Castle group Sonus Range GA116L User manual

www.castlegroup.co.uk
Castle Sonus Range
Sound Level Meter
&
Dose Meter
Operating Manual

Castle Sonus Range
Sound Level & Dose Meter Operating Manual
Published by Castle Group Ltd
Castle Group Ltd
Salter Road
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO11 3UZ, UK
Copyright © Castle Group Ltd 2012
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 prior permission
of the copyright holder.
Printed in the UK
HB/0116/005/A5 Rev B

Thank you for buying a Castle product, I 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 I 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.You can visit www.castletrainingacademy.com to find out more.
Castle Group has become the leading supplier of solutions for health and safety,
environmental compliance and plant maintenance and monitoring, with an ever
expanding offer comprising equipment for sale or rent, residential or in-house
training courses, consultancy services and equipment calibration. If you would
like to know more about any of our other products and services then please visit
www.castlegroup.co.uk or telephone us on [phone].
Simon Bull
Managing Director
Note: for ‘Getting Started’ section please turn to Chapter 4

Precautions
•Only operate the instrument as described in this manual.
•These are precision instruments, protect from shocks and vibrations.
•Ambient conditions for the operation of the unit are as follows:-
Temperature: -10°C to +50°C
Relative Humidity: 25 to 90%
•Protect the unit from extremes of temperature and humidity, direct
sunlight and air with a high salt or sulphur content.
•Always turn the unit off after use. Remove the batteries from the
instrument when not in use.
•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.
•Do not allow any conductive objects, such as wire or metal particles to
enter the unit.
•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.
•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 Sonus
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: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Website:
www.castlegroup.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
[e-mail]

Contents
CHAPTER 1.......................................................................................... 1
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 1
Sonus Variations ........................................................................................................................ 2
Sonus L...................................................................................................................................... 2
Sonus E ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Sonus I....................................................................................................................................... 3
Sonus B..................................................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER 2.......................................................................................... 4
Microphone ........................................................................................................................................ 4
Microphone Types..................................................................................................................... 4
Free Field.................................................................................................................................. 4
Pressure................................................................................................................................... 4
Random Incidence............................................................................................................... 4
Microphone Polarisation........................................................................................................ 4
Externally Polarised............................................................................................................. 4
Pre-Polarised.......................................................................................................................... 4
Microphone Sensitivity ............................................................................................................ 5
Certifiable Calibration .............................................................................................................. 5
Removal of Microphone.......................................................................................................... 5
Pre-Amplifier Removal and Fitting........................................................................................... 6
Models GA116L, GA116E, GA116I & GA216L-P ....................................................6
Microphone Extension Cable (Models GA116L, GA116E & GA216L) .....6
CHAPTER 3.......................................................................................... 7
Measuring Sound ............................................................................................................................ 7
Sound Level – General Advice ............................................................................................. 7
Reflections..................................................................................................................................... 8
Time Weighting........................................................................................................................... 8
Slow Weighting ..................................................................................................................... 8
Fast Weighting...................................................................................................................... 8
Impulse Weighting – (Models GA116E, GA116L & GA216L Only) ...........8
Frequency Weighting Filters ................................................................................................ 9
‘A’ Weighting .......................................................................................................................... 9
‘C’ Weighting .......................................................................................................................... 9
‘Z’ Weighting (Zero) – (Models ‘E’ & ‘L’ Only) ......................................................... 9
Overload and Under Range Conditions........................................................................10
Overload Condition............................................................................................................10
Under Range Condition..................................................................................................11
Measuring Ranges.................................................................................................................12
Changing Range – All models except GA257B and GA257L ....................12
Lock Keypad – GA257B and GA257L...................................................................13
CHAPTER 4....................................................................................... 14
Getting Started ..............................................................................................................................14
Models I and B..........................................................................................................................14
Models L and E.........................................................................................................................14
All Models ................................................................................................................................... 15
Keypad Layout – GA116, GA216 All Models ...........................................................16

