SOUND LEVEL METER

1. SAFETY INFORMATION

Read the following safety information carefully before attempting to operate or service the meter. Use the meter only as specified in this manual:

• Environment conditions
  1. Altitude lower than 2000 meters
  2. Relatively humidity ≤90%RH
  3. Operation Ambient 0 ~ 40°C
• Maintenance & Clearing
  1. Repair or servicing not covered in this manual should be performed by qualified personnel.
  2. Periodically wipe the case with a dry cloth. Do not use solvents or harsh chemicals on this instrument.
• Safety symbols
  • CE: Comply with EMC

2. FUNCTIONS DESCRIPTION

This Sound Level Meter is designed for noise project, quality control, illness prevention and cure, and all kinds of environmental sounds measurement. It is applied to the sounds measurement at factory, school, office, traffic access, and household, etc.

• This unit confirms to the IEC61672-1 CLASS2 for Sound Level Meters.
• MAX & MIN measurements
• Over range display
• Under range display

3. SPECIFICATION

4. NAME AND FUNCTIONS

When you measure at wind velocities of >10m/s, use the wind protection on the microphone.

Device Components:

• 1. Rec
• 2. Setup
• 3. Backlight
• 4. Fast/Slow
• 5. A / C
• 6. Max / Min
• 7. Hold
• 8. Level
• 9. Power
• 10. 9 VDC power supply / mini USB interface / analogue output / calibration screw

Display Indicators:

DATALOGGER FUNCTION

Press the "REC" button after powering on; the display will show "REC" to start Data Recording. Press the button again to exit the record. (Note: To avoid data error, please do not power off under REC condition. The REC function can only be powered off after it is deleted).

Adjusting DATALOGGER response

Press the [button] continuously before powering on, then press the [button]. The display will show as follows: Press 'LEVEL' button to adjust sample time, press 'HOLD' button to hold the setup.

Data zero function

Press the "REC" button continuously before powering on. Release the [button] when the display shows 'CLR' after the meter powers on, which indicates that the data in DATALOGGER has been deleted [clear symbol].

"SETUP" button

The time chip adjustment

Press the 'SETUP' button and then power it on. When the 'TIME' symbol displays, loosen 'SETUP'. The meter will be under time adjustment mode. At this time, the display will show the date as follows:

[Date display example]

Press the 'SETUP' button a second time, the display shows:

[Minute adjustment display example]

The display shows "minute" adjustment mode. Press 'LEVEL' to make the adjustment, press 'HOLD' to keep the setup.

Press the 'SETUP' button a third time, the display shows:

[Hour adjustment display example]

The display shows "hour" adjustment mode. Press (h-P=P.M, h-A=A.M) 'LEVEL' to make the adjustment, press 'HOLD' to keep the setup.

Press the 'SETUP' button a fourth time, the display shows:

[Date adjustment display example]

The display shows "date" adjustment mode. Press 'LEVEL' to make the adjustment, press 'HOLD' to keep the setup.

Press the 'SETUP' button a fifth time, the display shows:

[Month adjustment display example]

The display shows "month" adjustment mode. Press 'LEVEL' to make the adjustment, press 'HOLD' to keep the setup.

Press the 'SETUP' button a sixth time, the display shows:

[Year adjustment display example]

The display shows "year" adjustment mode. Press 'LEVEL' to make the adjustment, press 'HOLD' to keep the setup.

Only if you need to factory reset the "TIME", should the following seventh step be used. Press "POWER" to end setup and restart to verify settings.

Press the 'SETUP' button seventh time to reset to factory settings, the display shows:

[Factory reset display example]

Press 'HOLD' to keep the setup; time and date have returned to factory setup.

When the battery is exhausted or replaced, if the time can't be adjusted, then please initialize the time chip first.

USB communications setting:

Turn on the meter, connect the meter with the computer correctly. Choose the software COM3 (COM4), then press 'SETUP'. The [USB symbol] disappears from the display to indicate and disable auto power off, meaning the USB data is transmitting.

Auto Power ON/OFF

Press 'SETUP'. The [power symbol] disappears from the display to indicate you have disabled auto power off.

"FAST/SLOW" button:

Time weighting selection

• FAST: Fast sampling measurement, 1 time per 125mS.
• SLOW: Slow sampling measurement, 1 time per second.

"MAX/MIN" button:

Maximum and Minimum hold. Press this button for one time to enter MAX/MIN measurement. 'MAX' will appear on LCD, maximum sound level will be captured and held until a higher sound level is captured. Press the button again, 'MIN' will appear on LCD and minimum sound level will be captured and held until a new lower sound level is captured. Press the button one more time to exit MAX/MIN measurement.

"LEVEL" button: Level range selection

Each time you press the "LEVEL" button, the level range will change between 'Lo' level, 'Med' level, 'Hi' level, and 'Auto' level in a circular manner.

Backlight button

8.0. Turn the backlight on/off

8.1. DATALOGGER response setting;

[Data logger response setting display example]

During power on, press the backlight button continuously until the 'INT' symbol appears. Press 'LEVEL' to set up the data memory response, then press 'HOLD' to keep the setting.

"A/C" Frequency weighting select button

• A: A-Weighting
• C: C-Weighting

"HOLD" button:

Press the "HOLD" button. The hold function freezes the reading in the display.

