Castle group dBAir User manual

www.castlegroup.co.uk
dBAir Sound Level Meter
Operating Manual
Castle Group Ltd
Salter Road
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO11 3UZ, UK
Copyright © Castle Group Ltd 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the permission of the copyright holder.
Rev B
HB/141/030/EL

Contents
Chapter 1 ..................................................................1
Introduction...................................................................................................................................1
Chapter 2 ..................................................................2
dBAir Models & Features........................................................................................................2
Safety............................................................................................................................................................. 2
Safety Octave ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Environmental............................................................................................................................................ 2
Environmental Octave ............................................................................................................................ 3
Safety & Environmental......................................................................................................................... 3
Safety & Environmental Octave ......................................................................................................... 3
Consultant ................................................................................................................................................... 4
Microphone and Pre-Amplifier ..............................................................................................5
Microphone Types ................................................................................................................................... 5
Microphone Polarisation ............................................................................................................. 6
Microphone Sensitivity ................................................................................................................. 6
Removal of Microphone............................................................................................................... 7
Pre-Amplifier Removal & Fitting ........................................................................................................ 7
Microphone Extension Cable..................................................................................................... 7
Certifiable Calibration............................................................................................................................. 8
Chapter 3 ..................................................................9
Measuring Sound........................................................................................................................9
Incidence Angle......................................................................................................................................... 9
Pressure Field - (meeting ANSI Standards)........................................................................ 9

Free Field - (meeting IEC Standards)...................................................................................... 9
Sound Level –General Advice......................................................................................................... 10
Chapter 4 ...............................................................11
Getting Started ........................................................................................................................11
Keypad Layout ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Powering Your dBAir Sound Level Meter .................................................................................. 12
Instrument Icons ................................................................................................................................... 13
Icon Location.................................................................................................................................. 14
Chapter 5 ...............................................................15
Using Your dBAir .....................................................................................................................15
Real Time.................................................................................................................................................. 15
Recording ................................................................................................................................................. 16
Recording Screen Display........................................................................................................ 17
Time History Disabled...................................................................................................... 17
Time History Enabled ....................................................................................................... 17
Time History Disabled, Duration Timer Set ........................................................... 18
Time History Enabled, Duration Timer Set............................................................. 18
Time History Enabled, Interval Timer Set................................................................ 19
Stopping an Active Recording................................................................................................ 20
Save ......................................................................................................................................... 20
Resume Recording ........................................................................................................... 20
Don’t Save............................................................................................................................. 20
Voice Memo......................................................................................................................... 21
File Review................................................................................................................................................ 22
Time History Disabled................................................................................................................ 22
Time History Enabled ................................................................................................................. 23
Time History Disabled, Duration Timer Set ..................................................................... 24
Time History Enabled, Duration Timer Set....................................................................... 25
Time History Enabled, Interval Timer Set.......................................................................... 26

File Review Options...................................................................................................................... 27
Exit ............................................................................................................................................ 27
Menu ....................................................................................................................................... 27
HPD.......................................................................................................................................... 27
Voice Memo......................................................................................................................... 27
Chapter 6 ...............................................................28
TheCastleCloud Gateway......................................................................................................28
Logging In.................................................................................................................................................. 29
Change Account........................................................................................................................... 30
Connect to dBAir................................................................................................................................... 31
Update Gateway Software ................................................................................................................ 32
Update Instrument Software........................................................................................................... 33
Update Instrument HPD.................................................................................................................... 34
Chapter 7 ...............................................................35
Menu Navigation & Settings...............................................................................................35
Measurement Setup ........................................................................................................................... 36
Function............................................................................................................................................ 37
Full Octave............................................................................................................................. 37
Third Octave......................................................................................................................... 38
Frequencies ............................................................................................................... 38
Short Interval............................................................................................................. 38
Long Interval.............................................................................................................. 38
Upgrade to Octave Band Analysis.............................................................................. 39
Weightings & Range.................................................................................................................. 40
Range...................................................................................................................................... 40
Frequency Weighting....................................................................................................... 40
Time Weighting .................................................................................................................. 40
Results Selection.......................................................................................................................... 41
Exposure .......................................................................................................................................... 42

UK/EU.................................................................................................................................... 42
OSHA (PEL)........................................................................................................................... 43
Custom................................................................................................................................... 43
Upgrade to Exposure....................................................................................................... 44
Data Recording............................................................................................................................. 45
Time History On - Enabled.............................................................................................. 46
Time History On - Disabled ............................................................................................ 47
Short Time Interval ........................................................................................................... 48
Long Time Interval............................................................................................................. 48
Timer Selection................................................................................................................... 49
Smart Timer .............................................................................................................. 50
Duration Timer ......................................................................................................... 51
Interval Timer............................................................................................................ 51
Start On ....................................................................................................................... 51
Statistics.......................................................................................................................................... 52
Percentiles............................................................................................................................ 53
Show LN < 5 Minutes ...................................................................................................... 53
Lden......................................................................................................................................... 54
Upgrade to Statistics....................................................................................................... 55
Audio Recording........................................................................................................................... 56
Voice Memo......................................................................................................................... 57
Start .............................................................................................................................. 57
End ................................................................................................................................. 58
Off ................................................................................................................................... 59
Event Recording ................................................................................................................. 61
Quality........................................................................................................................... 61
Record Method ........................................................................................................ 62
Continuous (Cont) ........................................................................................... 62
Trigger (Trig) ..................................................................................................... 62
Trigger Edge............................................................................................... 63
Trigger Level............................................................................................... 63
Trigger Freq ............................................................................................... 64
Record Time............................................................................................... 64
Amplify Noise Events.............................................................................................. 65

