PCE Instruments PCE-MSM 4 User manual

© PCE Instruments
PCE-MSM 4, PCE-322A, PCE-323 Sound Level Meter
User Manual
User manuals in various languages (français,
italiano, español, português, nederlands, türk, polski,
русский, 中文) can be found by using our
product search on: www.pce-instruments.com
Last change: 7 November 2022
v1.0
English

© PCE Instruments
Contents
1Safety notes........................................................................................... 1
2Specifications........................................................................................2
3Delivery scope.......................................................................................2
4Device description ................................................................................ 3
4.1 Keyboard description........................................................................................................ 4
4.2 Display description........................................................................................................... 5
5Switching the meter on and off ...........................................................6
5.1 Making a measurement.................................................................................................... 6
6Automatic power off ............................................................................. 9
7Data logging (PCE-322A, PCE-323 only)...........................................10
7.1 Clearing the memory.......................................................................................................10
7.2 Setting the memory interval.............................................................................................10
8Replacing the battery..........................................................................10
9Bluetooth connection (PCE-323 only)...............................................11
10 PC connection.....................................................................................11
10.1 Driver..............................................................................................................................12
10.2 Software operation..........................................................................................................14
11 Mains adaptor......................................................................................16
12 Analogue output.................................................................................. 17
13 Calibration ........................................................................................... 17
14 Contact.................................................................................................18
15 Disposal ...............................................................................................18

© PCE Instruments
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1 Safety notes
Please read this manual carefully and completely before you use the device for the first time. The
device may only be used by qualified personnel and repaired by PCE Instruments personnel.
Damage or injuries caused by non-observance of the manual are excluded from our liability and
not covered by our warranty.
•The device must only be used as described inthis instruction manual. If used otherwise,
this can cause dangerous situations for the user and damage to the meter.
•The instrument may only be used if the environmental conditions (temperature, relative
humidity, …) are within the ranges stated in the technical specifications. Do not expose
the device to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, extreme humidity or moisture.
•Do not expose the device to shocks or strong vibrations.
•The case should only be opened by qualified PCE Instruments personnel.
•Never use the instrument when your hands are wet.
•You must not make any technical changes to the device.
•The appliance should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Use only pH-neutral cleaner,
no abrasives or solvents.
•The device must only be used with accessories from PCE Instruments or equivalent.
•Before each use, inspect the case for visible damage. If any damage is visible, do not
use the device.
•Do not use the instrument in explosive atmospheres.
•The measurement range as stated in the specifications must not be exceeded under
any circumstances.
•Non-observance of the safety notes can cause damage to the device and injuries to
the user.
We do not assume liability for printing errors or any other mistakes in this manual.
We expressly point to our general guarantee terms which can be found in our general terms of
business.

© PCE Instruments
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2 Specifications
Sound level ranges
Low 30 ... 80 dB
Medium 50 ... 100 dB
High 80 ... 130 dB
Auto 30 ... 130 dB
Dynamic range
50 dB
Resolution
0.1 dB
Accuracy
±1.4 dB (under reference conditions
@ 94 dB, 1 KHz)
Accuracy class
IEC61672-1 Class 2
Frequency range
31.5 Hz ... 8 kHz
Time rating
FAST (125 ms)
SLOW (1 s)
Frequency weighting
A and C
Microphone type
1/2" electret condenser
Display
4-digit LC display with backlight
Display update
2 Hz
Data memory
32700 measured values (only PCE-322A,
PCE-323)
Memory interval
1 ... 59 s
Analogue output via 3.5 mm jack connection
1 Vrms/dB AC (impedance 100 Ω)
10 mV/dB DC (impedance 1 kΩ)
Data interface
USB, Bluetooth 4.0 (PCE-323 only)
Bracket
3/8" connection
Functions
MIN, MAX, HOLD
display when
exceeding or falling below the sound level
Automatic power off
after approx. 15 minutes of inactivity
Power supply (battery)
9 V block battery (typically 30 operating
hours)
Power supply (mains operation)
primary: 100 ... 240 V AC, 50 / 60 Hz, 0.2 A
secondary: 9 V DC, 0.5 A
Operating conditions
0 ... +40 °C, 10 ... 90 % RH, non-
condensing, altitude <2000 m
Storage conditions
-10 ... +60 °C, 10 ... 75 % RH, non-
condensing
Dimensions
304 x 82 x 40 mm / 12.0 x 3.2 x 1.6 in
Weight
350 g / <1 lb (without battery)
3 Delivery scope
1 x sound level meter
1 x mini tripod
1 x screwdriver
1 x carrying case
1 x 9 V block battery
1 x user manual
1 x mains adaptor
The software can be downloaded here:
https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/download-win_4.htm