Power button

Turn the meter power ON/OFF.

External DC 9V power supply terminal

For connection with DC 9V power supply. Aperture size: external diameter: 3.5mm, internal diameter: 1.35mm.

USB interface

USB signal output is a 9600 bps serial interface.

5. Software

Driver

Download the software via the following website: https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/download-win_4.htm

Install the driver first and connect the device afterwards to the computer using the USB interface. For USB connection, observe step 8!

1. Start your computer.
2. Run the file „CP210xVCPInstaller.exe" in the directory ..\driver\Windows[YOUR VERSION OF THE OPERATING SYSTEM]\ with a double click.
3. Hit „Install“.
4. Restart your computer after the installation is made.
5. The device can be switched on after the computer has restarted.
6. Connect the device to a USB serial port. The driver will then be installed automatically and can then be found in the Device Manager of your computer.

Device Manager Example:

If the driver is installed completely, the computer will show „CP2101 USB to UART Bridge Controller (COMX)." in the device manager submenu COM and LPT. Note the COM-connection (COM 3 in the picture above). This has to be set within the software.

8. Push "Setup" button to initiate communication. After the software is installed, start the application "Sound Level Meter".

Software operation

Symbols

Real time measurement

The software displays real-time measurement data, including Start Time, MIN, MAX, DataNo., Sample Rate, Average, Graph, Data List, and UnDo Zoom options.

Data Table Example:

Graph Analysis:

The graph displays sound level over time. Cursors (Cursor A, Cursor B) can be set to compare two measurement points. Data can then be analyzed using these cursors.

Cursor Definitions:

You can zoom certain parts of the graph. Click with the left mouse button, hold it, and adjust the area that needs to be zoomed. Release the mouse button again, and the software will zoom in.

Function tabs

The function tabs perform additional actions to help analyze the data:

• File(F): Open, Save as (.txt), Export To Excel (.xls), Print Graph, Print Data, Exit.
• Real Time(R): Run (start measurement), Stop (end measurement), Clear Data.
• DataLogger(D): Setup (sampling rate, max value), Read out internal data logger.
• Com Port(C): Manual/Auto communication interface selection.
• View(V): ToolBar, StatusBar, Color Setting (graph, background, grid).
• Help(H): Contents, About (software version).

AC/DC signal output earphone outlet

The earphone outlet provides AC and DC signal outputs.

Diagram Description: The diagram shows connections labeled "DC OUTPUT", "AC OUTPUT", and "GROUND", connected to a multi-pin connector.

6. CALIBRATION PROCEDURES

1. Make the following switch settings: Frequency weighting: A-weighting, Time weighting: FAST, Level range: 50 ~100dB.
2. Insert the microphone housing carefully into the 1/2 inch insertion hole of the calibrator (94dB @ 1kHZ).
3. Turn on the switch of the calibrator and adjust the calibration screw of the unit until 94.0dB is displayed.

NOTE: All products are well calibrated before shipment. Recommended recalibration cycle: 1 year.

7. MEASUREMENT PREPARATION

1. Remove the battery cover on the back and put in one 9V battery.
2. Recover the back cover.
3. When battery voltage drops below the operating voltage or battery aging, this symbol [low battery indicator] will appear on LCD. Replace the 9V battery.
4. When the AC adapter is used, insert the plug of the adapter (3.5φ) into the DC 9V connector on the side panel.

8. OPERATING PROCEDURE

1. Power on the meter.
2. Press 'LEVEL' button to select the desired level, ensuring 'UNDER' or 'OVER' do not appear on LCD.
3. Select 'dBA' for general noise sound level and 'dBC' for measuring sound level of acoustic material.
4. Select 'FAST' for instant sound and 'SLOW' for average sound level.
5. Select 'MAX/MIN' button for measuring maximum and minimum noise level.
6. Hold the instrument comfortably in hand or fix on a tripod and measure sound level at a distance of 1~1.5 meter.

9. NOTICE

• i. Do not store or operate the instrument at high temperature and high humidity environment.
• ii. When not in use for long time, please take out the battery to avoid battery liquid leakage and cautery on the instrument.
• iii. When using the instrument in the presence of wind, it is a must to mount the windscreen to not pick up undesirable signals.
• iv. Keep microphone dry and avoid severe vibration.

10. Accessories:

• 1 x sound level meter PCE-322A
• 1 x wind protection
• 1 x screwdriver
• 1 x AC power adaptor
• 1 x 9 V battery
• 1 x downloadable software (PCE instruments downloads)
• 1 x USB cable
• 1 x mini tripod
• 1 x carrying case
• 1 x user manual

11. Contact

For any questions, suggestions, or technical problems, please do not hesitate to contact PCE Instruments. You will find the relevant contact information at the end of this user manual.

12. Disposal

For the disposal of batteries in the EU, the 2006/66/EC directive of the European Parliament applies. Due to the contained pollutants, batteries must not be disposed of as household waste. They must be given to collection points designed for that purpose.

In order to comply with the EU directive 2012/19/EU, PCE Instruments takes back its devices. They are either re-used or given to a recycling company which disposes of the devices in line with law.

For countries outside the EU, batteries and devices should be disposed of in accordance with your local waste regulations.

Compliance Symbols: [lead symbol] Pb, CE, RoHS, FC. For inquiries, please contact PCE Instruments.