[Contents] [Part 1]

THE NEEDLE

26.

Now turn the Tone Arm to 2.0 and the sensitivity to 1, and the needle will be at "set" again. Take the plug connected to the cans and plug it in to the electrode socket. Place the cans upright on the table so they do not touch each other and you will notice that the needle will go right over to the left. Moving the Tone Arm will not have an effect on the needle. This is because there is almost total resistance to the electric current; the table and the air are very poor conductors of electricity.

27.

If you touch the cans together the needle will go hard over to the right because there's practically no resistance, the cans and the wire being very good conductors. Do not leave the cans touching for more than a few seconds, otherwise the meter might be damaged.

28.

Hold the cans in your hands and get someone to adjust the Tone Arm until the needle is at "set". Note the position of the Tone Arm. Ordinarily "tin" cans with the paper label stripped off are preferred. Although they are less attractive, they give a more accurate response.

29.

Ask someone else to hold the cans and adjust the Tone Arm yourself so that the needle is again at "set". It is most unlikely that the Tone Arm will be at the exact position as when you hold the cans. If the cans are cold it is sometimes necessary to wait a while for the cans to "warm up" in the hands before the needle settles down.

30.

Tell the person holding the cans to squeeze them and when this is done you will see that the needle will immediately go over to the right. When he/she returns to the original grip, the needle will return to the "set" position.

31.

Increase the sensitivity setting to 4 and have the cans squeezed again. You will notice that the needle goes further and more quickly to the right. If on the first squeeze the needle has gone right over, at the higher sensitivity it will hit the pin harder and bounce off maybe several times. This is another demonstration of the function of the sensitivity knob magnifying the movement of the needle.

32.

When you have finished using the meter, switch off the "sensitivity knob" and put the "Set-Transit-Test" knob to "Transit". This prevents the batteries running down and protects the needle mechanism during transit.

33.

At the bottom of the Tone Arm Dial a very useful device called the "Tone Arm Counter" may be fitted. If you move the Tone Arm about you will notice that the number in the "window" on the right will change periodically. It will increase by sevens until it reaches 98 when it will go to 0 and then continue increasing by seven. This number records the distance of downward movements traversed by the Tone Arm. It is recorded in numbers of divisions - from 4 to 3 would be one division. This information is very valuable and important to an auditor. Its use is fully described in "The Book of E-Meter Drills" compiled by Mary Sue Hubbard.

34.

You can test your meter's efficiency from time to time this way. Place the cans on the table so that they do not touch each other. Plug them into the meter. Set the Tone Arm to 6.5. Turn the "Set-Transit-Test" knob to "set". Turn the meter on. Set the sensitivity at 16. Turn "Trim" knob so as to bring needle to "set" position. It is important that the table upon which the meter is standing is firm and steady, so don't lean on or touch it during the test. A slight gentle drift is all right but if it is at all jerky you will know your meter needs attention.

THE TONE ARM

35.

Much useful information can be gained from the position of the Tone Arm. For example, in passing the Class VI auditing requirement for classification at Level VI a check must be done on the E-Meter and the following qualification concerning the Tone Arm must be observed. If the Tone Arm is at 4.0 - that is all right.

36.

If the Tone Arm is at 4.5 - that is barely passing.

37.

Whilst if the Tone Arm is at 5.0 - that is absolutely not passing.

38.

The Tone Arm being anywhere between 4.0 and 2.0 is acceptable as passing.

39.

But the Tone Arm below 2.0 is definitely not acceptable as passing.

NEEDLE ACTIONS

40.

The successful auditor needs to know his meter very well and be aware of the various actions of the needle. There are ten main needle actions which occur upon a pre-clear being given an auditing question and an auditor should get familiar with these early in his training. First, there is the "Stuck" needle (illustrated in this picture). You ask the pc a question and the needle just stays stuck with no movement whatsoever. This should on no account be confused with a "Nul" needle which is the needle continuing to behave in an action uninfluenced by the auditing question.

41.

A very important action is called the "Fall". It is a movement to your right as you face the meter. It can take place anywhere on the dial. It can be a short movement or a long movement even necessitating adjustment of the Tone Arm. The movement can be either fast or slow.

42.

The "Rise" is exactly the opposite to a "Fall" - the needle moves to your left instead of to the right.

43.

The "Theta Bop" is a small or wide steady dance of the needle. Depending on the sensitivity setting it can be anything from one-eighth to half an inch wide. It is very rapid, perhaps five or ten times a second.

44.

The "Rock Slam" is very spectacular. It is a crazy, unequal, jerky motion of the needle, narrow as one inch or as wide as three inches happening several times a second. The needle goes crazy "slamming back and forth, narrowly, widely, over to the left, over to the right as if frantically trying to escape." The first time you see a real one the chances are you will think there is something wrong with your meter.

45.

A "stage Four" needle goes up about an inch or two (always the same distance) and sticks and then falls, goes up, sticks, falls, about once a second or so. It is very regular, always the same distance, always the same pattern, over and over, on and on, nothing you say or the preclear says changes it (except Body Reactions).

46.

The "Free" or "Floating" needle. The needle just floats over a wide area and anything the pc says or thinks has no influence on the very smooth movement. Further, you will have difficulty in controlling the needle with the Tone Arm just as you would have difficulty balancing a long stick on your fingertip. It is an important characteristic which should be readily recognised as it indicates a satisfactory conclusion to an auditing activity.

There are three reactions not pictured here - "Nul", Change of Characteristic", and "Body Reaction." These are fully described in "E-Meter Essentials" by L. Ron Hubbard.

47.

In the rare event of the meter behaving badly or ceasing to function - contact your local Hubbard Organization for instructions as to where to send it. Provided the damage is not due to carelessness or breakage the meter will be repaired free of charge for a reasonable period after purchase. Pack it very carefully before sending. See that it is switched off and the "Set-Transit-Test" knob is in the "Transit" position. Use the original packing carton to send it in.

[Contents] [Part 1]

THE END