Calibration?

[Kate]

Hey guys,

Who do you use to calibrate your test equipment?
It's a minefield to pick someone. Last company I used said three day turn around with courier. Called on the third day and got a bit fobbed off. Ended up being 5. Checked the paperwork and the certs were time stamped...AFTER I called on day 3.
Have three items that need calibration and must be a courier service, don't trust using postal (sorry Royal Mail) just incase

 

[Admin]

Test-meter.co.uk do it in 3 days.

 

[telectrix]

on site calibration services comes to you. does it while you make a brew. 07776 200146. Mike Olding.

 

[rolyberkin]

I have in past sent my meter away but I have one to be done this week and I will be taking it somewhere local who will do it while I wait or pick up at the end of day. I don't trust the couriers who more than likely throw boxes around without any regard as to what is inside. The postage costs with insurance are normally sky high also.

 

[hightower]

My NICEIC assessor told me I didn't need an annual calibration provided I kept regular logs of readings against a known constant. Save £60-£80 by carrying out a quick test every month, well worth it.

 

[Spoon]

My NICEIC assessor told me I didn't need an annual calibration provided I kept regular logs of readings against a known constant. Save £60-£80 by carrying out a quick test every month, well worth it.

Just out of curiosity mate but what do you use as a "known constant"?

 

[telectrix]

Just out of curiosity mate but what do you use as a "known constant"?

i use the same socket at home to live test, and am making a resistance check box at the moment.

 

[rolyberkin]

Does anyone know the stance of Stroma on this issue, do they require annual tests or is a check regime acceptable to them?

 

[telectrix]

Just out of curiosity mate but what do you use as a "known constant"?

i use the same socket at home to live test, and am making a resistance check box at the moment.

Does anyone know the stance of Stroma on this issue, do they require annual tests or is a check regime acceptable to them?

murdoch might be your best bet here, think he's with stroma.

 

[hightower]

Just out of curiosity mate but what do you use as a "known constant"?

I use a calcard for the dead tests and the same socket at home for RCD etc.

 

[Kate]

on site calibration services comes to you. does it while you make a brew. 07776 200146. Mike Olding.

What Area is that though?

 

[telectrix]

What Area is that though?

he covers all areas. obviously he'll have to have a few calls booked in for the area to make it worthwhile. why not ring him and see if he can book you a date.

 

[1Justin]

I've had nice service from Onsite Calibration (Thanks Mike Olding).

This said, remember that any conventional "Calibration" is not, in fact a calibration (ie re-setting your instrument constants), but just a check against spec limits. If your instrument is wrong, it's need to go back to the manufacturer anyway. So provided you are confident it's right, the cal changes nothing.

Modern instruments don't really drift about, but the quality and cleanliness of the cables and connectors you plug into them are the most significant source of problems.

..Hence it's OK to keep a check against cal card/standard socket, and do the proper test every two years. If you log these regularly you really do see trends when you plot them out. In my experience, I've only ever found the low-impedance measurements, - those which are susceptible to connector resistance, - moving or becoming more erratic on a month by month basis.. Always related to dirty connectors, and always solved by carefully cleaning connectors or replacing cables.

 

[Kate]

Think my new Meggar may have to go back to manufacturer. For continuity testing it won't hold the auto null, slight knock on the body changes it quite drastically.
Guarantee it doesn't need cleaning. All parts are in seperate little baggies that they go in every time it's packed away. Little red plastic covers go back on everything, still use the plastic plug pin cover too.
Still have the sticky plastic over the screen! Looks brand new not 2 years old.

 

[RmBo_0]

Does anyone know the stance of Stroma on this issue, do they require annual tests or is a check regime acceptable to them?

I've been with them 4 years now and they've always wanted certificate

 

[Jay Sparks]

I used to use a guy that was an inspector/assessor for Elecsa. He came out to do mine whilst I was on a job. Cost me £50. That was in Bradford. Can't remember his name but I am sure someone on here knows him.

Cheers

Jay

 

[Taylortwocities]

My local electrical disty has occasional calibration days. Cheaper than any other way of doing it, and the tester is only away for an hour or two.

 

[Risteard]

I use Cuthbertson Laird but leave it in in person (although can courier it).

If I arrange in advance it only takes an hour or two before it's done!

 

[Leesparkykent]

Calibration - https://www.alpha-electronics.com/calibration

The service is spot on for calibration and repairs.

 

[Midwest]

Think my new Meggar may have to go back to manufacturer. For continuity testing it won't hold the auto null, slight knock on the body changes it quite drastically.
Guarantee it doesn't need cleaning. All parts are in seperate little baggies that they go in every time it's packed away. Little red plastic covers go back on everything, still use the plastic plug pin cover too.
Still have the sticky plastic over the screen! Looks brand new not 2 years old.

My Megger was doing 'strange things, crazy things' (enough Predator quotes), like getting a reading on an IR test without the leads connected, amongst others. Megger tech said better get it inspected. So I decided to return to them, with RA form. Standard fee of £220 + vat, ouch! Sent by Royal Mail 'Special delivery' insured for £1000. RM tracking showed they tried to deliver it on the Friday to Megger in Dover, but couldn't so returned it to the delivery centre. So with a few worried phones calls to RM over the weekend, who suggested my parcel might get returned to me - via Belfast, I waited till Monday morning and found out that Megger had received my parcel via RM on the Friday (it was their frigging post bag they hadn't delivered!), and was fixed (faulty switch?) and couriered back to me Wednesday morning. Included in the fee, is recalibration. Just confirmation it's been calibrated mind, if you want results, that's another £70!

Elecsa are happy with Calcard (Continuity/IR tests) and ZS/RCD tests on known socket, done monthly and re-calibration every 3 years. You can only seem to buy Calcards from Elecsa/NIC

Got me postage back from RM, cos of the mix up, something I suppose :mamazed: