CASTLE GA113 Operating Manual

www.castlegroup.co.uk

Operating Manual

Pocket Sound Level Meter

GA113

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 Noise at Work
Reulations. You can visit www.castle-training.com to find out more.

It is my intention for Castle Group Ltd to provide a wide range of technical health
and safety products and Services of the highest standard. If you would like to
know more about any of our other products and services then please telephone
on [phone] or visit www.castlegroup.co.uk

Simon Bull
Managing Director

Copyright

This manual is copyrighted with all rights reserved. Copying in part or in whole is
prohibited without the prior written consent of Castle Group Ltd.

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 Pocket
Sound Level Meter range, 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: [e-mail]

[e-mail]

Contents

Introduction............................................................................................... 1

Using the Manual.................................................................................... 1

Sample Keypad Layout.......................................................................... 2

Operating Tips.......................................................................................... 3

Battery Installation / Check............................................................... 4

Microphone ............................................................................................... 4

Switching the Instrument On & Off.................................................. 5

Information Button................................................................................. 5

Pause / Play Button .............................................................................. 6

Display Button.......................................................................................... 6

Menu Button............................................................................................. 8

Calibration.......................................................................................................................... 8

Shift Duration ................................................................................................................... 9

Frequency / Time Weighting ................................................................................... 9

Exchange Rate ................................................................................................................. 9

Criterion ........................................................................................................................... 10

Threshold.........................................................................................................................10

Keypad Lock ...................................................................................................................10

Clear Button .......................................................................................... 11

Changing Range.................................................................................... 11

Technical Specifications.................................................................... 12

EC Declaration of Conformity.......................................................... 19

Instrument Disposal ........................................................................... 20

Accessories............................................................................................ 20

Instrument Details .............................................................................. 20

Warranty and After Sales Service................................................ 21

Trouble Shooting.................................................................................. 22

Disclaimer............................................................................................... 23

Page 1

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing your product from Castle Group Ltd.

The GA113 has been designed to surpass the requirements of the new
international Class 1 sound level meter standard IEC 61672-1:2002. It may
be used in industry or for general purpose measurement to ascertain noise
levels accurately yet economically.

Using the Manual

In the course of this manual a named button written in BOLD means press
that button E.g. OK means press the OK button

Page 2

Sample Keypad Layout

POWER ON/ OFF

PAUSE/ PLAY

INFORMATION

MENU

OK

UP ARROW

CLEAR

DISPLAY

DOWN ARROW

Page 3

Operating Tips

This section is designed to enable you to get the best measurement results
out of your instrument.

• Always check the battery status of the instrument before use.

• Always calibrate the instrument prior to carrying out any

measurements.

• Always CLEAR any previous data recorded prior to taking new readings

and after calibrating.

• The instrument can be set-up in advance to the required frequency and

time weightings/ criterion and exchange rates for the measurements
that you are wanting to carry out.

• To work out the most suitable range to select first take initial samples

of the expected noise levels from the area you will be measuring in.
Then select the range which these levels fall nearest the middle of e.g. if
the levels expected are around 85dB then select the ‘55 – 120 range’

• When taking noise measurements hold the instrument as far in front of

the body as is comfortable to minimise interference of the sound field.

• If using the instrument as a dosemeter with the optional dosemeter

microphone then clip the dosemeter microphone as near to the
operators ear as possible e.g. shirt collar.

• Use the ‘Shift Duration’ feature to automatically calculate the projected

dose functions if your workers shift duration is different to 8 hours.

• To prevent accidental keypresses which could affect the results, use

the LOCK feature to lock-out the keypad.

• Always point the microphone towards the main source of the noise to

be measured (0° reference direction).

• When measuring low noise levels on the bottom range, be aware of the

self generated noise levels of the instrument – see specifications.

Page 4

Battery Installation / Check

To prepare the equipment for use a heavy duty alkaline battery type 6LR61
should be fitted, such as a Procell/Duracell MN1604, Ever Ready 6LF22
Gold Seal, or equivalent.

The battery door is located on the bottom left hand side of the instrument.
Open the battery door cover by sliding the cover downward towards the
bottom of the instrument. The cover will now swing open exposing the
battery compartment. Insert the battery observing the correct polarity as
marked on the case wall.

Close the battery compartment door by reversing the procedure above. The
instrument is now ready for calibration and use.

The battery condition is shown on the LCD during the power-on sequence, but
can also be checked at any time by pressing the ‘

i'

key. Pressing the key once
will display the battery status screen, with the battery condition indicated by a
series of vertical bars – 4 bars shows a fully charged battery, while1 bar
shows one that is almost flat. It is recommended that the battery should be
replaced if only 1 bar is displayed. The screen will flash BAT. LOW when the
battery level drops below a sustainable level whilst the instrument is in use. If
this happens, replace the battery.

Microphone

The microphone capsule fitted to your instrument is a high quality class 1
instrumentation grade 1/2 inch capsule.

The GA113 can be fitted with an optional dosemeter microphone assembly
(MK279DP1B) in order that it can be attached to the collar of a noise
exposed worker. Please note that the MK279DP1B assembly is only to be
used when using the instrument as a dosemeter. It is not designed to be used
for taking sound meter readings to Class 1 accuracy.

Measurement microphones 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

microphone.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INSTRUMENT IS NORMALLY SUPPLIED WITH A
PROTECTIVE WHITE PLASTIC CAP COVERING THE END OF THE
MICROPHONE WHEN DELIVERED. THIS CAP MUST BE REMOVED PRIOR TO
USING THE INSTRUMENT.

Page 5

Switching the Instrument On & Off

Press and release the POWER button once and the instrument turns on.
Allow the instrument to scroll through its start-up sequence before pressing
any other button; this will take approximately 3 seconds.

When the instrument has completed its start-up sequence the display will
change to LP in PAUSED mode using the settings that were last selected.

To switch off, press and release the POWER button once and the display
goes blank.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT ALL REQUIRED READINGS FROM THE INSTRUMENT
HAVE BEEN COLLECTED BEFORE TURNING OFF THE INSTRUMENT AS ALL
DATA IS LOST WHEN THE INSTRUMENT IS TURNED OFF.

i

(Information) Button

A scrolling sequence exists with this button, repeated pressing of the button
will allow you to scroll through the various information screens available on
your instrument.

BAT ▌▌▌▌

Battery capacity remaining

dBA SLOW Indicates the current frequency and time weighting

SD 08:00 Shows the shift duration setting

90/3 Indicates the current criterion and exchange level

TH -10dB

Shows the threshold setting

(relative to the criterion level)

VER1.04 Indicates the firmware version number

PLAY Indicates the instrument is in PLAY mode

PAUSED

Indicates when the instrument is in pause mode

(only displayed if instrument is in pause mode)