NICEIC Certification Scheme NICEIC - instrument accuracy DEMANDS!!!!

[tom-the-sparky]

Hi Everybody,

I've got my NICEIC assesment next week and i am trying to put together my own instrument check box, with resistors in thtats able to test continuity and resistance. PLEASE can anyone help in this quest, where do i start?

Thanks

 

[malcolmsanford]

A trip to Maplins to pick up your resistors would be my first guess. I know some guys get a great deal of satisfaction from doing the home made boxes but
Calibration Checkbox - Calibration Checkbox CCB1
But for this price and then a discount for forum members, I would be more than happy with this.

 

[telectrix]

buy some resistors. 1, 5, 10, etc. ohms maplins or cpc. adaptable box. some terminal posts. 2 1ohm in parallel=0.5. etc. mesure and record values. then once a month, check and record.

 

[Dunc]

If you want a fairly cheap pre made alternative to the Kewtech style check boxes have a look at the Calcard (LINK). I've got one and my area engineer is happy for me to use it. Great piece of kit as it fits easily in your test meter box seeing as how it's the size of a credit card. You then just need a socket somewhere in your house to use as a set test point for RCD and loop tests. I installed a socket near my CU on an RCBO for this purpose so as not to affect any other circuits in the house.

 

[DSpark1]

Hi,

Have I missed something here with these check boxes. I see alot of people suggesting to make there own check boxes, however dont the check boxes also need to be calibrated yearly? so how do you prove that the home made ones have been calibrated?

 

[Geoffers]

Isn't a calibration certificate for the tester enough proof then?

 

[Goody]

Hi Everybody,

I've got my NICEIC assesment next week and i am trying to put together my own instrument check box, with resistors in thtats able to test continuity and resistance. PLEASE can anyone help in this quest, where do i start?

Thanks

I have used one of these (RESISTANCE CHECK BOX / CALIBRATION CHECKBOX / CHECKER | eBay) for my assessment along with a socket on a ring for measuring Zs and RCD testing. The assessor was OK with it.

 

[needasparks]

Isn't a calibration certificate for the tester enough proof then?

afraid not. the NIC requirement is for ongoing accuracy throughout the 12 months or on month 12 you find out your meter went out of calibration/broke a week after you had it done and you now have to retest every job you have done in the last year.
Its a bit like an MOT its only valid on the day its done.
I think thats what the ukas accreditation118 is for on the NIC.

 

[hercule]

I use one of the Kewtech checkboxes and NIC assessor said as long as I use and record results every month then just to calibrate tester every 3 years, instead of every year.

 

[richy3333]

I use one of the Kewtech checkboxes and NIC assessor said as long as I use and record results every month then just to calibrate tester every 3 years, instead of every year.

It would be good if the NICEIC could sing from the same hymn sheet as my assessor is happy for my meter to be tested on a check box every 3 months and no requirement for a formal calibration test unless it varies by 5% or more then has to be repaired (understandably)

 

[darking]

I had my trusted fluke thermometer checked for calibration and it came back with a document stating that it was under reading by 4 degrees at zero and boiling points. I didn't believe this and checked it in a flask of ice cubes stirred in a flask of water result, 0 degrees shown.

I then checked it against water boiling in a pot, result, 100 degrees shown. I live at sea level so no correction for altitude was neccessary. I contacted the calibration centre complaining and they sent a rep with a calibrator, which bore out my readings.

what do you suppose happened? they sent a calibration certificate that stated my thermometer met requirements provided that it was used at sea level.

sod calibration companies I will defend my equipment in court with science. (also posted elsewhere)