SDL1

Digital Level

U SER M AN UA L

[email protected] | www.satlabgps.com
FO R E W O R D
Thank you for purchasing the Satlab Digital Level SDL-2. For the best performance of the instrument,
please read this user manual carefully and keep them for future reference.

NOTICE
• For optimum usage, this instrument should be checked and adjusted especially after being stored
for a long time or after being transported.
For further information, please refer to page 16 under 3. Checking and Adjustment.

• Before measuring, please check that the instrument is operating properly.

• Do not store the instrument in high temperatures or set it up under strong sunlight to present the
photosensor from heating up as it may affect the accuracy of the instrument.
• Please use trained staff when operating this digital measuring instrument. Ensure that the staff
cleans the surface without scratching or staining the instrument. The instrument must be placed in a
proper position.
• When the instrument is being operated, you can use the back side of the bar staff or equivalent.
• For better usage and daily adjustments, it is highly recommended to equip at least two pieces of
our standard bar staff.
• When operating in digital mode, avoid direct sunlight from passing through objective lens and the
eyepiece which may cause interference if the image of the staff is too dark or the background is
too light.
• Please keep the instrument in the case provided during transportation.

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• Once your work is completed, please clean the instrument and keep it back into the case.
• Do not touch the lens with your fingers. Please clean the surface, buttons, screen and outer layer of
the instrument with a soft cloth. Clean the optical parts only with lens paper.
• Store the instrument in a dry room with consistent temperature.
• If the instrument requires repair, make sure that it is checked and repaired by Satlab technicians or
by appointed dealers.

WA R N IN G
• Never observe the sun through the telescope system.
• Please be careful when working around high voltage facilities
• Do not handle staff during thunderstorms.
• Please place the instrument and battery in a dry and cool place.
• Keep the instrument away from flammable and explosive materials.
• The survey should be operated in a safe area.
• Please observe local safety and traffic rules.
• Do not overheat the battery.

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CON T E N T S

1. Important Parts and 2.4.1 Height Measurement 12

Operation Manual 5 2.4.2 Height Difference 13
1.1 Important Parts 5 2.4.3 Stadia Measurement 14
1.2 Buttons 6 2.4.4 Angle Measurement 15
1.3 Display Screen 6
3. Checking and Adjustment 16
2. Instrument Operation 7 3.1 Circular Bubble 16
2.1 Preparation 7 3.2 Line of Sight 17
2.1.1 Installation of Battery 7 3.2.1 Optical 17
2.1.2 Instrument Setting 7 3.2.2 Digital 18
2.2 Sight and Focusing 8 3.3 Staff Offset 21
2.3 Digital Mode 9 3.4 Stadia Err 22
2.3.1 Digital Measurement 9 3.5 Reset 23
2.3.1.1 Height 9
2.3.1.2 Height Difference 9 4. Fault Information 24
2.3.1.3 Inverse Staff Mode 10
2.3.2. Instrument Set-up 10 5. Technical Data 25
2.3.3 Operational Settings 12
2.4 Optical Measurement 12 6. Packing List 26

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1 . I mp o r t a n t Pa rts an d Op erat i o n al Manual
This figure shows the parts of the instrument

1 . 1 I m p o r t a n t Parts
1. Objective Lens
2. Peep Sight
3. Screen
4. Buttons
5. Seal Plug
6. Eye Piece
7. Graduation Pointer
8. Horizontal Graduation Circle
9. Bubble Adjusting Screw
10. Circular Bubble
11. Reflecting Mirror
12. Battery Compartment
13. Battery Set Screws
14. Footscrews
15. Horizontal Tangent Screw
16. Focusing Knob

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1 . 2 Bu t t o n s
Left to Right
1. Main Function: Power/Mode/Setting/Measure
2. Settings Function: None/Quit/Confirm/Shift
ON/OFF MODE SET MEAS.
3. Input Function: None/Quit/Shift/Input

1 . 3 Di s p l a y S cree n

Measure Mode: Height / Height Different

Measure: S-Single
A-Average
R-Repeat
Staff / Inverse staff mode
Battery level

STAFF H
Rh: - - - - Height

Hd: - - - - Distant

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2 . I n st r u me n t O p erat i o n
2. 1 P re p a r a t i o n Fig. 1

2.1.1 Installation of Battery

Loosen screw and open the battery cap
(fig.1). Install four AA batteries as shown
in fig. 2. Lock the cap and tighten
the set screw.

Tips: When locking the battery compartment,

please tighten the screws.

2.1.2 Instrument Setting

Fig. 2
• Extend the tripod legs until the top holder is at
eye level.
• Tighten screws and stick tripod legs firmly into
the ground.
• Set the instrument and tighten the centering
screws accordingly.
• Move the bubble to the center of the circle by
adjusting the footscrews (shown in fig. 3). Adjust A
and B screws to move bubble left and right then
adjust the C screw to move the bubble into the
center circle.

