if you were to stay in this area with the same equivalent level of noise for the full 8 hours The following should be taken into consideration when reporting Projected DOSE figures 1 The Projected DOSE assumes that the current DOSE rate at the time of reading will remain constant i e the sound level does not change over the measurement period compared to the total 8 hour period Page 78 2 The Projected DOSE will be more accurate if the measurement duration is as long as possible 3 DOSE and therefore Projected DOSE are measured with A frequency weighting selected 4 f say a 12 hour day is worked the 8 hour Projected DOSE should simply be multiplied by 1 5 i e 12 8 to calculate what the DOSE would be after 12 hours LEp d Daily Personal Noise Exposure formerly Lex LEp d is a measure of exposure that depends not only on the sound pressure level but also on the dur
41. ibration Level Adjustment dB a 0 1 v 0 1 i 1 0 E 1 0 Ensure the calibrator is attached to the microphone by gently inserting the microphone into the cavity of the calibrator A certain amount of resistance should be felt whilst inserting the microphone as the o ring seal on the calibrator forms a seal around the microphone Ensure that the calibrator is switched on and set to the chosen level and all correction factors for atmospheric pressure and microphone type have been accounted for The pressure to free field correction value to be applied when used with a Castle calibrator GABO1 GA607 or a BGK4231 is as follows Calibrator Correction dB Castle GA607 0 2 Castle GA601 0 2 B amp K4231 0 2 Press EZ the instrument will calibrate to the level of the calibrator The instrument will countdown from five seconds and the display will show WAIT 5s When calibrated the display will show DONE and will return to the Sound Pressure Level display The instrument is now ready to take measurements If the calibration is interrupted or the input level is not within 3dB of the chosen reference level then the display will show CAL FAIL An error message of NO INPUT is shown if the input level is lower than or greater than 3dB Check to make sure the calibrator is switched on and emitting the correct level before proceeding again as indicated above Page 27 Instrument Settings S
42. ide a local service but we can usually help right away if you need us to Whether you are limited for time in need of further expertise or just want some advice we can assist We have provided a wide range of services to many top companies for projects large and small Here are some of the services we can provide but if it s not here just ask Noise or Vibration risk assessments Building Acoustics COSHH compliance Environmental Impact Assessments Air Quality Monitoring Occupational Health Screening programmes www castle consultancy com Castle Online You can access all our products and services online whenever you want just go to www castlegroup co uk and you will find a knowledgebase packed full of useful facts and information You will also find details of all our upcoming FREE seminars and training courses as well as product information on literally hundreds of health safety and environmental items which are available to purchase directly through a secure server Among other things you will find HS amp E Measurement Products Books Standards and Publications HGSE CD s DVD s Stopwatches and Timers Scales and Distance Measurement Water Testers You will also find our shop on ebay of all places http stores ebay co uk Castle Group Safety or just go onto ebay and type Castle Group Safety in the shops section Who are Castle For 40 years Castle has been driving forward with product and service innovation
43. is automatically reset when a recording begins During Record mode the noise activity is analysed and all parameters available on your instrument are calculated using the settings made under SETUP To identify you are currently in Record mode the parameter name flashes To stop the recording and enter Stop mode press the key again The following screen is then displayed SAVE YES Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display Description SAVE YES Save the current log SAVE NO Do NOT save the current log Press to confirm or to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen If the instrument has been set to User Mode ENV then the log is automatically saved otherwise an Exposure Time can be entered on the following screen which uses the following 24 hour format hh mm ss 00 00 00 The adjustable figure flashes this always starts with the HOUR figure Use the 4 v arrow keys as required until the desired HOUR figure is displayed ress O8 to confirm your selection and proceed to MINUTES and then SECONDS using the same procedure Press c to cancel changes and return to the parameter display screen Exposure Time is used in DOSE and LEpd calculations Page 45 All Models On all instruments in either Stop or Record mode it is possible to quickly view information and settings of your instrument Press the key once to access the information sc
44. jects such as wire or metal scraps to enter the unit e Do not try to disassemble the instrument or attempt any repairs as this will invalidate your warranty Take a note of the condition of the instrument and contact your authorised Castle service station e To ensure continued precision performance of your instrument have it checked and serviced at regular intervals Contacting Castle Group This manual contains complete operating instructions for the Castle Pro DX Vocis Meter read it carefully and you will quickly become familiar with your instrument and its operation If you do encounter problems with the operation of your instrument please feel free to contact customer support with your enquiry on Telephone 44 0 1723 584250 Fax 44 0 1723 583728 Website www castlegroup co uk Email techsupport castlegroup co uk sales castlegroup co uk Contents tr rod CtiO E 1 Sonus Eeer 2 Eo A nn 4 NU POBOT tad 4 Microphone TiPesastinada asias 4 Microphone Polarisation a aid 4 Microphone Sensitivity sees esrncsteenienteetatensncaleda coats tnt elesaricaiuiertn iets vane tact Etana rrt teree eena 5 ee Eelere ee Te E 5 Pre Amplifier and Microphone Removal and Fitting sss 6 Hernbval or MIerOpOL ecrit uf apad pie RO ats oA unen 6 Attaching amp Removing the Pre Amplifier Models 116L 2161 amp 216L P 6 Attaching amp Removing the Microphone Extension Cable Model L Only