Keypad Layout – GA257L & GA257B.........................................................................17
Powering Your Sonus Meter.............................................................................................18
Switching Your Sonus Meter On/Off............................................................................19
CHAPTER 5....................................................................................... 20
Main Menu Navigation............................................................................................................... 20
Models GA116I, GA216I, GA116B, GA216B, GA257B ..............................21
Calibration [CAL <OK] ................................................................................................21
Exposure Time [ET <OK] ...........................................................................................23
Frequency / Time Weighting [WTG <OK].......................................................23
Exchange Rate [EXCH <OK]....................................................................................24
Criterion [CRIT <OK] ...................................................................................................25
Threshold [THR <OK] .................................................................................................26
Keypad Lock [LOCK <OK] .........................................................................................26
Display Contrast [CONT <OK]................................................................................27
Models GA116L, GA216L, GA116E, GA257L..................................................28
Calibration [CAL]..........................................................................................................28
Instrument Settings [SETUP] ................................................................................30
Frequency Weighting [FREQ WGT] ..............................................................31
Time Weighting [TIME WGT] ...........................................................................32
Recording Interval Period [INTERVAL] ........................................................34
Display Contrast [CONTRAST] ........................................................................36
Percentiles [USER Ln] .........................................................................................37
Criterion Level [CRIT] ...........................................................................................38
Threshold [THR] .....................................................................................................39
Exchange Rate [EXCH] ........................................................................................40
Record Timer [TIMER] ........................................................................................41
Current Date [DATE]............................................................................................42
Real Time Clock [TIME] .......................................................................................43
User Mode [MODE]....................................................................................................44
View Saved Logs [LOGS] ..........................................................................................45
Delete Saved Logs [DELETE]..................................................................................46
Set Instrument Defaults [DEFAULTS] ...............................................................47
Keypad Lock [LOCK]...................................................................................................48
CHAPTER 6....................................................................................... 49
Stop / Record Mode..................................................................................................................49
Model ‘I’ & ‘B’ Instruments.................................................................................................49
Model ‘L’ & ‘E’ Instruments................................................................................................50
All Models ................................................................................................................................... 51
Model ‘I’ & ‘B’ Instruments – Information Screen ............................................51
Model ‘L’ Instruments – Information Screen ......................................................52
Model ‘E’ Instruments – Information Screen......................................................53
Reset Data ........................................................................................................................... 54
Models ‘I’ & ‘B’ ..............................................................................................................54
Models ‘L’ & ‘E’..............................................................................................................54
CHAPTER 7....................................................................................... 55
Parameters..................................................................................................................................... 55
Available Parameters - Models ‘I’ & ‘B’ ........................................................................55
Available Parameters - Model ‘L’.....................................................................................57
Available Parameters - Model ‘E’.....................................................................................59
Parameter Explanations......................................................................................................61
Sound Pressure Level.....................................................................................................61

Equivalent Continuous Sound Level ..........................................................................61
Maximum Sound Pressure Level ..............................................................................62
Peak Level.............................................................................................................................62
Daily Personal Noise Exposure Level.......................................................................63
Noise Dose...........................................................................................................................64
Noise Dose per Hour ......................................................................................................65
Pascal Squared Hours ...................................................................................................65
Sound Exposure Level .....................................................................................................66
Percentiles ...........................................................................................................................66
CHAPTER 8....................................................................................... 67
Downloading Saved Recordings............................................................................................67
Models ‘L’ and ‘E’.....................................................................................................................67
CHAPTER 9....................................................................................... 68
Accessories.....................................................................................................................................68
Available Accessories ...........................................................................................................68
CHAPTER 10.................................................................................... 69
Technical Specification...............................................................................................................69
Instrument Standards..........................................................................................................69
Measurement Parameters ...............................................................................................70
Time Weighting........................................................................................................................71
Frequency Weighting............................................................................................................71
Peak Frequency Weighting................................................................................................72
Typical Electrical Self Generated Noise Level ...........................................................72
Linear Operating Range: (IEC 61672:2002)............................................................73
Model ‘L’ Instruments .....................................................................................................73
Model ‘E’ Instruments.....................................................................................................75
Model ‘I’ & ‘B’ Instruments ...........................................................................................76
Total Measuring Range .......................................................................................................77
GA116E .................................................................................................................................77
GA116L .................................................................................................................................77
GA216L .................................................................................................................................77
GA257L .................................................................................................................................77
GA116I, GA216I, GA116B, GA216B.....................................................................77
GA257B.................................................................................................................................77
Peak Operating Range @ 1kHz.........................................................................................78
GA116E .................................................................................................................................78
GA116L .................................................................................................................................78
GA216L .................................................................................................................................78
GA257L .................................................................................................................................78
GA116I, GA216I, GA116B, GA216B.....................................................................78
GA257B.................................................................................................................................78
Acoustic Frequency Range ................................................................................................79
Electrical Characteristics....................................................................................................79
Reference Points ....................................................................................................................79
Model E .................................................................................................................................. 79
Model L...................................................................................................................................79
Models I, B............................................................................................................................79
Electrical Signal Input............................................................................................................80
Maximum Peak to Peak Electrical Signal Input For No Damage.....................80
Upper Frequency for Periodic Acoustic Testing......................................................80
Windshield.................................................................................................................................. 80