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4 Device description
No.
Description
1
Microphone with windscreen
2
Connections for power supply, mini-USB, analogue outputs, calibration screw
3
Display
4
Keyboard
5
Battery compartment (rear)
1
2
3
4
5

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4.1 Keyboard description
No.
Description
1
"REC" key to start recording
2
"SETUP" key to open the settings, to activate the PC interface, to disable and enable
automatic power off and to start the Bluetooth connection (PCE-323 only)
3
Switching the backlight on and off
4
"FAST SLOW" key to switch between fast and slow time rating
5
"A / C" key for switching between frequency weightings A and C
6
"HOLD" key to freeze the display
7
On / off key
8
"LEVEL" key for setting the sound level range
9
"MAX MIN" key to activate the "MIN / MAX" function
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
7

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4.2 Display description
No.
Description
1
Current measured value is below the set measurement range
2
Currently displayed measured value is the highest measured value
3
Bluetooth connection active (PCE-323 only)
4
Currently displayed measured value is the lowest measured value
5
Time rating "Fast" - fast (125 ms)
6
Time rating "Slow" - slow (1 s)
7
Current measured value is above the set measurement range
8
Measurement range scale
9
Date and time
10
Measured value
11
Automatic power off is active
12
Battery is discharged and must be replaced
13
File recording is started (PCE-322A, PCE-323 only)
14
Data memory is full (PCE-322A, PCE-323 only)
15
Frequency weighting A
16
Frequency weighting B
17
Display is frozen
18
Level range is set automatically

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5 Switching the meter on and off
To switch on the meter, press and release the on/off key once. To turn off the meter, press and
hold this key until the display turns off.
5.1 Making a measurement
Before you can carry out a measurement, the meter must be set according to the respective
measuring task.
5.1.1 Setting the frequency weighting
To set the frequency weighting of a measurement, press the "A/C" key to select between
frequency weighting A and C. The respective frequency weighting is shown by "dBA" and "dBC"
on the display.
5.1.2 Selecting the sound level range
Press the "LEVEL" key repeatedly to select between the sound level ranges 50 ... 100, 80 ... 130,
30 ... 80 and automatic. The selected sound level range is displayed on the scale. If a range is
exceeded or undercut, this is indicated by "Over" or "Under".
5.1.3 Setting the time rating
To set the time rating, press the "FAST SLOW" key. With the "Fast" setting, the time weighting is
125 ms and with "Slow", it is 1 s. The setting is shown directly on the display.
5.1.4 Lowest and highest measured value
To display the highest or lowest measured value, press the "MAX MIN" key. Either the highest or
the lowest reading is now displayed. To resume the normal measurement, press the key
repeatedly until "Max" and "Min" are no longer shown on the display.
Note: Only one function is active at a time. If you switch between the individual functions, the
last value is reset.
5.1.5 Freezing the measured value
To freeze the displayed reading, press the "HOLD" key. HOLD" appears on the display. To
resume the measurement, press this key again.
5.1.6 Backlight
To switch on the backlight, press the backlight key. To switch off the backlight, press the key
again.