45. l indicated with an asterisk Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display 80dB 85dB 90dB Press to confirm or to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Page 23 Threshold THR OK It is possible to select a threshold level for the lower limit of noise levels which are used to measure dose In the MENU display screen use the a w arrow keys as required until the following is displayed THR lt OK Press EH the instrument will display the currently selected Threshold Level indicated with an asterisk Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display 10dB odB OFF Press to confirm or c to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Keypad Lock LOCK OK In the MENU display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed LOCK OX Press EH confirm the instrument is placed in Lock mode and the instrument displays the battery status To UNLOCK the keypad press C OK then C respectively The LOCK feature is used to lock the instrument keypad All keypad functions are therefore disabled including the POWER key The function is often used to avoid inadvertent operation or tampering while the instrument is being used Page 24 Display Contrast CONT OK Select to adjust the contrast level of your instrument
46. l likewise a rapid reduction in noise will be shown as a slow decrease in Sound Pressure Level The rise and fall times applied for Slow Weighting are 1 second Fast Weighting The most commonly used time weighting which follows the noise level closer than slow weighting by displaying a fast rise and fall in the Sound Pressure Level The rise and fall times applied for Fast Weighting are 125m Seconds Impulse Weighting Model L Only Allows your meter to show rapid rises in the noise level but has a very slow decay The rise and fall times for Impulse Weighting are 35m Seconds and 1 5 Seconds respectively Page 8 Frequency Weighting Filters Frequency Weightings are where the Sound Pressure Level SPL is modified by use of filtering All Sonus Pocket Meters use electronic frequency weighting filters between the standardised frequencies of 10Hz and 20 000Hz Depending on your instrument type see Technical Specifications for further details the following standardised frequency weightings are available A Weighting The SPL is filtered in such a manner as to reflect the hearing response of a human ear The signal is progressively attenuated at the higher and lower ends of the audible frequency range but much more attenuation occurs at the lower end of the audible frequency range Generally this is the most common used frequency weighting C Weighting The signal is progressively attenuated at the higher and lower en
47. l determined over time interval TM is as follows PA s P o LN FA gen 0 M In practice when measuring noise it is possible to take Leq readings with your instrument of short duration i e 5 minutes providing all variations of noise emissions are covered If the measured environment changes greatly then the longer the Leg reading is taken the more accurate the measurement Lac Level Exposure formerly SEL This is in effect an Leq normalised to 1 second It can be used to compare the energy of noise events which have different time duration s The L can be described mathematically as below Tu 2 Lie 10l09 0 pz at de Where Tuis measured in seconds Ln Percentile Levels Percentile levels are used greatly when measuring environmental noise i e that which may pollute the environment Ln where 7 may be anything from 1 to 99 is that noise level exceeded for 7 96 of the measurement time By definition of percentiles L1 must be greater than or equal to L2 which must be greater than or equal to L3 etc It is often the case that only a few Ln values are ever used Page 75 TIME MINS The above figure shows L10 L50 and L90 L10 is the noise level exceeded for 10 of the measurement duration This is often used to give an indication of the upper limit of fluctuating noise such as that from road traffic L50 is the noise level exceeded for 50 of the measurement duration It is mathematically inaccurate
48. lay Range Se 1000 4000 8000 dB dB dB dB 35 100 dB 410 606 41 0 100 0 41 0 100 0 41 0 100 0 55 120dB 550 806 55 0 120 0 55 0 120 0 55 0 119 0 75 140 dB 75 0 100 6 75 0 140 0 75 0 140 0 75 0 140 0 For the GA257B instrument refer only to the display range 75 40cB Page 61 Model L Instruments Test start point for frequencies 31 5Hz 1kHz 4kHz and 8kHz Display Range Start Point dB 30 100 dB 74 0 90 120dB 94 0 70 140 dB 114 0 A Weighted Display Range Frequency Hz dB 1000 4000 dB dB 8000 dB 30 100 dB 32 0 60 6 32 0 100 0 32 0 100 0 32 0 100 0 90 120dB 90 0 80 6 90 0 120 0 50 0 120 0 90 0 119 0 70 140 dB 70 0 100 6 70 0 140 0 70 0 140 0 70 0 140 0 C Weighted Display Range Frequency Hz ao dB 1000 4000 dB dB 8000 dB 30 100 dB 33 0 60 6 33 0 100 0 33 0 100 0 33 0 100 0 90 120 dB 00 0 80 6 90 0 120 0 50 0 120 0 90 0 119 0 70 140 dB 70 0 100 6 70 0 140 0 70 0 140 0 70 0 140 0 Z or LIN Weighted Display Range Frequency Hz 31 5 dB 1000 4000 dB dB 8000 dB 30 100 dB 34 0 60 6 34 0 100 0 34 0 100 0 34
49. libratign LEA sos A ER 26 Instrument Settings SETUP arta dl iii 28 Frequency Weighting FREQ WGT eene 29 Time Weighting TANIEN TE sss jacit oi itc ei aeos orate 30 Recording Interval Period INTERVAL ees 31 Display Contrast CONTRAS Ta is 33 Percentiles USER inacabada 34 Criterion Level ER Maura A A 35 Threshold THR rc 35 Exchange Rate E HE 36 Record Timer IMER MS TT 37 Current Date DATE sia 38 Real Time Clock TIME aaa abia 38 user Mode MODE nde 39 View Saved Logs LOGS usus rettet iain pido os 40 Delete Saved Logs DELETE uu 41 Set Instrument Defaults TDEEAULETS iui cotitecni october te sbore febre berita 42 Keypad Lock O A maneo nd ee Ie Php atr cuoi 43 CHAPO pe 44 BLO Record VIOUS fs aussen eua ti oda A 44 Model l amp B Instruments iuge dta Mibi quld cud dues red 44 Killer ein 45 A A 46 Model l amp B Instruments Information Screen e 46 Model L Instruments Information Screen tenen 47 O Ea OO 48 Models dai 48 Moda A 48 AAPP iie eee 49 Bel TEE 49 Mod l TS Bi P iaa a a canon ed 49 Model Bere 51 COPLA E 93 Downloading Saved Recordings Model L Only sss 53 RN Ted 94 Miscelanea cid 94 Available Accessories aia EC 94 Warranty and After Sales DEVICE arcada atre 55 Trouble Shooting Side anar ca 56 Juegd et ee
