CESVA SC420 User manual

SC420
Sound Level Meter
Spectrum Analyser
USER MANUAL
M_SC420_v0016_20171215_EN

1
Since its beginnings in Barcelona in 1969, has been devoted to
manufacturing sound equipment and instrumentation through research,
development and innovation, and by registering its own patents.
We belong to national and international committees for the establishment and
revision of standards and regulations.
has a fast and efficient distribution network in over 40 countries
around the world.
We offer our customers an after-sales service to ensure the long life of our
instruments. Periodic tests and calibration services are also available.
Our website is the focal point for finding information on our products, requesting
no-obligation quotes, downloading software, contacting us and being kept
updated about all the training events and exhibitions we are present at on a
regular basis.
Taking care of our customers and listening to what they tell us means we are
closer to them and are able to offer the measurement solution that fully meets
their needs.
The Bluetooth trademark is the property of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

2 Contents
1. What does this manual cover? 8
2. Equipment and literature 9
3. General device description 10
3.1 SC420 sound level meter spectrum analyser 10
3.2 Main features of the SC420 11
3.3 Device components 14
4. Inputs and outputs 16
4.1 SC420 inputs and outputs 16
4.2 Communications inputs and outputs 17
4.3 AC Output 17
4.4 Digital inputs and outputs 17
5. Keypad 19
6. Screen 21
6.1 Indicator area 21
6.2 Work area 23
6.3 Timing area 23
6.4 Memory area 24
6.5 Contextual area 24
7. Power 25
7.1 Power sources 25
7.1.1 Battery power 25
7.1.2 Power via USB 26
7.1.3 Mains feeder 26
7.2 Energy saving 26
7.3 Power for environmental monitoring 26
8. Assembling and dismantling the device 28
8.1 Windscreen 28
8.2 Extension cable 29
8.2.1 Removing and connecting the preamplifier 29
8.2.2 Connecting the extension cable 30
8.3 Outdoor kit 31
Contents

Contents 3
9. Switching the device on and off 32
9.1 Switching the device on 32
9.1.1 Initial SC420 self-check 33
9.2 Turning the device off 34
9.3 Switching the light on and off 34
10. Checking the device 35
10.1 Checking the SC420 35
11. Measuring and recording 37
11.1 Prior steps 37
11.2 Taking a measurement 38
11.3 Making a recording 38
11.4 Overload indicator 39
11.5 Under-range indicator 40
12. Menu 41
12.1 Accessing the menu 41
12.2 Menu areas 42
12.3 Navigating through the menu 42
13. Measurement modes 43
13.1 Selecting the measurement mode 43
13.2 Sound level meter mode 44
13.2.1 Sound level meter mode functions 44
13.2.2 Sound level meter mode prior adjustments 45
13.2.3 Sound level meter mode screens 45
13.3 1/1 spectrum analyser mode (OPTIONAL) 48
13.3.1 1/1 spectrum analyser mode functions 48
13.3.2 1/1 spectrum analyser mode prior adjustments 49
13.3.3 1/1 spectrum analyser mode screens 49
13.4 1/3 spectrum analyser mode (OPTIONAL) 52
13.4.1 Spectrum analyser mode 1/3 functions 53
13.4.2 1/3 spectrum analyser mode prior adjustments 53
13.4.3 1/3 spectrum analyser mode screens 53
13.5 Octave (1/1) and third octave (1/3) band reverberation time
(interrupted noise method) modes (OPTIONAL) 57
13.5.1 Octave (1/1) and third octave (1/3) band reverberation
time (interrupted noise method) mode functions 57
13.5.2 Taking a measurement in octave (1/1) and third
octave (1/3) band reverberation time (interrupted noise
method) modes 58
13.5.3 Screens in the octave (1/1) and third octave (1/3)
band reverberation time (interrupted noise method)
modes 59
13.6 Octave (1/1) and third octave (1/3) band reverberation time
(integrated impulse response method) modes (OPTIONAL) 62

