Fluke Calibration

Web Seminar Series

Principles and practical tips
about electrical, flow, pressure,
RF and temperature calibration

How to Calibrate Temperature

Sensors and Electronics
Using Three Common Methods

© 2014 Fluke Corporation.

Today’s Web Seminar

How to Calibrate Temperature Sensors and

Electronics Using Three Common Methods
March 5, 2014

Learn about various methods and techniques of temperature calibration.

We will explain and discuss calibration of a device using three common
methods:
► electrical simulation without calibration of the sensor
► calibration of the electronics and sensor
► system calibrations
Your Presenter

Travis Porter
• 15 years with Fluke/Hart Scientific
– Currently: Inside Sales Account Manager
– Past: 10 years technical support – temperature, manufacturing
• travis.porter@flukecal.com
• Phone: 425.466.6351
Common Methods of Calibration

Agenda
 Calibration of…
► Electronics with a simulator
► Electronics and sensor in a drywell
► Electronics and sensor in a drywell with a
reference thermometer
 Component vs. System Calibration
Calibration Comparison

Temperature Simulator Heat Source (Drywell)

Checks the electronics only Checks the electronics and sensor
Wide temperature range Limited temperature range
Seconds to temperature Minutes to temperature
Multi-function Temperature only

Calibration by simulation does not consider error from the

temperature sensor, which typically accounts for 75% or
more of the system error!
Example: Thermometer Calibration

• Calibrate (test and adjust) an RTD handheld

thermometer at two points: 0 ºC and 100 ºC
• After calibration, the thermometer should be
accurate to ±0.2 ºC
• The calibration should be traceable to NIST or
a National Measurement Institute
Thermometer Description

• As new, the meter is calibrated to the DIN curve and

is intended to read interchangeable sensors
• Sensor type: 100 ohm, platinum RTD, DIN 43760
• Resolution: 0.1 ºC
• Accuracy: ±0.2 ºC
• Calibration adjustment: Zero and scale trimpots are
accessible in the battery compartment

Pot 1 Pot 2
Calibration with a Simulator

• The simulator produces a precision electrical signal (in this case

a resistance value) that corresponds to the correct sensor output
at the desired temperature.
• The simulator replaces the probe and the meter is checked and
adjusted at the temperatures set on the simulator.

Instrument
Sensor
Simulator
Temperature Simulators - Role

To calibrate the electronics of a

temperature measurement/control
system, a temperature simulator takes
an input temperature and outputs
(simulates) the corresponding voltage
(thermocouple) or resistance (RTD or
thermistor) based upon accepted
national tables
Simulators - How They Work

Probe not connected

100 ºC
100 ºC

Temperature Thermometer RTD Probe

Simulator
Process: Calibration with a Simulator

Steps
1. Set simulator to 0.0 ºC or 100.00 ohms
2. Record as-found reading
3. Set simulator to 100.0 ºC or 138.50 ohms
4. Record as-found reading
5. Set simulator to 0.0 ºC and adjust “pot 1” until meter reads 0.0 ºC
6. Set simulator to 100.0 ºC and adjust “pot 2” until meter reads 100.0 ºC
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 and adjust pots again if necessary
8. After adjustments, repeat settings and record post-calibration results in
the calibration report
Traceability: Simulator Calibration

• Could the described

thermometer calibration be
considered traceable to NIST?

• If so then what would have to

be true to make it possible?

• What steps must be taken if

future measurements made
with this thermometer are to be
traceable?
Pros/Cons: Calibration with a Simulator

Pros:
 Fast, the electrical settings are instant and
require no stabilization times
 Calibration equipment may be more
portable
 Meter can still be used with
interchangeable probes

Cons:
 Requires a separate calibration procedure
for the probe or:
 The probe remains uncalibrated.
Therefore, the thermometer system
remains uncalibrated and measurements
made with the instrument remain
untraceable
Calibration in a Drywell

• The drywell is set to the desired test temperature and the

thermometer (meter and probe combined) is placed in the well.
The thermometer reading is compared to the reading on the
drywell’s built-in thermometer.