50. ment instrumentation must be regularly calibrated to a traceable standard and this is certainly true for most health Safety and Environmental monitoring equipment At Castle our team of highly trained and experienced technical staff can service and calibrate almost any type of monitoring equipment from Noise and Vibration meters to Thermometers to Scales The Castle Premier Service includes menu pricing and a normal turnaround time within 5 days What is more we will evaluate any instrument and return it for FREE if you do not want to proceed Castle premier service and calibration offers Free Evaluation Service Clear and Simple Pricing UKAS Accreditation Available Large range of equipment calibrated 4 Levels of calibration available for most equipment Annual contract calibrations with up to 20 off www castle care com Castle Contracts For companies with multiple pieces of equipment there is also Castle s Contract Calibrations an annual scheme to take the hassle out of maintaining equipment certification Castle will issue calibration reminders collect your equipment if required and return it calibrated as soon as possible This scheme also affords a saving of up to 2096 on annual calibration charges www castle care com Castle Consultancy Castle experts are waiting to help you Because we have a network of consultants across the country we are poised to react to your requirement Not only can we normally prov
51. mer is ON or OFF AL O MEM 8596 Show available memory EE NN 09 15 07 Show Current Time A Show Factory Calibration Due Date A ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL ALL Page 47 Reset Data On all instruments it is possible to manually reset all current parameter data and status flags When the instrument is first switched on all data is automatically reset Models I amp B Whilst in Stop or Record mode press the key to display the following CONFIRM Press to confirm and reset data or c to cancel and return to the parameter display screen WARNING Reset data values cannot be retrieved Model L Data is automatically reset whenever Record mode is entered Whilst in Stop mode press the c key to display the following CONFIRM Press to confirm and reset data or c to cancel and return to the parameter display screen WARNING Reset data values cannot be retrieved Page 48 Chapter 6 Parameters On all instruments whilst in Stop or Record mode it is possible to change the parameter display screen Scroll through the available parameter screens using the a w arrow keys Models f B Overload Yes No Projected Dose Dose per Hour Pascal Squared Hours Overload Yes No Elapsed Time Elapsed Time Overload Yes No Overload Yes No LEp d
52. moved great care must be taken to ensure that this is not removed Underneath the protection grid is the microphone diaphragm which should never be touched or be subject to dust or dirt Doing so may damage the microphone beyond repair or affect its acoustic response Attaching Removing the Pre Amplifier Models GA1 16L GA116l amp GA21 6L P To attach the pre amplifier position the orientation key on the pre amplifier which is identified with a RED mark with the RED identification mark on the instrument and gently push the pre amplifier into the connector To remove gently pull the pre amplifier stem away from the instrument body DO NOT TWIST THE MICROPHONE STEM Attaching amp Removing the Microphone Extension Cable Model L Only To attach the microphone extension cable position the orientation key on the extension cable connector which is identified with a RED mark with the RED identification mark on the instrument and gently push the extension cable into the connector on the instrument To fit the pre amplifier to the extension cable see Attaching amp Removing the Pre Amplifier above To remove gently pull the extension cable connector by pulling on the knurled part of the stem DO NOT TWIST THE MICROPHONE STEM Page 6 Chapter 2 Measuring Sound Always calibrate your instrument prior to and after taking measurements using a known sound source such as the Castle GAG607 sound level calibrator The type of micropho
53. n to view saved logs on your instruments display Only cumulative information is avallable to view on the instrument if you wish to view this or recorded interval data then download via a USB port into the supplied software dBdataPro LITE Logs are sorted by date and time first select the date the recording was made and then select the time using the following procedure In the MENU display screen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed If no logs are available this option is not shown LOGS press CE and the instrument will display the currently saved logs in date order 3006709 Scroll through the available dates using the 4 e arrow keys Press c to exit without selection E confirm the selection the instrument will then display the currently saved logs by time recorded 1045910 Scroll through the available times using the a v arrow keys Press to exit without selection and return to the date list 8 confirm the selection the instrument will then view the saved cumulative information for the log selected LAq 56 3 Every 5 seconds the screen will flash the following display to remind the user that they are currently viewing a saved log LOG VIEW Scroll through the available data using the 4 w arrow keys Press c to exit and return to the parameter display screen when required Page 40 Delete Saved Logs DELETE This option is only available if the instrument