Microphone [GA116I, GA116L]......................................................................................81
Microphone [GA116E].........................................................................................................82
Microphone [GA216I, GA216B, GA216L, GA257B, GA257L] ......................83
Typical Microphone Self Generated Noise Level .....................................................84
Maximum SPL at the Microphone for No Damage...............................................84
Calibration Reference Conditions ...................................................................................84
Display ..........................................................................................................................................85
Display Refresh Rate.............................................................................................................85
Detector Characteristics....................................................................................................85
Warm up time..........................................................................................................................85
Environmental Stabilization Time ....................................................................................85
Operating range ......................................................................................................................85
Effect of Temperature ..........................................................................................................85
Effects of Humidity..................................................................................................................85
Effects of Vibration.................................................................................................................86
Magnetic Field .......................................................................................................................... 86
Radio Frequency Fields ........................................................................................................86
Overload.......................................................................................................................................86
Log Interval Periods: Models ‘L’ & ‘E’ Only ..................................................................86
Timer Function: Models ‘L’ & ‘E’ Only.............................................................................86
Time & Date: Models ‘L’ & ‘E’ Only..................................................................................86
Overall Dimensions.................................................................................................................86
Batteries ..................................................................................................................................... 87
Overall Weight including Batteries.................................................................................87
Manufacturers Data .............................................................................................................87
Case Reflections......................................................................................................................87
Output Socket ...........................................................................................................................88
GA116I...................................................................................................................................88
Wiring Configuration .................................................................................................88
AC Output........................................................................................................................88
DC Output........................................................................................................................88
GA116L, GA116E, GA216L, GA257L...................................................................89
Wiring Configuration .................................................................................................89
AC Output........................................................................................................................89
EC Declaration of Conformity............................................................................................90
CHAPTER 11.................................................................................... 91
Function Equations.......................................................................................................................91
CHAPTER 12.................................................................................... 96
Glossary.............................................................................................................................................96
A-weighting.................................................................................................................................96
Action Values ............................................................................................................................ 96
Ambient Noise..........................................................................................................................97
Audio Frequency Range.......................................................................................................97
Audiometer ................................................................................................................................ 97
Background Noise..................................................................................................................97
C-weighting.................................................................................................................................97
Criterion Duration (TC).........................................................................................................98
Criterion Sound Level (LC)..................................................................................................98
Daily Personal Noise Exposure Level (Lep,d).............................................................98
Decibel (dB)................................................................................................................................99
Digital Signal Processor (DSP)......................................................................................101
Doppler Effect........................................................................................................................101