4 Contents
13.6.1 Octave (1/1) and third octave (1/3) band reverberation
time (integrated impulse response method) mode
functions 63
13.6.2 Taking a measurement in octave (1/1) and third
octave (1/3) band reverberation time (integrated
impulse response method) modes 63
13.6.3 Octave (1/1) and third octave (1/3) band reverberation
time (integrated impulse response method) mode
screens 65
13.7 Occupational noise mode (OPTIONAL) 68
13.7.1 Occupational noise mode functions 68
13.7.2 Occupational noise mode prior adjustments 68
13.7.3 Occupational noise mode screens 69
13.8 FFT frequency analyser mode (OPTIONAL) 71
13.8.1 Taking an FFT measurement 71
13.8.2 FFT frequency analysis mode screen 72
13.9 Audio recording mode (analysis quality) (OPTIONAL) 73
13.9.1 Making an audio recording (analysis quality) 73
14. Advanced options 75
14.1 Zoom 75
14.2 Backerase 76
14.3 Marking 77
14.4 Voice comments 78
14.5 Audio recording (listening quality) 79
14.6 Automatic settings: Timers and triggers 80
14.6.1 Start measurement/recording automatically 80
14.6.2 Automatically stop measuring/recording 81
14.6.3 Automatic audio recording 83
14.6.4 DEN intervals 84
14.6.5 Examples of automatic measurement settings 85
15. Settings and adjustments 90
15.1 Accessing the settings sub-menu 90
15.2 Navigating through the settings sub-menu 90
15.3 Settings sub-menu 91
15.3.1 MEASUREMENT option 91
15.3.2 RECORDING option 93
15.3.3 AUTOMATISMS option 95
15.3.4 DATE AND TIME option 98
15.3.5 MICROPHONE SETTING option 98
15.3.6 CONTRAST option 100
15.3.7 AC OUTPUT option 100
15.3.8 BLUETOOTH®wireless communication/PRINTER
option 101
16. Registers and memory management 102

Contents 5
16.1 Saving a final result 102
16.2 Making a recording 105
16.2.1 Types of recording 105
16.3 Structure of a register 111
16.4 Viewing and deleting registers 112
16.4.1 Viewing registers 113
16.4.2 Deleting registers 114
16.5 Deleting the card memory 114
17. Using the inputs and outputs 115
17.1 Digital inputs and outputs and AC output 115
17.1.1 AC Output 115
17.1.2 Digital input 116
17.1.3 Digital output 116
17.2 Communicating with a PC, downloading data and
communicating with a printer 117
17.2.1 Memory card 117
17.2.2 RS-232 communications 118
17.2.3 USB communications 119
17.2.4 Bluetooth®wireless communication 119
17.3 PC software 120
18. Accessories 121
18.1 Accessories supplied 121
18.2 Optional accessories 121
19. Technical specifications 123
19.1 REFERENCE CONDITIONS 123
19.2 MICROPHONES AND PREAMPLIFIERS 124
19.2.1 Microphone models and their main features 124
19.2.2 Sound field correction for periodic tests 124
19.2.3 Frequency response 129
19.2.4 Directional response 135
19.2.5 Effect of the optional accessories on the microphone136
19.2.6 Preamplifier connector 137
19.3 MEASUREMENT 137
19.3.1 Warm-up time 137
19.3.2 Measurement range 138
19.3.3 Linearity range 138
19.3.4 Noise 139
19.3.5 Information for testing compliance withdrawn
standards IEC 60651 and IEC 60804 140
19.3.6 Time and clock features 141
19.3.7 Frequency weighting 141
19.4 CALIBRATION 142
19.5 OCTAVE AND THIRD OCTAVE BAND FILTERS 143
19.5.1 Octave and third octave band filters 143

