CASTLE VibA8 User manual

www.castlegroup.co.uk
VibA(8) Vibration Level Meter
Operating Manual
Castle Group Ltd
Salter Road
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO11 3UZ, UK
Copyright © Castle Group Ltd 2020
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.
HB/2009/020/EL
Rev A

Contents
Chapter 1 ..................................................................1
Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1
Chapter 2 ..................................................................2
Frequency Weighting Filters ............................................................................................. 2
Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS) ............................................................................................ 2
Whole Body Vibration (WBV).......................................................................................... 3
Chapter 3 ..................................................................4
Accelerometer Details......................................................................................................... 4
Attaching & Removing the Accelerometer......................................................................... 4
Accelerometer Types............................................................................................................................. 5
Certifiable Calibration............................................................................................................................. 6
Chapter 4 ..................................................................7
Measuring Vibration............................................................................................................. 7
Vibration Level –General Advice ...................................................................................................... 7
Hand Arm Vibration Transducer Mounting ................................................................................. 8
Vibration Direction................................................................................................................................... 8
Vibration Level ........................................................................................................................................... 9
Under Range & Overload Conditions ........................................................................................... 10
Under Range Condition............................................................................................................. 10
Overload Condition ...................................................................................................................... 10

Chapter 5 ...............................................................11
Getting Started ................................................................................................................... 11
Keypad Layout ........................................................................................................................................ 11
Powering Your VibA(8) Vibration Meter..................................................................................... 11
Battery Level Indicator .................................................................................................... 13
Switching the VibA(8) Meter On/Off .................................................................................. 14
Auto Power Off.............................................................................................................................. 14
Instrument Icons ................................................................................................................................... 15
Icon Location.................................................................................................................................. 16
Chapter 6 ...............................................................17
Using Your VibA(8) ............................................................................................................ 17
First Time Setup .................................................................................................................................... 17
Accelerometer Fitting ......................................................................................................................... 18
Accelerometer Check ......................................................................................................................... 18
Operation .................................................................................................................................................. 19
Real Time.................................................................................................................................................. 20
Recording ................................................................................................................................................. 21
Time History Disabled, with or without Duration Timer Set........................... 21
Time History Enabled, with or without Duration Timer Set ............................ 21
Time History Disabled, Duration Timer Set ........................................................... 21
Time History Enabled, Duration Timer Set............................................................. 22
Stopping an Active Recording ......................................................................................................... 22
Save ......................................................................................................................................... 23
Don’t Save............................................................................................................................. 23
File Review................................................................................................................................................ 24
Exit ............................................................................................................................................ 24
Auto Playback................................................................................................................................ 25
Chapter 7 ...............................................................26

Software ................................................................................................................................ 26
VibdataPro ............................................................................................................................................... 26
Chapter 8 ...............................................................27
Menu Structure .................................................................................................................. 27
Menu Navigation & Settings .......................................................................................... 28
File Manager ........................................................................................................................................... 29
Load File ........................................................................................................................................... 30
Filter Selection .................................................................................................................... 30
Delete File........................................................................................................................................ 31
Delete All Files ............................................................................................................................... 32
Auto Playback ................................................................................................................................ 33
Auto File Naming.......................................................................................................................... 33
Hand Arm and Whole Body Setup................................................................................................ 34
Range ................................................................................................................................................ 34
Results Selection.......................................................................................................................... 35
Data Recording............................................................................................................................. 35
Time History On - Disabled ............................................................................................ 36
Interval.................................................................................................................................... 36
Timer Setup.......................................................................................................................... 37
Exposure Values........................................................................................................................... 38
Hand Arm Values .............................................................................................................. 38
Whole Body Values........................................................................................................... 38
Channel Setup ............................................................................................................................... 39
Axis........................................................................................................................................... 39
Scaling .................................................................................................................................... 39
Calibration....................................................................................................................................... 40
External Calibrator ............................................................................................................ 41
Manual Input........................................................................................................................ 41
Calibrator Level................................................................................................................... 42
General Settings.................................................................................................................................... 43
Units................................................................................................................................................... 43

Screen............................................................................................................................................... 44
Brightness ............................................................................................................................ 44
Screen Colour ..................................................................................................................... 44
Auto Dim................................................................................................................................ 44
Date.................................................................................................................................................... 45
Time ................................................................................................................................................... 45
Language......................................................................................................................................... 46
Restore Defaults.......................................................................................................................... 46
Information............................................................................................................................................... 47
Chapter 9 ...............................................................48
Measurement Screens..................................................................................................... 48
Measurement Screen 1 .................................................................................................................... 48
Measurement Screen 2 .................................................................................................................... 49
Measurement Screen 3 .................................................................................................................... 50
Chapter 10 ............................................................51
Accessories .......................................................................................................................... 51
Chapter 11 ............................................................52
Customer Support ............................................................................................................. 52
Warranty and After Sales Service................................................................................................ 52
Instrument Disposal............................................................................................................................. 53
Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................................ 54