54. ne supplied with your instrument is Free Field and requires an incidence angle of O degrees therefore whilst measuring always point your Sonus Pocket Meter directly towards the noise source being measured Sound Level General Advice In some environments high levels of noise can occur The Castle Sonus Pocket sound meter has therefore been designed for complete accuracy up to sound levels of 140dB Before you record measurements take the time to ensure you have chosen the optimum range for the process to be recorded Wherever possible the optimum range is when the average measured signal is approximately half way between the top of the range and the bottom of the range Where high levels of noise are encountered the meter may register an overload and in these circumstances the meter will display that this has occurred it is therefore advisable to determine if an Over Load occurs on the selected range In such cases you will need to select a higher range to accommodate the higher peak levels See Technical Specifications for peak range limits on each individual range If the noise levels are too low for the range selected then the meter will display an under range condition Under these circumstances you will need to select a lower range For more detailed information see Overload and Under Range Conditions and Measuring Ranges If measuring low level noise then be aware of the inherent noise levels caused by a combination of thermal
55. nstrument Disposal The symbol shown opposite can be found on your instrument and means that the product is classed as electrical or electronic equipment and should be disposed of at the end of its life separately to your commercial or household waste The Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive 2002 96 EC has been established to help reduce the influx on landfill sites and effectively treat hazardous substances by using best practices for the recovery and recycling of products There are various collection systems in place within the EU for the disposal of your product To find the nearest UK waste recycling point in your area enter your postcode in the website www recycle more co uk For more information please contact your local authority the dealer where you purchased your product or Castle Group Ltd Page 57 Chapter 9 Technical Specification The individual characteristic applies to each instrument unless specifically worded otherwise Instrument Standards GA116l GA116L IEC 61672 1 2002 Class 1 Group X BS EN 61672 1 2003 Class 1 Group X IEC 61252 1993 BS EN 61252 1997 A1 2001 GA116B IEC 61672 1 2002 Class 1 Group X BS EN 61672 1 2003 Class 1 Group X GA216l GA216B GA216L IEC 61672 1 2002 Class 2 Group X BS EN 61672 1 2003 Class 2 Group X GA216L P IEC 61672 1 2002 Class 2 Group X BS EN 61672 1 2003 Class 2 Group X IEC 61252 1993 BS EN 612
56. o 50 C Class 2 OPC to 40 C Warning DO NOT subject the instrument to temperatures greater than 70 C or less than 20 C for any length of time Effect of Temperature Class 1 Accuracy better than 0 5 dB over the range 10 to 50 C Class 1 Accuracy better than 0 5 dB over the range O to 40 C Effects of Humidity Less than 0 5 dB over the range 25 to 90 relative humidity provided there is no Condensation relative to the value at 50 relative humidity and 40 C Storage range O to 90 relative humidity in the absence of condensation Effects of Vibration From 20Hz to 1kHz at 1 ms no noticeable effect Magnetic Field No noticeable effect Page 67 Operator Presence in Free Field No noticeable effect when operator standing more than 2m behind the instrument Overload Positive overload warning when the input circuit saturates Log Interval Periods Model L Only User Selectable with a minimum integrating period of one second Maximum potential log size approximately 2100 intervals Timer Function Model L Only An adjustable countdown timer to stop recordings with a user defined total measurement period Time amp Date Model L Only Battery backed Heal time clock and calendar Overall Dimensions 210mm x 60mm x 35mm approx Batteries 1 x 9V PP3 Alkaline Cell Life Expectancy 12 hours continuous use approx Min Battery Level 5 4V DC Max Battery Level 9 4V DC Overall Weight incl
57. reen Use the a or v arrow keys to scroll through the available list Pressing the key again returns to the previous screen f multiple screens have been accessed then the sound pressure level parameter screen will be displayed Press the Om to always return to the Sound Pressure parameter display The information listings are shown below Model T amp B Instruments Information Screen A ALL Indicates the current frequency and time weighting L E GA1161 GA216l ET 08 00 Shows the exposure time period GA2578 85 3 Indicates the current criterion and GA118l GA257B exchange level Shows the threshold setting ees relative to the criterion level no TOU nee Ver 1 00 Indicates the firmware version number REC MODE Indicates that the instrument is in either or ALL STOP Hecord or Stop Mode Page 46 Model L Instruments Information Screen MODE ALL Indicates the current User Mode GA116L GA216L E Show the Frequency and Time DALAP Weightings for Channel 1 a Show the Frequency and Time CHe CF Weightings for Channel 2 Can be OFF and User Mode dependent Shows the Criterion Level x User Mode dependent a Shows the Exchange Rate ES User Mode dependent wm Shows the threshold setting THR 10 relative to the criterion level User Mode dependent Show the User Selectable Percentile L95 Level ALL User Mode dependent INT OFE Show the Selected Recording Interval Period TMR OFF Show if Record Ti
