Meter calibration

Not sure where is the UK you are, but I usually visit Crawley once a year for a conference, and use Instrotech in Watford for my personal testers. 


Regards,


Alan.

The biggest issue I've found with "in branch" calibration is that the guy is starting off his calibration set up at a socket-outlet that has a Zs of typically 0.8 Ohms so, by the time the calibration kit adds another 0.2 Ohms to the EFLI tester undergoing calibration, the lowest point on your certificate is 1 Ohm. Not very useful when I suspect most of your site readings are under 1 Ohm...............


I've used RS in the past and was able to specify the points I wanted my kit calibrated at.


Regards


BOD

Plus either your or there’s kit has possibly just come out of a cold van, rather than being in the same room for several hours or more.

Are you looking to drop off in person (if so, roughly which area) or willing to post?

I must admit that I leave my testers for a couple of days to let them reach the correct temperature before calibration. 


Regards,


Alan.

I think that if you have your own regime of reasonable test procedures then it will give some indications and spot drift or damage.

I mean more than just a Calcard


Although I do get independant regular testing too I believe your own test regime , if suitable, could allow external testing periods to be lengthend.

If there are testers that are used by 10+ employees and thrown in the back of the van then weekly testing might not be often enough though

perspicacious:

I've used RS in the past and was able to specify the points I wanted my kit calibrated at.

A bit pricey!

 

-2400-:

Are you looking to drop off in person (if so, roughly which area) or willing to post?

Don't mind. Area is between Portsmouth and Southampton.

Has anyone ever had a modern digital test meter go out of calibration without it having first received serious damage? I can't help feeling that frequent recalibration is a hangover from analogue meter days.

Chris


My calibrator is On Site Calibration Services. Mike Olding top bloke ex RAF Chief Tech. Who comes to you. Each year he comes to me where I host a calibration coffee morning with Mrs P supplying the cake for friends dropping in with their test kit. 


Covid knocked this years event on the head and Mike is not on the road at the moment for the same reason. Now Boris is allowing me to go to Norfolk I will drop off my kit and a mates to him just across the border in to Lincolnshire 


I know Mike takes his big box of calibration kit back to the manufacturer to be calibrated to National Physical Laboratory standards. He stays in a hotel nearby as he does not like it being out of his control.


Yes test kit rarely does go out of calibration. I have an LTW loop tester that started reading high on my test box without any rough treatment. I will get it back to Megger for repair. On any tester the weak points are the lead sockets. Usually a cotton bud dipped in switch cleaner cleaning out all the grunge inside sorts the problem. The same with fuse carriers inside and battery connections. Good quality batteries in good condition are a must.


I notice my Megger reads high on loop testing when the rechargeable batteries run down. Switching ranges when connected to a live supply is never a good idea.


Whilst the meters generally stay in calibration the lead sets are the weak link. Old and/or cheap leads go high resistance so regular checks on a check box are essential. The Kyritsu leads from Kewtech beat the pants off anyone elses leads whatever the make of the test kit? Get the ones marked Kyritsu on the plugs not Kewtech. Expensive but very reliable.