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 Rh: 1.568m
Hd: 29.36m

2 . 2 S ig h t a n d F oc u s i ng
• Rotate the eyepiece to ensure that the
reticle is clear (fig. 4) DIFF
• Target the staff through the peep sight. C C
Rotate the focusing knob to make the staff dH: 0.189m
image clear. Ensure the vertical hair is Rh: 1.379m
crossed with the middle of the staff. (fig. 5) Hd: 29.98m
• Move your eyesight left, right, up and
down. If the staff image and reticle hair
remain still, you can proceed with your
measurements.
A B A B
Fig. 3

Fig. 4 Fig. 5

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Attention:
• Bar side is for digital mode measurement while ruler side is for optical mode.
• Digital measurement only fits our standard bar staff.
• Keep the staff in a vertical position with the help of the bubble level
(You can find this accessory in the staff package)

2 . 3 Di g i t a l Mo d e

2.3.1 Digital Measurement STAFF H

2.3.1.1 Height
• Press power (ON/OFF) button and wait for the launching to Rh: 1.438m
complete
• Press MODE button and select Staff H Hd: 34.39m
• After measurement preparation, press MEAS button, the
date will show up in a few seconds.
Height = 1.438m; Distance = 34.39m Fig. 6

• Press and hold the power button to power off

2.3.1.2. Height Difference
• Press power (ON/OFF) button and wait for the launching
to complete.
• Press mode button and select DIFF.

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• MEAS. BS (Staff A) will show up on the screen.
Measure the first staff and get the data as
Height = 1.568m and Distance = 29.36m (fig. 9).
DIFF
Press SET button then Meas. FS (Staff B) will show Rh: 1.568m
up. Measure the second staff and get the data as
shown in fig. 7. Hd: 29.36m
After a few seconds, the height difference will be
configured as fig.8. Fig. 7
Height difference = 0.189m, Height of Staff B =
1.379m, Distance to Staff B = 29.98

Tip: Press the button gently to increase the level of accuracy

DIFF
2.3.1.3 Inverse Staff Mode
dH: 0.189m
This mode is for ceiling leveling.
Processes as per below: Rh: 1.379m
• Press SET button until you see the Inverse Staff Hd: 29.98m
then press MEAS. to turn it on.
• Inverse the staff vertically and prop it against the Fig. 8
ceiling. Then operate the same with
2.3.1.1 and 2.3.1.2

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2.3.2 Instrument Set-up
After start-up, press SET button to enter settings mode. Set button is used for selection while
MEAS. button is used for confirmation. MODE button is used to exit.

• Measure Mode
Single: Data is figured out by a single measurement. You can see the “S” on the
screen when this mode is activated.
Mean: Several times of measurements averaged out. You can see “A” on screen
when this mode is activated.
Rept: Measure target constantly and stops when you press MEAS. button. This
mode will show the past data of your last measurement. You can see “R” on screen
when this mode is activated.

• Backlight
On: Turn on the backlight
Off: Turn off the backlight
(You can also press and hold the SET button to switch it on or off)

• Beep
On: Turn on the beep device
Off: Turn off the beep device

• Inverse Staff
On: Inverse the staff, you can see
Off: Measuring upward staff, you can see

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• Units
m: Metre
ft: Foot

• Rounding
Minimum reading: 0.01/0.001m

• Auto Off:
15min - The instrument will power off after 15 minutes of idle
Off - Instrument will keep running until power is off

• Average Times: Data is figured out by 1 to 9 times for measurement

2.3.3 Operational Settings

Press and hold the SET button to turn on/turn off the backlight
In 3 seconds after start-up, you can check instrument ID number by pressing SET
button

2 . 4 Op t i ca l Me a s u rem en t
2.4.1 Height measurement
• Use the ruler side of the staff and keep it vertical
• Adjust the eye piece and focusing knob to make the images of the reticle and
staff clear

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• Read data as fig.9, H = 1.165m

Fig. 9

2.4.2 Height Difference

• Set up the instrument at a point approximately halfway between point A
and point B
• Position the staff vertically at point A, take a reading as ‘a’ (Example a= 1.735m)
• Then read the staff at point B and obtain the reading as ‘b’ (Example b = 1.224m)

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 Fig. 10

2.4.3 Stadia Measurement

• Read the staff and count the difference between L and two stadia lines:
Up Stadia Line: 1.238m
Down Stadia Line: 1.091m
Difference L = 1.238 - 1.091 = 0.147m
Distance D = 100 * L = 14.7m

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 Up Stadia Line

HH

D
Down Stadia Line
Fig. 11

2.4.4 Angle Measurement

• Direct instrument to staff A and turn
Horizontal Circle to “0”
• Point instrument to staff B
• Read off Hz - angle from Horizontal Graduation Circle.
fig. 12: Hz 43°

Fig. 12

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3 . C h e cki n g a n d Ad j us tm e n t
Please check the instrument before you start work. The instrument
must be checked and adjusted by a specialist regularly.