Dose ...........................................................................................................................................101
Dynamic Range.....................................................................................................................101
Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (Leq).................................................................102
Exchange Rate.......................................................................................................................102
Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) ........................................................................................104
Feedback..................................................................................................................................104
Frequency (Hz) ......................................................................................................................104
Frequency Weighted Filter..............................................................................................105
Frequency Band Filter........................................................................................................108
Hearing Protection..............................................................................................................108
Leq...............................................................................................................................................111
Minimum rms Level (Lmin) .............................................................................................111
Maximum rms Level (Lmax) ...........................................................................................112
Microphone.............................................................................................................................112
Noise ..........................................................................................................................................112
Noise Dose..............................................................................................................................113
Noise Floor ..............................................................................................................................114
Overload....................................................................................................................................114
Pre-Amplifier...........................................................................................................................114
Percentile Sound Levels ...................................................................................................115
Peak Level................................................................................................................................116
Pink Noise................................................................................................................................116
Residual Noise.......................................................................................................................117
Root Mean Square (rms).................................................................................................117
Sound.........................................................................................................................................117
Sound Exposure (SE) ..........................................................................................................117
Sound Exposure Level (LAE)............................................................................................118
Sound Power (W).................................................................................................................118
Sound Power Level (LW)..................................................................................................118
Sound Pressure....................................................................................................................118
Sound Pressure Level (Lp) ..............................................................................................119
Specific Noise ........................................................................................................................119
Speed of Sound (c) ..............................................................................................................119
Threshold Sound Level (Lt)..............................................................................................119
Time Weighting.....................................................................................................................120
Under Range..........................................................................................................................120
White Noise............................................................................................................................120
Z-weighting..............................................................................................................................120
CHAPTER 13................................................................................. 121
Customer Instrument Support ...........................................................................................121
Warranty and After Sales Service ..............................................................................121
Trouble Shooting Guide.....................................................................................................122
Instrument Disposal ...........................................................................................................123
Disclaimer................................................................................................................................124
Instrument Details...............................................................................................................124

Table of Figures
Figure 1 – Frequency Weighting Curves .................................................................................. 9
Figure 2 – Keypad Layout (Sound Meter)..............................................................................16
Figure 3 – Keypad Layout (Dose Meter) ................................................................................17

Castle Group Ltd
If you want to keep up to date with the latest in health and safety, you
should attend a Castle FREE seminar. These are run around the country
and cover a wide range of topics. Packed with the latest information and
delivered with the help of practical demonstrations, these seminars are
a great way to really learn something at the same time as collecting cpd
points! Go to the website below to find the lasts dates and venues and to
see video clip samples.
www.need2know4free.com
Dedicated to professionals
in Health and Safety,
Environmental Compliance
and Plant Maintenance
Engineering, Castle set out
to help you in a way that
suits you best. We can
provide or rent equipment,
train you and your staff or
we can carry out work on
your behalf. We can even
mix it up to suit your way of
working.
•Measuring and Monitoring Instruments
•Equipment Rental
•Database and Data-management Software
•Training Courses and In-house Provision
•Calibration and Repair of Monitoring Equipment
•Consultancy for Health, Safety, Environment and Engineering
Solutions
•Online Knowledge
www.castlegroup.co.uk

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Compliance with legislation and mitigation of claims is really what health
and safety is about for most companies. That is how we are set up to
help you; Our training courses are all geared to that end as is any
equipment we might supply or rent to you. If you need us in person, we’ll
be there too! Call NOW on 01723 584250 and get your health and
safety compliance on-track, the way you want to do it! There are many
issues you might like us to have a look at
•Noise and Vibration at Work
•Audiometry
•HAVS Health Surveillance
•Health Screening
•Air Sampling and Gas Detection
•Indoor Air Quality
•Airflow
•EMF Testing and Monitoring
•Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
•General Compliance and Risk
Assessment
ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
In an increasingly sensitive atmosphere to environmental issues,
businesses have to be careful. Neighbours are increasingly aware of
theirs ‘right’ to complain and the environmental agencies are looking for
industry to clean up its act. Simply call us on 01723 584250 if you
have any environmental compliance issues and we will work with you to
find the best way forward.
•Noise for Planning
•Complaint Management
•Ground-Bourne & Building Vibration
•Stack-Emissions Monitoring
•Environmental Air Sampling
•Water Quality Testing

