PCE Instruments PCE-322A, PCE-322A-ICA, PCE-MSM 4, PCE-323, PCE-323-ICA Users guide

© 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

1 Safety notes ........................................................................................... 1

2 Specifications ........................................................................................ 2

3 Delivery scope ....................................................................................... 2

4 Device description ................................................................................ 3

4.1 Keyboard description ........................................................................................................ 4

4.2 Display description ........................................................................................................... 5

5 Switching the meter on and off ........................................................... 6

5.1 Making a measurement ................................................................ .................................... 6

6 Automatic power off ............................................................................. 9

7 Data logging (PCE-322A, PCE-323 only)........................................... 10

7.1 Clearing the memory .......................................................................................................10

7.2 Setting the memory interval .............................................................................................10

8 Replacing the battery.......................................................................... 10

9 Bluetooth 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 in this 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, non­condensing, altitude <2000 m

Storage conditions

-10 ... +60 °C, 10 ... 75 % RH, non­condensing

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

© PCE Instruments

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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 is located
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 via the Bluetooth setting 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 and the 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.

© PCE Instruments

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PCE Instruments contact information

Germany France Spain

PCE Deutschland GmbH PCE Instruments France EURL PCE Ibérica S.L.
Im Langel 26 23, rue de Strasbourg Calle Mayor, 53
D-59872 Meschede 67250 Soultz-Sous-Forets 02500 Tobarra (Albacete)
Deutschland France España
Tel.: [phone] Téléphone: [phone] Tel. : [phone]
Fax: [phone] Numéro de fax: [phone] Fax: [phone]
[e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]
www.pce-instruments.com/deutsch www.pce-instruments.com/french www.pce-instruments.com/espanol

United Kingdom Italy Turkey

PCE Instruments UK Ltd PCE Italia s.r.l. PCE Teknik Cihazları Ltd.Şti.
Unit 11 Southpoint Business Park Via Pesciatina 878 / B-Interno 6 Halkalı Merkez Mah.
Ensign Way, Southampton 55010 Loc. Gragnano Pehlivan Sok. No.6/C
Hampshire Capannori (Lucca) 34303 Küçükçekmece - İstanbul
United Kingdom, SO31 4RF Italia Türkiye
Tel: [phone] Telefono: [phone] Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Fax: [phone] Faks: 0212 705 53 93
[e-mail] [e-mail] [e-mail]
www.pce-instruments.com/english www.pce-instruments.com/italiano www.pce-instruments.com/turkish

The Netherlands United States of America Denmark

PCE Brookhuis B.V. PCE Americas Inc. PCE Instruments Denmark ApS
Institutenweg 15 1201 Jupiter Park Drive, Suite 8 Birk Centerpark 40
7521 PH Enschede Jupiter / Palm Beach 7400 Herning
Nederland 33458 FL Denmark
Telefoon: [phone] USA
[e-mail] Tel: [phone]
www.pce-instruments.com/dutch Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]
www.pce-instruments.com/us