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5.1.7 Setting the date and time
To set the date and time, first switch off the meter. Then press and hold the "SETUP" key and
switch on the meter. As soon as "TIME" is flashing, you can release the "SETUP" key. The
currently set date is now displayed. You can then select the minute, hour, day, month and year
one after the other using the "SETUP" key and set them with the "LEVEL" key. When setting the
hours, h-P stands for PM and h-A for AM.
Home view
Setting the minute

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Setting the hour
Setting the day
Setting the month

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Setting the year
When all settings have been made, press the "HOLD" button to apply the settings. If it is not
possible to apply the settings, you must reset the date and time. To do this, go one function
further. rSt" (Reset) is displayed for resetting. Now press the "HOLD" key and the date and time
will be reset. Now you can set the date and time.
6 Automatic power off
To disable the automatic power off, press the "SETUP" key. If the icon is no longer displayed,
the automatic power off is deactivated. Press this key again to reactivate automatic power off.

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7 Data logging (PCE-322A, PCE-323 only)
To record the measurement data,press the "REC" key. REC" appears on the display. To interrupt
the recording, press the "REC" key again.
7.1 Clearing the memory
As soon as "Full" is shown on the display, the memory must be
cleared for further recording. To do this, switch off the meter.
Now press and hold the "REC" key and switch the meter back
on. As soon as "CLA" is displayed flashing, release the "REC"
key. The measurement is resumed and the memory is cleared.
7.2 Setting the memory interval
To set the memory interval, first switch off the meter. Press and
hold the backlight key and switch the meter back on. As soon as
"Int" is displayed, you can release the backlight key. Use the
"LEVEL" key to adjust the displayed value. A memory interval
between 1 ... 59 seconds is available for selection. When the
memory interval has been set, you can accept this value by
pressing the "HOLD" key.
8 Replacing the battery
As soon as the battery indicator appears on the display, the battery must be replaced. To replace
the battery, first switch off the meter and disconnect all cables. The battery compartment islocated
on the back. Open the battery compartment by first unscrewing the screw with a screwdriver.
Remove the battery and insert a new 9 V block battery. Then screw the battery compartment back
in place. Now you can resume the measurement.

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9 Bluetooth connection (PCE-323 only)
To establish a Bluetooth connection, first download the free app "PCE-323" from the Apple Store
or Play Store. Activate Bluetooth and the location function on your mobile device. Press the
"SETUP" key to activate the Bluetooth function on your PCE-323.
Then open the app and connect to the meter via the app. Select "Environment Meter" as the
instrument type.
Note: The connection must not be established viathe Bluetoothsetting of your mobile end device.
Android
iOS
Within the app, you can open the manual by tapping on "HELP" and then on "OPEN APP
MANUAL".
10 PC connection
To establish a PC connection, first disable automatic power off using the "SETUP" key.

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10.1 Driver
Download the latest version from the following website:
https://www.pce-instruments.com/english/download-win_4.htm
1. Start Windows.
2. Execute the file "CP210xVCPInstaller.exe" in the directory ... \driver\Windows[your
operating system version]\ by double-clicking on it.
3. Then click on "Install" to install the driver.
4. Restart the PC after the driver installation has been completed!
5. Once the PC has restarted, you can switch on the meter and connect it to a free USB port
on the computer.
The driver is now automatically installed and the device appears in the device manager of
the computer. Open the device manager via Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Device
Manager.
First install the device drivers and then connect the meter to the computer via USB.

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6. If the driver has been installed correctly, the entry "Silicon Labs CP210x USB to UART
Bridge (COMX)" appears below the item "Ports (COM & LPT)".
Remember the COM port number, in this case COM3. This must be set in the software.
(In the rare case that the assigned port number is higher than 9, change it manually to a
number between 1 and 9. To do this, go to the properties of the "Silicon Labs CP210x USB
to UART Bridge (COMX)", then to Port Settings and Advanced Port Settings.
7. Now start the software installation by executing the "Setup.exe" in the root directory and
following the information on the screen.
After the software installation is completed, start the application "Sound Level Meter" where
you have to select the port number in the menu under "Com Port(C)" that was previously
displayed in the device manager. By default, the automatic assignment is active, so you do
not have to make any settings here. If you have connected several measuring instruments,
you can set the COM port via manual mode.