58. reen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed USER Ln ores OE ana the instrument will display the currently selected User Ln indicated with an asterisk ge Scroll through the available User Selectable Percentiles using the a e arrow Display Description 1 L1 dB A Level exceeded 1 of the time 5 L5 dB A Level exceeded 5 of the time 50 L50 dB A Level exceeded 50 of the time 95 L95 dB A Level exceeded 95 of the time 99 L99 dB A Level exceeded 99 of the time Press to confirm a change and the instrument will briefly display DONE Or press to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Page 34 Criterion Level CRIT In the SETUP display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed CRIT oress CE and the instrument will display the currently selected Criterion Level indicated with an asterisk Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display 5dB 80dB 85dB 90dB Press to confirm or c to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Threshold THR In the SETUP display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed THR Press EH the instrument will display the currently selected Threshold Level indicated with an asterisk Scroll through the available options u
59. riations in the tolerance of the supplied microphone up to 3cB All Sonus meters have been designed for microphones with a sensitivity of eomv Pa Great care must be taken to ensure the microphone and sound meter sensitivities match otherwise incorrect readings will occur Certifiable Calibration The calibration process includes the microphone pre amplifier and sound level meter Any change in this measurement chain will require a new certifiable calibration Castle Group Ltd offers a complete calibration service offering either a full UKAS calibration or a standard NPL traceable calibration which can be supplied with or without a test report It is recommended that your sound meter instrumentation is calibrated annually to ensure your measuring equipment is completely accurate and fully compliant Page 5 Pre Amplifier and Microphone Removal and Fitting Measurement microphones by the very nature of their manufacture are precision components that are easily damaged through incorrect use Great care must be taken when using the instrument to ensure the longevity of the microphone Removal of Microphone The microphone can be fitted to the pre amplifier by screwing the microphone in a clockwise direction ensuring that the pre amplifier spring pin is located centrally in the microphone To remove the microphone unscrew in an anti clockwise direction The microphone has a protection grid which can also be unscrewed and re
60. rophone properly inserted in the calibrator Is the calibrator switched on and working Has the instrument and or calibrator been knocked or moved as the calibration routine is taking place Has the microphone been damaged The o ring is essential to seal around the microphone stabilizing the pressure in the calibrator s cavity If the o ring is missing and or damaged the instrument will not calibrate properly See above When taking readings the display is constantly flashing UR what does this mean This means that the noise you are measuring is below the bottom of the range you have the instrument selected to Try selecting a lower range My readings are within range but keep getting OVERLOAD flashing on the screen why is this The overload is triggered by the Peak reading whereas LP and LEG are rms figures which are lower Some noises feature very high peaks compared to the rms Page 56 Question Answer Is the microphone capsule loose on the My instrument has stopped instrument When removing the responding to noise since l microphone from the calibrator it is calibrated it possible to accidentally unscrew the microphone Why is my projected Lep d not the same as the LEG The Exposure Time may be set to a time other than 8 hours After taking my readings the figures are a lot higher than expected Did you clear the after calibration memory I
61. roup Ltd makes no representation or warranties as to the completeness or accuracy of this information Castle Group Ltd assumes no responsibility or liability for any injury loss or damage incurred as a result of misinterpreted or inaccurate information Any documentation supplied with your product is subject to change without notice Instrument Details For your records and for future correspondence with Castle Group Ltd regarding your instrument please complete the following details Instrument Model Instrument Serial Number Purchase Date HB 0116 005 A5 Rev 1 01 Page 82
62. rval period ahr 8 hour interval period 12hr 12 hour interval period Not available on instrument GA257L If an interval period is not required select OFF Only cumulative data will then be displayed recorded Press to confirm a change and the instrument will briefly display DONE Or press to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Page 32 Display Contrast CONTRAST Select to adjust the contrast level of your instrument The selected contrast level is remembered on model L instruments In the SETUP display screen use the 4 v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed CONTRAST Press and the instrument will display the following or c to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen CONT ADJ Use the A w arrow keys to adjust the contrast as required Press to confirm a change and the instrument will briefly display DONE Or press to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display Screen Page 33 Percentiles USER Ln Model L instruments have one user selectable percentile level and two fixed percentile levels Percentile is commonly abbreviated to Ln where n denotes the actual dB A Weighted level exceeded n of the time example L99 Percentiles are only available if the User Mode is set to ALL or ENV See User Mode for further information Fixed percentile levels are e L10 e 90 In the SETUP display sc