3 . 1 C ircu l a r B u b b l e
• Center the bubble of the Circular
Level precisely by using the Leveling Offset ∆
Foot Screws
• Turn the telescope around 180° (or
200 gon)
• The bubble needs adjustment if it is
not centered
• Adjusting leveling foot screws should
move the bubble to the middle of the
offset Use footscrews
• Adjust the rest half of offset by using to move the bubble
to ∆/2 of the center
the Allen Key
• Repeat the above steps until the Use the allen key
to move the bubble Fig. 13
bubble remains centered when into the center of
the circle
telescope points at any direction

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 Up Stadia Line

3 . 2 Lin e o f S i g h t

a1 b2
D
Down Stadia
δ Line δ

fig.14

3.2.1 Optical
• Set the instrument at a point halfway between point A and B spaced about 30 - 40m apart. Take
the readings of staff A and staff B as “a1” and “b1”. (fig.14) Calculate the real height difference:
Δ H = a1 - b1
• Set up the instrument about 1m away from point A and read staff A and staff B as “a2” and “b2”.
(fig. 15)
• Then you can get the logical value B2= a2-ΔH --- b2’ is the height that b2 should be

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 b2
a2

δ b21

fig. 15
1m

• When the difference between b2 and b2’ is more than 3mm, the
line of sight must be adjusted
• Pull out the seal plug and adjust the adjusting screw until the
horizontal hair moves to reading b2’

3.2.2 Digital
• Set staff A and staff B with 45 metres distance and set Point 1 at
15 metres and Point 2 at 30 metres at Points where instrument set
up (fig. 17)
ON/O OD E SET MEAS.

fig. 16

Seal Plug Adjusting Screw

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Tips: The ensure a correct adjustment, the distance between those points should be kept at a certain range as 15±0.5m

A B

1 2

15m 15m 15m

fig. 17

• First set the instrument at ADJ ADJ

point 1. Press and hold Meas.
Collimation Correct
Button and press the Power
Staff Offset Collimation Error?
button to enter adjustment
Stadia Err. CE OK
mode (fig. 18). Press MEAS.
button then SET button to enter
Collimation mode as shown in fig. 18 fig. 19

fig. 19 (MODE = CE SET = OK)

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 ADJ ADJ ADJ ADJ

St ep St ep
Rh : 1 . 3 7 2 m Rh : 1 . 5 7 7 m

Hd : 1 5 . 0 2 m Hd : 3 0 . 0 1 m

fig. 20 fig. 21 fig. 22 fig. 23

ADJ ADJ
• When you see fig. 20., measure Staff A. After
St ep
the data showed up as fig. 21, press SET to Rh : 1 . 5 4 9 m
the next step
Hd : 1 5 . 0 3 m
• Rotate instrument to point Staff B and
measure it. After data showed up as fig. 23,
press the SET button to the next step (fig. 24) fig. 24 fig. 25

• Move the instrument to Point 2 and set it ADJ ADJ

properly, then measure Staff B. After the data
St ep
showed in fig. 25, press the SET button to the Rh : 1 . 3 4 3 m
next step (fig. 26)
Hd : 3 0 . 0 8 m
• Then measure Staff A. After the data is
showed as in fig. 27, press the SET button to
the next step fig. 26 fig. 27

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• Now measure those 4 points that has been completed. Press the
SET button to confirm the results (fig. 28). Then press the SET
button to save and restart ADJ

dh : - 2 0 5 . 6 mm

3 . 3 S t a ff O ffs e t er r : - 11. 3"

CE OK
• When measuring the staff, you may find that the digital and
optical mode has a height difference. Thus, you should operate the fig. 28

staff offset. ADJ

Co l l i ma t i o n
Attention: Before the staff offset, make sure that you have adjusted 3.2.1 optical line of
sight and 3.2.2 digital line of sight. St af f O f f s et

S t a di a E r r .
• Set the staff and instrument properly, read the staff within optical
system, like 1.319m fig. 29
• Turn the staff to the bar side
ADJ
Attention: Staff should be set in the ground, and when the staff is turning, do not
Co r r e c t O f f s e t
change its height
Of S t a f f ?