1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing your VibA(8) vibration meter from Castle Group Ltd.
Your new Vibration meter is at the forefront of design and technology and yet has
been developed for seamless intuitive operation without the unnecessary complexity
of traditional vibration 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 at your disposal.
Equipped with a simple plug in accelerometer, carry strap and a responsive
membrane keypad all housed in an elegant, balanced and practical case which has
been specifically developed for this application. The case, accelerometer and cable
are all designed for industrial use.
Operation of your VibA(8) is simple and requires minimal button pressing. To start
recording, simply power the instrument and start recording.
The VibA(8) provides you with choice when it comes to analysing your data, meaning
you can always choose the most effective solution for your needs.
The USB flash drive supplied with your instrument contains the latest free version of
software, Vibdata LITE. Renowned for its simplicity and ease of use, this PC based
software is a comprehensive data analysis solution. Vibdata LITE can be upgraded at
any time to Vibdata Pro.
With the VibA(8) combating HAVS and WBV has never been so easy, welcome to the
new era in vibration level measurement.

2
Chapter 2
Frequency Weighting Filters
The human body’s response to vibration alters depending on the vibration frequency
and where the vibration is in contact with the body.
Your VibA(8) meter has the following frequency weighting filters which are applied to
the measured vibration signal using digital processing for superior accuracy.
Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS)
Wh
Wh Band Limited

3
Whole Body Vibration (WBV)
Wd
Wd Band Limited
Wk
Wk Band Limited

4
Chapter 3
Accelerometer Details
Accelerometers 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 Accelerometer.
Attaching & Removing the Accelerometer
Align the orientation keys between the accelerometer cable and instrument socket,
which are easily identified with a Red marking and then gently push the accelerometer
cable into the instruments socket.
To unlatch and remove the accelerometer cable gently pull the on the knurled part of
the stem and pull the accelerometer from the instrument.
Do not twist the connector, doing so will likely damage internal wiring which would not
be covered under warranty.
Removal of the accelerometer can be achieved with the instrument powered on or off.
To prevent damage occurring to your VibA(8) vibration level meter or
your transducer assembly never attempt to twist the connection point.

5
Accelerometer Types
The accelerometers for use with the VibA(8) produce a Voltage Output proportional to
the signal being measured.
The table below shows the output voltage and specifications for the accelerometer
where g is the acceleration due to gravity on the Earth’s surface and is defined as
9.80665 ms-2.
Acceleration is measured in metres per second per second (m/s/s) which can be
written as either of the following: -
•ms-2
•m/s2
Hand Arm
•KD1012 : 1mV/g +/-500g , 1Hz to 5kHz
•KD1006 : 10mV/g +/-500g , 1Hz to 5kHz
m/s2
g
ft/s2
Low
0.10 –1000
0.01 –100
0.328 –3280
High
0.50 –5000
0.05 –500
1.64 –16400
Whole Body
•KD1013: [980.66mV/g] , 0.1Hz to 100Hz , 0.01m/s2to 5m/s2PEAK
m/s2
g
ft/s2
Single Range
0.01 –35
0.001 –3.5
0.0328 –115
m/s2
g
ft/s2
Low
0.20 –2000
0.02 –200
0.656 –6560
High
1.00 –10000
0.1 –1000
3.28 –32800

6
Certifiable Calibration
The calibration process includes the transducer and vibration level meter. Any change
in this measurement chain will require a new calibration certificate.
Castle Group Ltd offers a complete calibration service offering either a full UKAS
calibration or a standard traceable calibration which can be supplied with or without a
test report.
It is recommended that your vibration meter instrumentation is calibrated annually to
ensure your measuring equipment is completely accurate and fully compliant.

7
Chapter 4
Measuring Vibration
Always calibrate your VibA(8) vibration level meter prior to and after taking
measurements using a known vibration source, such as the Castle GA606 Vibration
Level Calibrator.
Vibration Level –General Advice
To ensure measurements are as accurate and as repeatable as possible always
ensure that your cable is tightened securely to your accelerometer and that the
accelerometer is mounted as securely and as flush as possible to the vibration
source. The trailing cable of the accelerometer should also be attached to the
vibration source without creating a potential hazard for the operator or other people.
Where possible always mount the accelerometer as near to the center of where the
operator holds and grips the vibration source. In reality this is not always possible and
the best compromise must be achieved.
Measurement durations are dependent on the vibration source, and a minimum
period of 30 seconds for Hand Arm Vibration is recommended. Measurement
periods of 3 to 15 minutes are often used for Whole Body vibration. These increased
durations will undoubtedly increase the accuracy and repeatability of your measured
results.