6 Contents
19.5.2 Measurement range (octave band spectrum analyser)144
19.5.3 Measurement range (third octave spectrum analyser)145
19.6 REVERBERATION TIME 146
19.6.1 Measuring the decay curve and impulse response 146
19.6.2 Calculating the decay curve from the impulse
response 146
19.6.3 Estimating the slope of the decay curve 146
19.6.4 Reverberation time measurement lower limit 146
19.6.5 Quality indicators 146
19.6.6 Lower limit for reliable results obtained through a filter
and a detector 146
19.7 FFT 147
19.8 AUDIO RECORDING 147
19.9 ENVIRONMENTAL, ELECTROSTATIC AND RADIO
FREQUENCY CRITERIA 148
19.9.1 Stabilisation time 148
19.9.2 Environmental criteria 148
19.9.3 Electrostatic criteria 148
19.9.4 Criteria for fields at the frequency of the mains supply
and radio frequency fields 148
19.9.5 Influence of vibrations 149
19.10 INPUTS AND OUTPUTS 150
19.10.1 AC Output 150
19.10.2 Digital output 151
19.10.3 Digital input 151
19.10.4 MicroSD memory card slot 152
19.10.5 USB communication 152
19.10.6 RS-232 serial communication 152
19.10.7 Wireless communication 152
19.11 SCREEN 152
19.12 POWER 153
19.12.1 Batteries 153
19.12.2 External Supply 153
19.13 DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 153
19.14 STANDARDS 153
19.14.1 Standards 153
19.14.2 Standards of measurement and calculation 154
19.14.3 Certificates 154
19.14.4 Notes 154
20. Maintenance and precautions 155
21. Guidance on taking measurements 157
22. Activating optional modes 158
23. Functions 159
23.1 Function nomenclature 159

Contents 7
23.1.1 Sound level meter mode functions 159
23.1.2 1/1 spectrum analyser mode functions 161
23.1.3 1/3 Spectrum analyser mode functions 162
23.1.4 Octave (1/1) and third octave (1/3) band reverberation
time mode functions 164
23.1.5 Occupational noise mode functions 165
23.1.6 FFT analyser mode functions 165
23.2 Function description 166
23.2.1 Sound pressure level with Fast and Slow time
weightings 166
23.2.2 Sound pressure level with Impulse time weighting 167
23.2.3 Peak sound pressure level 167
23.2.4 Equivalent continuous sound pressure level 167
23.2.5 Taktmaximal-Mittelungspegel 168
23.2.6 Sound exposure level (SEL) 168
23.2.7 Percentile levels 169
23.2.8 Decay curve 169
23.2.9 Impulse response 169
23.2.10 Integrated impulse response method 169
23.2.11 Reverberation Time 169
23.2.12 Quality parameters (ξ , C and B·T values) 170
23.2.13 Equivalent daily noise exposure level 170
23.2.14 Sound exposure 171
23.2.15 Dose 171

8 Chapter 1 What does this manual cover?
This manual contains all the information you will need to get the most out of the
device you have just purchased.
This information is divided into 7 sections:
The first section has chapters on the main features of the device and its physical
components (chapters 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8).
The second presents how the device can be used to take measurements,
whether in sound level meter mode, spectrum analyser mode, reverberation time
mode, etc. (chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13).
The third section presents the device's range of advanced options, which make
this a versatile tool that closely adapts to the needs of each user (chapter 14).
The fourth section focuses on configuring the device: menu structure and
directions for carrying out the various adjustments (chapters 15 and 16).
In the fifth section, other important topics are covered, such as connecting to a
PC, accessories (chapters 17 and 18).
The sixth section contains the technical specifications that explain the equipment
you are working with in detail (chapter 19).
Finally, the seventh section encompasses several chapters that provide
information such as: Maintenance and precautions, guidance on taking
measurements, function nomenclature and descriptions, etc. (chapters 20, 21, 22
and 23).
What does this manual cover?
1. What does this manual cover?
1
NOTE: If you are already familiar with the device and only wish to consult the
information on taking measurements, please see chapters 9, 10, 11, 12 and
13.