63. s selected for Channel A only then Channel 2 is OFF No parameters will be available displayed or recorded for Channel 2 Page 29 Time Weighting TIME WGT The time weighting of the instrument can only be changed if the instrument has the User Mode set to ALL See User Mode for further details The selected time weighting applies to both channels if Channel 2 is ON In the SETUP display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed TIME WGT press CE and the instrument will display the currently selected Time Weighting indicated with an asterisk FAST Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display Description FAST oelect FAST Time Weighting SLOW Select SLOW Time Weighting IMPULSE oelect IMPULSE Time Weighting Press to confirm a change and the instrument will briefly display DONE Or press c to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen For more information on Time Weighting see Time Weighting in Chapter 2 Page 30 Recording Interval Period INTERVAL If an interval period is selected then the instrument will record data at each interval period selected from the log start time Example If a log interval of 1 second is selected and the start time of the log is 10 00 00 then the instrument will log data at 1 second interval periods from the start time 10 00 01 10 00 02 10 00 03 etc until the re
64. s too low for the instrument to operate the instrument will flash the following message BAT LOW All meters will shut down and Model L instruments will automatically save any data if the instrument is in Record Mode Page 17 Switching Your Sonus Meter On Off To turn on your instrument press and hold the Power On Off key for approximately one second Your meter will display the start up screen and initialise any saved settings Once the start up sequence is complete the instrument is placed in Stop Mode and the parameter sound pressure level is displayed lt is recommended that you calibrate your instrument before use see the heading Calibration in Chapter 4 for detailed information on calibration of your specific model of instrument To turn off Model I or B instruments press and release the Power On Off key D at any time Models I and B will now power down Model L instruments display the following INS OFF Press the key to confirm or the key to cancel and return to the previous screen Please be aware that on Model L instruments the Power On Off key is disabled whilst the instrument is in Record Mode or if the instrument is Locked On the GA116l and GA257B instruments the Power On Off key D is disabled if the instrument is Locked To preserve instrument settings and saved data always turn your instrument off using the Power On Off Key On model I and
65. sing the 4 w arrow keys Display 10dB odB OFF Press to confirm or to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Page 35 Exchange Rate EXCH In the SETUP display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed EXCH Press EH the instrument will display the currently selected Exchange Rate indicated with an asterisk Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display 3dB 4dB odB Press to confirm or e to cancel and return to the Sound Pressure Level display screen Page 36 Record Timer TIMER The Record Timer is a user selectable time that will govern the recording length after a recording has started For example if the Record Timer is set to 00 01 00 hh mm ss then the instrument will automatically end the recording after a period of 1 minute In the SETUP display screen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed TIMER Press and the instrument will display TMR 0FF Scroll through the available options using the 4 w arrow keys Display Description TMR OFF Record Timer OFF TMR ON Record Timer ON Press to confirm your selection or c to cancel If TMR ON is selected then the following time entry screen is displayed using the following 24 hour format hh mm ss 00 00 00 The adjustable figure flashes this al
66. ss and the instrument displays the followings CONFIRM Press x confirm or c to cancel and return to the parameter display screen Default settings are as follows where applicable Description Default Setting Operating Hange 50 120 User Mode ALL Frequency Weighting CH1 A CH2 C Time Weighting Fast Calibration Level 94 0 Recording Interval Period OFF User Percentile 95 Criterion 85 Threshold 10 Exchange 3 Record Timer OFF Page 42 Keypad Lock LOCK In the MENU display screen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed LOCK Press and the following is displayed Press ER confirm the instrument is placed in Lock mode and the instrument displays the battery status Alternatively press or to cancel and return to the parameter display screen To UNLOCK the keypad press C OK then C respectively The LOCK feature is used to lock the instrument keypad All keypad functions are therefore disabled including the POWER key The function is often used to avoid inadvertent operation or tampering while the instrument is being used Page 43 Chapter 5 Stop Record Mode All models of the Sonus range of instruments have two modes of operation referred to as e Stop Mode e Record Mode Whilst the instrument is in Record mode the noise activity is analysed and all parameters available on your instrument are calculated On
67. standard test level of 74dB Page 72 Chapter 10 A Guide to Acoustical Terms and Units Sound Pressure Level SPL Sound level meters measure acoustic pressure and by international agreement they are calibrated in decibels dB The Sound Pressure Level in decibels is defined as SPL eo oc L P Where P is the measured rms sound pressure Po is the reference rms sound pressure Note that the decibel is a ratio of two quantities which have dimensions of power and is not a unit The reference sound pressure Po is by agreement taken as 20 Pa which is the minimum audible pressure to a person with normal hearing The use of a logarithmic scale such as the decibel permits the wide range of audible sound pressures approximately 1 000 000 to 1 to be compressed into a scale of 120 units Hence a faint whisper may be measured as 20dBA where as a chipping hammer of a road workman may produce 105dBA Standardised frequency curves Because the ear is relatively insensitive to very low and very high frequencies sound level meters have by international agreement weighted frequency responses Hence different frequency weightings will produce for the same sound source different SPL readings Castle sound level meters may have any one of three frequency weightings e A weighting which best expresses the human ears response to loudness is the most commonly used frequency weighting e C weighting this is often used to