8
Hand Arm Vibration Transducer Mounting
The supplied mounting block can be attached to the Hand Arm accelerometer using
the supplied screw and tightened using a Hex Key. The mounting block can then be
mounted to the vibration source using hose clamps or plastic ties. If plastic ties are
used it is recommended that they are tightened using a tie tensioning tool. Attaching
devices such as clamps and the accelerometer to hand held devices may alter the
mass of the vibration source and will inevitably slightly alter the vibration emitted from
the device, it is therefore recommended to keep the mass of hose clips or clamps to a
minimum.
Other mounting possibilities to mount the accelerometer to the vibration source are
tapping a stud into the vibration source and attaching the accelerometer to the stud.
Alternatively, the stud may be adhered to the device rather than tapped with an
adhesive that dries rigid. Castle Group Ltd can supply a glue and stud pack if required,
(order code KD1215).
Vibration Direction
For Hand Arm vibration, the three axes being measured can be measured in any
orientation; however, it is recommended that the suggested axes indicated in the
figure below are used. If this is not possible, then choosing other axes orientation is
permissible as axes can be swapped from the Channel Setup menu. This will not
affect your measured data.
In all cases it is strongly recommended to make notes on the axes used relative to the
vibration source. This information will be required if vibration control is to be
implemented on the vibration source.
Figure 1: Recommended Axes for Hand Arm Vibration

9
Vibration Level
In some environments, high levels of vibration may occur. Before you record
measurements take the time to ensure you have selected the optimum range for the
process being recorded.
The optimum range is generally the lowest range that can be selected that does not
produce an overload condition for the process being monitored.
Where high levels of vibration are encountered, the meter may register an overload
and in these circumstances the meter will display that this has occurred. In such
cases you will need to select the high range to accommodate the higher peak levels
and if Overload conditions are still occurring on the high range it may be necessary to
use an impact filter on the accelerometer.
If the vibration 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 the low
range if possible.
For more detailed information see Under Range & Overload Conditions.

10
Under Range & Overload Conditions
Under Range Condition
An under-range condition occurs when the vibration level is equal to, or lower than the
bottom of the current range the meter is set to. If this condition occurs then the UR
(Under Range) indicator will be displayed on your instrument. In such circumstances
it is highly recommended to change to a lower range with a higher sensitivity as your
meter will be out of specification.
The under-range indicator will remain on for a minimum of 2 seconds for Hand Arm
vibration and 8 seconds for Whole Body vibration, or while the under-range condition
remains.
Overload Condition
An overload condition occurs when either the peak input signal approaches the
maximum signal handling of the Analogue to Digital converter or the vibration level
which has been set to 95% of its range, or if the vibration level exceeds the top of the
selected range by 5%.
When an Overload condition occurs then the OL (Overload) indicator is displayed on
your instrument.
If an overload condition occurs it is highly recommended to change to a higher range
with a lower sensitivity as your meter will be out of specification.
The overload indicator will remain on for a minimum of 2 seconds or while the
overload condition remains. Overload is latched on for a number of measurement
parameters, this can be cleared with a short key press of the Power key during Real
Time operation. During recording the OL latch cannot be reset.
Please be aware that the selected frequency weighting may attenuate the displayed
signal level below the overload triggering point but an overload can still occur. This is
because the overload operates from the unweighted input signal.

11
Chapter 5
Getting Started
Keypad Layout
Please note that some keys have a dual function.
Soft Key 2
Soft Key 1
Up
Right
Left
Down
Power

12
Powering Your VibA(8) Vibration Meter
Your VibA(8) Vibration level meter can be powered from four 1.5V AA size batteries
or the micro USB connection via a USB port or similar.
The battery compartment is located at the rear of your Vibration meter, remove the
battery door and insert the batteries using the correct polarity which is shown where
the batteries are fitted and indicated in the image below: -
Replace the battery door securely before using the instrument.

13
Battery Level Indicator
The VibA(8) meter is equipped with an approximate multi-level battery indicator as
shown below: -
At approximately 5% charge the battery indicator will show flash RED, if the batteries
are not replaced the unit will automatically shut down and save the recording if
necessary.
Shutdown
Shutdown
Shutdown
Auto Shut Down in
Progress
BATTERY LOW
Auto Shut Down in
Progress
File Saving…
BATTERY LOW
Auto Shut Down in
Progress
File Saved Successfully
BATTERY LOW
100%
50%
90%
80%
70%
60%
40%
30%
10%
20%

14
Switching the VibA(8) Meter On/Off
In all power configurations press and hold the Power Key for approximately one
second to switch the instrument on.
To switch the instrument off, hold the Power Key down for approximately two seconds
and follow the on-screen instructions.
Auto Power Off
If no key is pressed within three minutes of switching the vibration level meter on, then
the unit will automatically power down.
Some screens displayed may not be available on your instrument,
depending on your model.
Shutdown
CAUTION
CANCEL
Press OK
to Shut Down
Serial No. 078000
Human Vibration Meter
Version 1.00
www.castlegroup.co.uk
Shutdown

15
Instrument Icons
Several icons are used on the VibA(8) Vibration level meter to easily identify the
functionality or useful settings of the instrument: -
LOW
Low Measuring Range Active
HIGH
High Measuring Range Active
USB Active
Battery Charge
Recording Data Active
File Review Active
HAV
Hand Arm Accelerometer Attached
WBV
Whole Body Accelerometer Attached
More Measurement Screens Available to View