Upgrade to Event Recording.............................................................................. 65
Save as Template ........................................................................................................................ 66
File Manager ........................................................................................................................................... 67
Load File ........................................................................................................................................... 68
Filter Selection .................................................................................................................... 68
Send Files To Cloud..................................................................................................................... 69
Filter Selection .................................................................................................................... 70
Clear Cloud File Queue .............................................................................................................. 71
Delete File........................................................................................................................................ 72
Delete All Files ............................................................................................................................... 73
Auto File Naming.......................................................................................................................... 74
Auto File Review............................................................................................................................ 75
Save CSV File ................................................................................................................................. 75
Template Manager............................................................................................................................... 76
Load Template .............................................................................................................................. 76
Create Template .......................................................................................................................... 77
Edit Template................................................................................................................................. 78
Delete Template........................................................................................................................... 79
Save Current Setup .................................................................................................................... 80
Hearing Protection............................................................................................................................... 81
Best Available Method............................................................................................................... 82
Octave Method.............................................................................................................................. 82
HML Method.................................................................................................................................. 84
SNR Method .................................................................................................................................. 86
Settings ............................................................................................................................................ 88
HSE Correction................................................................................................................... 88
Standard Deviation ........................................................................................................... 88
Upgrade to Hearing Protection............................................................................................. 89
Instrument Setup.................................................................................................................................. 90
Wi-Fi................................................................................................................................................... 91
WiFi Networks .................................................................................................................... 92
Network Settings............................................................................................................... 93
Screen............................................................................................................................................... 94
Brightness ............................................................................................................................ 94

Screen Colour ..................................................................................................................... 94
Auto Dim................................................................................................................................ 95
Enable Screen Shot .......................................................................................................... 95
Date.................................................................................................................................................... 96
Time ................................................................................................................................................... 96
Language......................................................................................................................................... 97
Information ..................................................................................................................................... 97
SPL Bar Levels.............................................................................................................................. 98
USB Drive ........................................................................................................................................ 99
Support.......................................................................................................................................... 100
Calibration ............................................................................................................................................. 101
Cal Value (dB) ............................................................................................................................. 101
Cal History.................................................................................................................................... 103
Send History To Cloud ............................................................................................................ 103
Startup Options................................................................................................................................... 104
Calibration Reminder .............................................................................................................. 104
Calibrate Instrument ............................................................................................................... 104
Chapter 8 ............................................................105
Measurement Screens ......................................................................................................105
Measurements ................................................................................................................................... 105
Measurements Table....................................................................................................................... 107
Exposure................................................................................................................................................. 108
Percentiles (LN).................................................................................................................................. 109
Lden.......................................................................................................................................................... 110
1/1 Octave............................................................................................................................................ 111
1/3 Octave............................................................................................................................................ 112
Chapter 9 ............................................................113
Accessories.............................................................................................................................113

1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing a dBAir from Castle Group Ltd.
Your new Sound Level meter is at the forefront of design and technology yet has been
developed for seamless intuitive operation without the unnecessary complexity of
traditional sound level meters.
It boasts a high resolution large colour LCD with simple and clear visual data
representation, has advanced data recording capabilities which records your data to
the large internal memory available at your disposal.
Equipped with a simple plug in microphone pre-amplifier, carry strap and a responsive
membrane keypad all housed in an elegant, perfectly sized, balanced and practical case
which has been developed specifically with this in mind.
Every model of the dBAir sound level meter has inbuilt Wi-Fi allowing you to automatically
upload your recordings to our simple to use in-browser software at
TheCastleCloud.com. Your data here is secure, always available and backed up
automatically.
Equally, the dBAir can also be connected to The Castle Cloud through a PC app called
the Castle Gateway, which enables you to upload your recordings via your PC using the
included Micro USB Cable and your PC’s internet connection. You can also update your
instruments software as and when required. An alert in The Castle Cloud will inform you
when updates are available.
Not only that, your dBAir sound level meter can act as a USB drive allowing you access
to your saved recordings and transfer the standard format .csv recorded files so you
can open them in your favourite spread sheet application and create your own reports.
Welcome to the new era in sound level measurement.

2
Chapter 2
dBAir Models & Features
A list of dBAir models and features are listed below. The dBAir models are presented
with all of the required features to fulfil specific applications where noise measurement
is a requirement, such as for Safety or Construction.
Safety
dBAir Safety (GA141S)
LSPL, LEQ, LMIN, LMAX, LPEAK, LEP’d, Exposure Points, Dose
Hearing Protector Calculator
Voice Memo Recording
Safety Octave
dBAir Safety Octave (GA141SO)
LSPL, LEQ, LMIN, LMAX, LPEAK, LEP’d, Exposure Points, Dose
Octave Band Analysis (1/1): LSPL, LEQ, LMAX, LMAX, LPEAK
Hearing Protector Calculator
Voice Memo Recording
Environmental
dBAir Environmental (GA141E)
LSPL, LE, LEQ, LMIN, LMAX, LPEAK
Statistical Parameters: LTM3, LTM5, Lday, Levening, Lnight, Ldn, Lden, NA, 10 user-definable
Ln values (L1- L99, 0.1dB resolution)
Voice Memo Recording
Noise Event Recording