68. standards are maintained This is particularly important for cases in which instrument readings are to be used in litigation or compliance work For warranty and service return to The Service Department Castle Group Ltd Salter Road Cayton Low Road Industrial Estate Scarborough North Yorkshire YO11 3UZ United Kingdom Telephone 44 0 1723 584250 Fax 44 01723 583728 Email techsupport castlegroup co uk Web www castlegroup co uk Any misuse or unauthorized repairs will invalidate the warranty Damage caused by faulty or leaking batteries is not covered by the warranty Page 55 Trouble Shooting Question Answer My instrument will not turn on Check that there is a battery fitted to the instrument Check that the battery is not flat What is the white plastic cap fitted to the top of the microphone This is a protective cover for the sensitive microphone You must remove it before using the instrument Where have my results gone Models or B do not have a backup memory so all readings are lost when the instrument is switched off Always take a note of important readings before switching off the instrument My instrument is on but will not respond to keypad presses Have you locked the keypad keep getting CAL FAIL when trying to calibrate my instrument what am doing wrong What is the black o ring inside my calibrator s cavity for Is the instruments mic
69. sule can be removed by unscrewing anti clockwise although great care must be taken when doing this to avoid damage to either the capsule or the instrument Re fitting is a reverse of the above Type MK79 ACO 7052 Typical Microphone Response 31 5Hz 0 2 1 kHz 0 0 63Hz 0 1 2kHz 0 0 125Hz 0 0 4kHz 0 0 200Hz 0 0 akHz 0 5 900Hz 0 0 Typical Actuator to free field correction factors dB of an MK79 ACO 7052 microphone Based on 500Hz O 0 0 20Hz 500Hz 0 0 25Hz 0 0 630Hz 0 0 31 5Hz 0 0 800Hz 0 0 40Hz 0 0 1kHz 0 1 50Hz 0 0 1 25kHz 0 2 63Hz 0 0 1 6kHz 0 3 80Hz 0 0 2kHz 0 4 100Hz 0 0 e okHz 0 5 125Hz 0 0 3 15kHz 0 8 160Hz 0 0 4kHz 1 2 200Hz 0 0 okHz 1 6 200Hz 0 0 6 3kHz 2 3 315Hz 0 0 akHz 3 6 400Hz 0 0 Page 66 Maximum SPL at the Microphone for No Damage ACO 7146A ACO 146 0 dB 146 0 dB Calibration Reference Conditions Models T amp B Model L Sound Field Free Field Free Field Air Temperature 23 C 73 F 23 C 73 F Relative Humidity 50 50 Atmospheric Pressure 101 325 kPa 101 325 kPa Sound Pressure Level 94 0dB 94 0dB Reference Level Range 99 120dB 50 120dB Reference Frequency 1kHz 1kHz The reference direction of incidence for all microphones is perpendicular to the front face diaphragm surface of the microphone Operating range Class 1 10 C t
70. t10 9 7 Cc Where Li Weighted sound pressure level in the ith time interval ti Time spent in the ith interval hr The dose can be converted to an Leq Leq L 10log 4 D 100 T Ty Where Leq the equivalent continuous sound level with A weighting from the time Tu Lc Typically 85 dBA in the UK D indicated dose index Tc reference time base 8 hours Tm measurement time in hours Tables D1 D2 amp D3 give examples of how DOSE is related to exposure time and LEp d assuming a criterion of 85 10096 DOSE 85dBA for 8 hours Table D1 Effect of changing SPL SPL dBA Exposure Time Dose LEp d dBA hours 94 8 800 94 91 8 400 g1 88 8 200 88 85 8 100 85 82 8 50 82 79 8 25 79 Page 77 Table De Effect of changing exposure time SPL dBA Exposure Time Dose 976 LEp d dBA hours 85 16 200 85 85 12 150 86 76 85 8 100 85 85 4 50 82 85 2 25 79 85 1 12 5 76 Table D3 Effect of changing SPL and exposure time SPL dBA Exposure Time Dose LEp d dBA hours 88 4 100 85 85 8 100 85 80 8 31 5 80 82 4 25 79 79 4 12 5 76 Each time the sound level increases by 3dB the DOSE doubles given the same exposure time similarly if the sound level decreases by 3dB the DOSE will halve for the same exposure time Doubling the exposure time doubles the DOSE and halving t
71. to add subtract or average percentile values L90 is taken to the ambient or background noise level as used for example in BS4142 Rating industrial noise affecting mixed residential and industrial areas L10 L90 is often used to give a prediction of noise nuisance as noise with widely varying level is more annoying than a constant noise level L10 L90 Jis used in such noise indices as Traffic Noise Index TNI 4 L10 L90 L90 30 L50 is simply the middle point exceeded for 50 of the measurement duration ad has been incorporated in some American Community Noise Assessments DOSE DOSE is a percentage measure of noise exposure similar to LEp d and can be described with the following statement 100 DOSE 85dBA for 8 hours The operation of dose can be mathematically described by the following equation which relates the percentage exposure D to the integrated sound power p DD e T dn q Cc Page 76 Where represents the anti log D Percentage exposure 96 Te Criterion sound duration usually 8 hours T Measurement duration in hr L Weighted sound level Le Criterion level usually dBA q Exchange rate parameter expressed as dB 3 log2 for an exchange rate of 3 dB Approx 9 96578 5 10g2 for an exchange rate of 5 dB Approx 16 61096 For discrete time intervals at a constant sound level the equation can be rewritten as below Li L DO c ie
72. tor Correction dB Castle GABO7 0 2 Castle GA601 0 2 B amp K4231 0 2 Press EH the instrument will calibrate to the level of the calibrator The display will show CAL WAIT while calibrating to the chosen level When calibrated the display will show COMPLETE and will return to the Sound Pressure Level display It is recommended that the unit is then placed into STOP mode and data is cleared The instrument is now ready to take measurements If the calibration is interrupted or the input level is not within 3dB of the chosen reference level then the display will Show CAL FAIL An error message of NO INPUT is shown if the input level is lower than or greater than 3dB Check to make sure the calibrator is switched on and emitting the correct level before proceeding again as indicated above Page 21 Exposure Time ET OK It is possible to select alternative exposures of an employee in hours and minutes Exposure Time is used for calculating projected dose and projected Lep d calculations In the MENU display screen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed ET OK Press and the instrument will now display the currently selected exposure time in hours Use the 4 v arrow keys to alter this figure between OO and 24 Press again and the instrument will display the currently selected number of minutes Use the a v arrow keys to alter this figure between OO and 59 Press to confirm th
