Comparison ADA CUBE HOME EDITION vs ADA 2D BASIC LEVEL

The longest measurement range provided by a laser level (see “Type”) when using a special receiver with a photocell.

Thanks to its sensitivity, such a receiver is able to respond even to a weak laser beam, the mark from which is no longer visible to the naked eye; At the same time, the area of the photocell is quite large, and special indicators make it possible to determine the exact position of the mark. Among other things, this significantly expands the range of action of the level - the measurement range with a receiver is usually several times greater than without it. On the other hand, such equipment inevitably affects the overall cost of the device; and in some models the receiver is not included in the package at all; it must be purchased separately. However, the second option also has its advantages: you do not need to immediately pay for an additional accessory, it can be purchased later, when a real need arises, while some models allow you to choose the optimal receiver model from several options at your discretion.

Note that the receiver can be useful not only for increasing range; These points are described in detail in paragraph “Included parts”.

Accuracy is described as the maximum deviation from the true value of the measured parameter, which the device can give if all the rules for its operation and the corresponding measurements are observed. In both rangefinders and levels, this parameter is usually designated for a certain distance — for example, 3 mm at 30 m; but even for one manufacturer, these "control" distances may be different. Therefore, in our catalog, the accuracy of all devices is recalculated for 1 m distance; with such a record, for the example above, it will be 3/30 \u003d 0.1 mm / m. This makes it easier to compare different models with each other.

It is also worth mentioning that the meaning of the "accuracy" parameter for different types of measuring instruments (see "Type") will be different. For optical levels, it is described in the "SKP" paragraph above. For laser levels of all types, accuracy is the maximum deviation of the mark from the true horizontal (or vertical, if such a function is provided), and for the horizontal, we can talk about both moving the mark up / down and turning it. In rangefinders, this characteristic describes the maximum difference (both in "plus" and "minus") between the readings of the device and the actual distance to the object.

Anyway, the smaller the error, the better; on the other hand, accuracy significantly affects the price of the device. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a specific model for this parameter, taking into account the...specifics of the planned work. For example, for a relatively simple repair in a residential apartment, a high-precision tool is unlikely to be required; and recommendations for more complex tasks can be found in specialized sources, ranging from expert advice to official instructions.

The standard size of the thread used to mount the level/rangefinder on a tripod (if available). This option can be useful if you already have a surveying tripod that you want to use with the tool.

The most popular options in modern devices are 1/4" and 5/8". It is worth noting that 1/4" is a standard size for photographic equipment - accordingly, levels with such a thread can be installed even on ordinary photographic tripods.

The wavelength of the radiation emitted by the LED of the level or rangefinder; this parameter determines primarily the colour of the laser beam. The most widespread in modern models are LEDs with a wavelength of about 635 nm — at a relatively low cost, they provide bright red radiation, giving a well-visible projection. There are also green lasers, usually at 532 nm — the marks from them are even better visible, but such LEDs are quite expensive and rarely used. And radiation with a wave longer than 780 nm belongs to the infrared spectrum. Such a laser is invisible to the naked eye and is poorly suited for leveling, but it can be used in rangefinders — of course, with a viewfinder (see "Type" for more details).

The sweep angle in the vertical plane provided by the level emitter. If there are several such radiators (for example, on both sides of the case), this parameter is given for each of them separately.

The sweep angle is, in fact, the coverage angle, that is, the width of the sector captured by the emitter when the line is formed. The wider this angle, the more convenient the device is to use, the lower the likelihood that the device will have to be moved up and down to build a line. On the other hand, a larger sweep angle (at the same range) requires more power — and this, accordingly, affects the cost and power consumption.

The sweep angle in the horizontal plane provided by the level emitter. If there are several emitters, their total coverage angle is indicated here; a typical example of such devices are models for full 360 °, not related to rotation.

Actually, all rotary devices, by definition, provide a coverage of 360 °. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to this parameter in cases where we are talking about more traditional laser levels. And here it is worth considering that a larger coverage angle, on the one hand, can provide additional convenience, on the other hand, it increases the price and power consumption of the device. So when choosing, you should proceed from real needs; detailed recommendations on this subject can be found in special sources.

The number of individual points projected by the laser tool — rangefinder or level, see "Type" — when working. In the first case, one point projection is standardly provided — more is simply not required to measure distances. In levels, there can be several points, and some models do not have planar projections at all and work only with points. This format may not be as convenient as displaying lines; at the same time, with the same laser power, dot marks shine brighter and are more visible, especially at long distances. In addition, there are certain types of work for which point projection is considered optimal — for example, laying sewers, determining the locations for two holes in opposite walls, etc.

Nadir in this case is called a point projection directed vertically down.

By itself, such a projection can be used, in particular, for making holes on the same vertical in ceilings located at different levels. It is enough to make one of the holes, install a level above it — and the laser beam going vertically downwards will indicate the location of the next hole. And in devices that also have the zenith function (see above), the marks from the zenith and nadir projections are located strictly one above the other. This is very convenient when marking the floor and ceiling at the same time for racks, partitions, etc.

Level based on a bubble capsule (or several such capsules) built into the body of the instrument.

Such a device allows you to control the position of the device — namely, to check whether it is set horizontally; however, some models also provide levels for the vertical position, and sometimes even for tilting at 45 ° or another angle. But the specific purpose of the bubble level may be different, depending on the type and general level of the device. The most popular option is a preliminary, rough installation of the laser level in the horizontal: the initial adjustment is carried out manually using a level, and after that the built-in self-leveling mechanism is activated. In simple and inexpensive household levels where high accuracy is not required, the bubble chamber may even be the only way to set it to the desired position; and some of these devices can also be used as full-fledged building levels.