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10.2 Software operation
10.2.1 Toolbar
Open file
Save measurement recording in .txt format
Save measurement recording in .xls format
Start real-time measurement
Stop real-time measurement
Print measurement results
Information on the version of the software
10.2.2 Real-time measurement
Start Time
Time from the start of the measurement
MIN
Lowest volume of the measurement series with point in time
MAX
Highest volume of the measurement series with point in time
DataNo.
Number of points measured
Sample Rate
Sampling rate
Average
Average sound level of the measurement series
Graph
Representation as a graph
Data List
Display as data list
UnDo Zoom
Zoom out

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To compare two measuring points or the intervals between the measuring points, two different
cursors can be set. The data is evaluated as shown in the figure above:
Cursor A
Value cursor A
Max. Between A and B
Maximum determined value between A and B
Min. Between A and B
Minimum determined value between A and B
Cursor B
Value cursor B
Average. Between A and B
Measured average value between A and B
Quantity. Between A and B
Measured values between A and B
You can enlarge individual points within the graph by clicking on the desired area with the left
mouse button and holding it down. Now enlarge the desired observation field with the mouse until
the desired area is reached. Then release the mouse button andthe area is enlarged accordingly.

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10.2.3 Function tab
Further actions can be carried out in the function tabs. In addition to the toolbar already described
above, these tabs help in the evaluation of the measurement data. Below you will find a brief
description of the functions that you can select in the tabs:
Open: Open file
Save as: Save measurement recording in. txt. format
Export To Excel: Save measurement recording in .xls. format
Print Graph: Print Graph
Print Data: Print measurement data chart
Exit: Close software
Run: Start real-time measurement
Stop: Stop real-time measurement
Clear Data: Clear data
Setup: Setting the sampling rate and maximum measured values
Read out the internal data logger of the meter
Manual: Select communication interface manually
Auto: Have the communication interface selected automatically
ToolBar: Activate / deactivate toolbar
StatusBar: Activate / deactivate status bar
Colour Setting: Change colour of graph, background or grid
Contents: Open help
About: Show information about the software version
11 Mains adaptor
If you are using the mains adaptor, connect it to the 9 VDC connector on the side of the meter.
Note: Do not connect the mains adaptor to the meter during a measurement in battery mode,
otherwise the meter will switch off.

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12 Analogue output
OUTPUT
GROUND
OUTPUT
AC
DC
AC: Output voltage: 1 V RMS (referred to the maximum value of the selected measurement
range)
Resistor: 100 Ω
DC: Output voltage: 10 mV/dB
Resistor: 1 kΩ
13 Calibration
To perform a calibration, connect the meter to a class 2 or better sound calibrator. Set the meter
as follows:
- Frequency rating: A
- Time rating: Almost
- Level range: 50 ... 100 dB
Now switch on both devices and check the displayed measured value. If it is outside the
specifications, it can be adjusted using the adjustment screw.

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14 Contact
If you have any questions, suggestions or technical problems, please do not hesitate to contact
us. You will find the relevant contact information at the end of this user manual.
15 Disposal
For the disposal of batteries in the EU, the 2006/66/EC directive of the European Parliament
applies. Due to the contained pollutants, batteries must not be disposed of as household waste.
They must be given to collection points designed for that purpose.
In order to comply with the EU directive 2012/19/EU we take our devices back. We either re-use
them or give them to a recycling company which disposes of the devices in line with law.
For countries outside the EU, batteries and devices should be disposed of in accordance with
your local waste regulations.
If you have any questions, please contact PCE Instruments.