MAINTENANCE AND DIAGNOSTICS
Production plant needs maintenance and if this can be done only when
needed, then cost savings can be huge. Condition monitoring offers the
ability carry out predictive maintenance so shut-down is only when you
plan it and only when it’s needed. It is very simple to work out if this is the
right approach for your business, so give us a call on 01723 584250
so we find out how much you could save!
•Vibration Monitoring Systems
•Vibration Meters
•Temperature Monitoring System
•Thermometers
•Thermal Imaging
•Diagnostic Vibration Analysis
•Tachometers
•Inspection Endoscopes
Services
Castle Training Academy
Competence and Compliance training is essentially all about obtaining
the knowledge and skills required to get the job done. This is precisely
how Castle courses are set out, with a high degree of practical ‘hands-
on’ experience mixed with some background theory and a lot of job-
specific information and discussion. If this doesn’t whet the appetite,
then there is also a fully inclusive dinner on the first nigh – perfect for
getting to know some of your peers! You can see a full list of courses on
our website.
•Health and Safety Compliance Courses
Noise, Vibration, COSHH, Asbestos
•Health Surveillance Courses
Audiometry, Lung Function, HAVS
•Environmental Monitoring Courses
Noise, Vibration, Air Quality
•Diagnostic Engineering Courses
•Maintenance and Monitoring Courses

In-house and Bespoke Training
The benefits of in-house training can be extensive. Training can be
tailored to your company, the timing can be made to suit your needs, you
get to keep your staff on-site and you can train many people at one go!
You can pick any of our standard courses, a shortened version as an
awareness session or a toolbox talk, or you can design your own course
covering a large range of topics. Visit our website for a list of ideas!
Castle Consultancy
Sometimes, the comfort of using an independent expert can be
extremely valuable, whether that be for short-term help, Engineering
project work, or an on-going support contract. Castle consultants are
always at the top of their game and are waiting to hear from you. Have a
look at our website or call on 01723 584250.
•Noise and Vibration, COSHH
Assessments
•Light, Temperature, EMF
Assessments
•Environmental Monitoring
•Expert Witness
•Diagnostic Engineering
•Engineering Control Solutions
•Risk Management
•Health Surveillance Services
•Health and Safety ‘Department’
Support Service
Castle Care
Maintaining calibrations on measuring equipment is absolutely essential
to the integrity of your data. At Castle, we can calibrate virtually anything
you have that can measure. We pride ourselves in fast-as-possible
turnaround times and can normally give up-front prices for almost any
equipment. Whether you have an anemometer, or a ‘zero-g‘
accelerometer, then call us for a price on 01723 584250.
•If it Measures, and can be done - we’ll Calibrate it
•UKAS Certificates Available
•Multiple levels of Calibration

Equipment Types Covered
•Air quality meters
•Air sampling pumps
•Air sampling calibrators
•Anemometers
•Audiometers
•Balances/Scales
•Barometers
•Dosemeters
•Electrical test equipment
•Force meters
•Gas Detectors
•Hygrometers
•Light meters
•Manometers
•Moisture meters
•Noise meters
•Pressure meters
•Sound level meters
•Sound Analysers
•Strain gauges
•Tachometers
•Thermometers
•Thermo-hygrometers
•Thickness meters
•Timers
•Vibration meters
•Vibration analysers
•Weighing equipment
Castle Contract
If peace of mind for equipment calibrations is important to you – and it
should be, then check out our contract calibration deals. We will give you
discounted, fixed-annual-pricing for selections of equipment and we will
undertake to ensure calibration is maintained to your schedule. This is
designed to take all the hassle out of equipment calibration.
•Maintain Instrument Calibrations
•Hassle-Free Administration
•Discounted Calibration Fees
•Single-Source Supplier

Castle Rent
Rental is a great way to have the use of measurement equipment
without having to own it – especially is capital budgets are tight or it tax
is an issue. If you need a short term solution, additional equipment to
boost your capabilities or if contract-based tax deduction is important,
then Rental could well be the way to go. Go to our website to find the
huge range of equipment we have available.
You might also like to make use of our ex-rental purchase as a way of
keeping your equipment costs down.
•Easy on Cash-Flow
•Short or Long Term
Rentals
•Let the Taxman Pay on
Contracts
•Try Before You Buy
•4 weeks for the Price of 3!
•No On-going Maintenance
If it exists - we’ll even source equipment for you!
www.castlegroup.co.uk
01723 584250

Page 1
Chapter 1
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.
Portability 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.