• Press and hold MEAS. button and power button to enter CE OK

adjusting mode. Press MEAS. button to select “Staff Offset”

(fig. 29), press SET button to enter staff offset (fig. 30) fig. 30
press SET to confirm

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• Input the data you get from “(2)”, press the SET
button to select the digital underline place, press MEAS.
button to input 0-9 as 1.3190m (fig. 31), Input numbers ADJ
ADJ
one by one. When “Enter” shows up in the screen,
(fig.32), press the SET button, it will mentioned for you S t a f f H e i gh t S t a f f H e i gh t
to aim at the staff. R h =1 . 5 0 0 m R h =1 . 3 1 9 0 m
• Measure the staff and get the data as fig. 33. Press the
SET button to get the difference (fig.34). Then press SET fig. 31 fig. 32
to confirm and restart.
ADJ ADJ

Of f s e t P a r a
Rh : 1 . 3 2 1 m
Va l =- 0 . 0 0 2 0 m

Hd : 3 5 . 2 1 m CE OK

fig. 33 fig. 34
3.4 Stadia Err
ADJ ADJ

• Set the staff and instrument properly, and measure the Co l l i ma t i o n Co r r e c t E r r o r

distance between the staff and the instrument with a St af f O f f s et Of D i s t a n c e ?
high-precision range finder. S t a di a E r r . CE OK
• Press and hold MEAS. and the power button to enter
into the adjusting mode. Press Meas. to select “Stadia fig. 35 fig. 36
Err” (fig. 35) and press SET to enter Stadia Err (fig. 36),
press SET to confirm

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• Input the distance data you get from process (1),
press the SET button to select digit underline place,
press Meas. to input 0-9 (fig. 37). Input the numbers
one by one. When “Enter shows up on screen (fig. ADJ ADJ

38), press the SET button, and it will mention for you Ac t u a l D i s t a n c e Ac t u a l D i s t a n c e

to aim at the staff. Hd =3 5 . 2 2 0 m

Hd =2 5 . 0 0 0 m
• Measure the staff and get the data as fig. 39. Press
the SET button to get the Stadia Err. (fig. 40). Press
SET to confirm and restart. fig. 37 fig. 38

ADJ ADJ

3 . 5 Re s e t Rh : 1 . 3 2 2 m Of f s e t P a r a

V a l =0 . 0 0 1 6 m
Press and hold Meas. and Power button to enter into Hd : 3 5 . 2 9
CE OK
configuration mode. Press MEAS button to select
”Reset” (fig. 41), press SET to enter reset mode (fig. fig. 39 fig. 40

42), press SET to confirm.

Save and restart.

ADJ ADJ

Re s e t Re s e t t o D e f a -
ul t s ?

CE OK

fig. 41 fig. 42

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4 . F au l t In fo r m at i o n

Fault Information Reason Solution

Poor Condition Unable to detect staff Target the staff and focus on it properly
Barrier Remove barrier
Unstable environment Find another spot
Atmostphere disturbance Wait for good weather
caused by strong wind or light
Too close to staff Change measuring distance to at least 3m
Eyepiece received too much light Cover the eyepiece while measuring
Background light of staff is too strong Change measuring spot or angle or wait for
dimmer conditions
Staff set in a dark environment Ensure that the lighting conditions in the
environment is higher than 40 lux
Not focused properly Focus the staff to ensure that the image is clear
Bad conditions No barriers should exist between the staff
and instrument
Staff imaging incomplete Keep the surface of the staff clear of
scratches or stains

Target too far Measuring distance is Keep the measuring distance between
more than 110m 3m to 110m

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5 . Te c h n i ca l D a t a
Accuracy Distance Measurement
1km double run leveling Multiplication factor 100
Additive constant 0
Height: Digital 0.8mm
Optical 1.5mm
Compensator
Distance: D≤10m 10mm
Damping Magnetic
D>10m Dx0.2%m
Accuracy 0.5”
Working range 15’
Measuring
Digital working range: 3-110m Circular Level
Optical min. focusing: 0.6m
Sensitivity 8’/2mm
Measuring time: 1-3s*
Min. value (height): 0.001/0.0001m
Min. value (distance): 0.01m Circle
Continuous operating time: >20 hours**
Graduation 1°/1gon
Continuous stand-by time: >45 hours**
Lowest illumination: 40lux
Environmental Specifications
Telescope LCD screen resolution 128px x 64px
Operating temperature -10°c to 50°c
Erect Image Storage temperature -40°c to 70°c
Magnification: 32x Protection IP54
Aperture: 36m Battery AA battery x 4
View angle: 1°20’ Dimension 245mm x 130mm x 182mm
Stadia constant: 100 Weight 1.8kg
Additive constant: 0

* Actual measuring time depends on the working environment

** Continuous operating time will change according to battery capacity
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6 . P acki n g L i s t

Instrument 1 Piece
Manual 1 Piece
Carrying Case 1 Piece
Allen Key 1 Piece
Adjusting Needle 1 Piece
AA Battery 4 Pieces
Plumb 1 Piece
Specialized bar staff Optional

Datavägen 21B
SE-436 32 Askim, Sweden

[email protected] | www.satlabgps.com