Calibration Test Equipment

[tridinamikacom]

Dear All,

We plan to set up our calibration lab based on ISO17025 on the scope of electrical test equipment such as Oscilloscope, Clamp Meter, Analog/Digital Multi Meter , Bench DMM , Thermocouple , LCR Meter

Please advise which multifunction calibrator shall we use and tell us the reasons of your choice :

a) Fluke 5502A
b) Transmille 3041
c) Time Electronics 5025C

Of all the three choices , which one is the best and minimal for us to invest ?

Thanks,

TRIDINAMIKA JAYA INSTRUMENT

[jlmoon]

Would need more specifics on the type and precision of meters you're attempting to calibrate.. ie.  3 1/2, 4 1/2.. 6....   Pretty hard to top the king of calibration.. Fluke.  Didn't say they were the least expensive though.


The Fluke is good for 4 1/2 digits if using the 5502A.. move upto the 5522A and 6 1/2 precision comes into view.  very nice instrument!,  the Time Ele 5025C .. not the E model  is good for 6 1/2 digit precision, they claim.  I would not even question the performance of that Fluke 5522A.  As I say.. First Class or No Class!

 

[LaurentR]

move upto the 5522A and 6 1/2 precision comes into view.  very nice instrument!

As the Fluke Calibration 5522A page says: "Remarkably affordable" 

[jlmoon]

As the Fluke Calibration 5522A page says: "Remarkably affordable" 

It could be the last instrument in this class you would have to buy, so the ROI might not be so bad.   

[LaurentR]

BTW, how do they calibrate something like a 3458A? I assume that's beyond the capabilities of the 5522A? I see pictures on EBay of people with 3458A connected to 5522A, but reading the 3458A, they seem to really want (for the short calibration) to just get fed with one voltage and one resistance standards and figure everything else by themselves.

[babysitter]

Hello Mr./Mrs. Tridinamika,

you should immediately go and read all freely available training material from fluke cal and the other suspects.
Stop believing that the Calibrator price is everything.
You need to upgrade your QM system to include the certification and accreditation of the organisation if you really want to become accredited - or do you want to offer work which is only "based on 17025"?


Your lab needs some features - consider a quite different lab, separated with custumized air condition system if you want to calibrate at the 6.5 digit level with low uncertainities. Training your personal and recalibrating your stuff regularly will put recurring cost on you. Also, stuff like cables becomes a bit more expensive than usual if you go for many digits. During the start, expect need for consultants.

[babysitter]

BTW, how do they calibrate something like a 3458A? I assume that's beyond the capabilities of the 5522A? I see pictures on EBay of people with 3458A connected to 5522A, but reading the 3458A, they seem to really want (for the short calibration) to just get fed with one voltage and one resistance standards and figure everything else by themselves.

Basically there is a lot of trust in the 3458As (or the others) and just a little amount of meters or sources that can beat it or are equal, you see.

(Statistics and interpretation say that you gain just little knowledge if you go for a complete cal, with the effort to make a real cal with the same uncertainities over the bigger range going way up. Still, it is a valid effort in some cases.)

[mzzj]

BTW, how do they calibrate something like a 3458A? I assume that's beyond the capabilities of the 5522A? I see pictures on EBay of people with 3458A connected to 5522A, but reading the 3458A, they seem to really want (for the short calibration) to just get fed with one voltage and one resistance standards and figure everything else by themselves.

Statistics and  better than average "gold standard" 5522A etc.

Last time we calibrated our 3458A at the  local National Measurement Lab they listed the references as:
Fluke  5720A
Fluke  732B

They have frequent comparisions to their Josephson-standard http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephson_effect and with a "gold standard" calibrator that  has a long history of excellent stability they can calculate better uncertainties than those advertised by the manufacturer. 

[jlmoon]

BTW, how do they calibrate something like a 3458A? I assume that's beyond the capabilities of the 5522A? I see pictures on EBay of people with 3458A connected to 5522A, but reading the 3458A, they seem to really want (for the short calibration) to just get fed with one voltage and one resistance standards and figure everything else by themselves.

Basically there is a lot of trust in the 3458As (or the others) and just a little amount of meters or sources that can beat it or are equal, you see.

(Statistics and interpretation say that you gain just little knowledge if you go for a complete cal, with the effort to make a real cal with the same uncertainities over the bigger range going way up. Still, it is a valid effort in some cases.)

Actually when calibrating a 3458A.. (either Standard traceable cal.. or Gold standard level cal)  they use transfer standards from a Gold standard 3458A which are kept in cal with a "Josephson-junction standard"  I believe the Loveland cal center has one or two of those within a rocks throw distance.  My 3458A is due once again in April, so off she will go for another 3 weeks.