73. uding Batteries 220g Page 68 Case Reflections Stalk length 75mm from front of microphone grid to top of case body Frequency Hz Case Effect dB Frequency Hz Case Effect dB 31 5 0 0 800 0 2 40 0 0 1000 0 0 50 0 0 1250 0 3 63 0 0 1600 0 2 80 0 0 2000 0 5 100 0 0 2500 0 4 125 0 0 3150 0 2 160 0 0 4000 0 2 200 0 0 5000 0 1 250 0 1 6300 0 1 315 0 1 8000 0 0 400 0 1 10000 0 0 500 0 1 12500 0 2 630 0 1 16000 0 0 Page 69 AC Output GA1 16l Vout 16 4mVrms at 94 0dB The output is un weighted and not affected by the measurement range DC Output GA116I Vout 40mV dB Vout 3 3 top of range 3 reading in dB x 0 04 Output affected by e Frequency Weighting e Measurement Range Output Socket GA1 161 Both AC and DC outputs require load impedance s to exceed 10kQ however load impedance s gt 100KQ are recommended Front View GND DC Output AC Output Page 70 AC Output Model L Instruments Vout 20 0mVrms at 94 0dB The output is un weighted and not affected by the measurement range Output Socket Model L Instruments The AC output requires the load impedance to exceed 10kQ however load impedance s gt 1OOKO are recommended Front View e AC Output pin 8 GND pin 5 Radio Frequency Fields The Sonus Pocket Range fall into classification X for the susceptibility to Radio Frequency Fields Manuf
74. uments can also be powered using an external 12V DC Power Supply which can be purchased separately if required PSU4 SONUS The battery compartment is located on the bottom left hand side of your instrument Open the battery door by sliding the cover downwards towards the bottom of the instrument The cover will now swing open exposing the battery compartment Insert the battery observing the correct polarity as marked on the case wall inside the battery compartment To achieve a greater battery life from your instrument it is strongly recommended you use alkaline type batteries To power the instrument via the Castle DC Power Supply purchased separately plug your Power Adapter Cable into the 9 pin Lemo connector located at the right side of the instrument Ensure the red dots are aligned before insertion Insert the DC power supply into the DC socket on the adapter cable Ensure the DC power supply is plugged into a mains socket and switch on power to the socket Your Sonus meter is equipped with a four stage battery level indicator this is displayed during the power up sequence and can also be viewed using the information key BAT BER BAT MEN BAT NN BAT M A series of four bars indicates that the battery is fully charged whilst only one bar indicates the battery is almost flat It is strongly recommended that if the instrument is displaying only one bar that the battery is replaced as soon as possible When the battery charge i
75. vironment issues we are a resource you really could use We can help with Noise Vibration Air sampling Gas detection Light and temperature and just about anything else that needs measuring The following services show you how we can help FREE Health Safety Training Seminars To get you off the ground refresh your knowledge or just to get a taste Castle is continually running FREE Safety Health and Environmental seminars around the country Covering subjects from Noise at Work to COSHH and Audiometry the list is ever growing as are the locations Check out our web site for the next seminar near you www castlegroup co uk Castle Instruments Dealing with many Safety Health and Environmental issues may well mean you need access to a plethora of equipment and instrumentation to carry out measurements and assessments necessary for the job At Castle we can provide you with just about any of the equipment you might need All our equipment comes with the guarantee of back up and support you only get from a company with 4O years under its belt Here are a few of the core products we can offer but we can also source anything you may need Noise and Vibration Measurement Equipment Audiometers Otoscopes and Booths Air Bampling Pumps Calibrators and Consumables Gas Detection and Personal Monitors Emissions and Air Guality Light Temperature Humidity and Airflow www castlegroup co uk Castle Training Academy
76. ways starts with the HOUR figure Use the A w arrow keys as required until the desired hour figure is displayed Press ox to confirm your selection and proceed to MINUTES and then SECONDS using the same procedure Press c to cancel changes and return to the SETUP screen Page 37 Current Date DATE In the SETUP display screen use the v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed DATE Press O the instrument will display the following date entry screen using the following format dd mm yy 01 07 09 The adjustable figure flashes this always starts with the DAY figure Use the A w arrow keys as required until the desired DAY figure is displayed ress O8 to confirm your selection and proceed to MONTH and then YEAR using the same procedure Press c to cancel changes and return to the SETUP screen If an invalid date is entered the following will be briefly displayed ERROR The date entry screen will then be displayed again and a correct date must be entered Real Time Clock TIME In the SETUP display screen use the a v arrow keys as required until the following is displayed TIME Press EH the instrument will display the following time entry screen using the following 24 hour format hh mm ss 09 05 09 The adjustable figure flashes this always starts with the HOUR figure Use the 4 v arrow keys as required until the desired HOUR figure is displayed press O8 to con

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