Your Sensor and

Readout
Sensor

Comparison
Heated Block

Insert

Instrument

Dry-Well’s Thermometer/Controller
Drywell
Process: Calibration in a Drywell

Steps
1. Place thermometer in 0.0 ºC drywell
2. After stabilization, record as-found reading
3. Place thermometer in 100.0 0.0 ºC drywell
4. After stabilization, record as-found reading
5. Set drywell to 0.0 ºC, adjust “pot 1” until meter
reads 0.0 ºC
6. Set drywell to 100.0 ºC, adjust “pot 2” until
meter reads 100.0 ºC.
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 and adjust pots again if
necessary
8. After all adjustments, repeat settings and
record post-calibration results in the
calibration report
Traceability: Drywell Calibration

• Could the described

thermometer calibration
be considered traceable
to NIST?

• If so then what would

have to be true to make it
possible? (Warning you
might need a little more
information)
Pros/Cons: Calibration in a Drywell

Pros:
 Probe and meter are calibrated as a system
 Actual temperature is used
 Simple to set-up, a single instrument is used

Cons:
 Accuracy is limited by the calibrated accuracy
of the drywell
 If the probe does not reach the bottom of the
well, additional error can occur
 UUT probes are not interchangeable after
calibration
 Time required for drywell to change
temperatures
Calibration with a Reference Thermometer

• A drywell is used as a stable heat source, and the thermometer is

compared against a more accurate thermometer placed in an
adjacent hole in the well.

Comparison

Probe
F

Sample
K

Comm Exit
Menu

Enter
1502 Your Sensor and
Readout
External Reference
Thermometer

Dry-Well’s Thermometer/Controller
Process: Calibration with a
Reference Thermometer

Steps
1. Set heat source (drywell) to 0.0 ºC
2. Insert calibrated reference thermometer and the Unit Under Test
3. After stabilization, record as-found readings of the UUT and the reference
4. Set heat source (drywell) to 100.0 ºC
5. Insert calibrated reference thermometer and the UUT
6. After stabilization, record as-found readings of the UUT and the reference
Process: Calibration with a
Reference Thermometer (continued)

Steps (continued)
7. Insert thermometers in 0.0 ºC and adjust “pot 1” until the reading of the
UUT matches the reading of the reference
8. Insert thermometers in 100.0 ºC and adjust “pot 2 “ until the reading of
the UUT matches the reading of the reference
9. Repeat steps 7 and 8 and adjust pots again if necessary
10. After all adjustments, repeat readings at both settings and record post-
calibration results in the calibration report
Pros/Cons: Calibration with a
Reference Thermometer
Pros:
 The best accuracy results
 Calibration is traceable to the separate reference
 More versatility in matching UUT sizes

Cons:
 More expensive
 Two instruments are used, slightly more involved set-up
 UUT probes are not interchangeable after calibration
 Time required for drywell to change temperatures
 Limited ranges
Component vs. System Calibration

Component Calibration:
 Probe calibrated in conventional manner
 Readout calibrated in conventional manner
 Each has individual traceability
 Probe and readout joined in use

System Calibration:
 Probe connected (married) to readout
 System compared to reference thermometer
 Individual calibration not performed
 Traceability applies to system calibration
Pros/Cons: Component Calibration

Pros:
 Calibration is conventional
 Uncertainties are easier to define
 Uncertainties are more robust
 Traceability is straightforward
 Components are interchangeable

Cons:
 More expensive
 Data not in temperature units
 Calibration results more difficult to interpret
 Not always acceptable to auditors
Pros/Cons: System Calibration

Pros:
 Less expensive
 Data in temperature units
 Calibration results simple to interpret
 Auditors understand results
 Mathematics can often overcome measurement errors

Cons:
 Uncertainties difficult to define
 Uncertainties lack robustness
 Components not interchangeable
Future web seminars
Temperature Calibration seminars coming in
March and April:
• 1586A Temperature Scanner Introduction
• Infrared Temperature Calibration 101
• How to Set-up a Thermocouple Calibration System
• How to Calibrate an RTD (presented in Spanish)

For the latest schedule or browse our

on-demand web seminars, go to
www.flukecal.com/calwebsem

Our seminar topics cover principles and practical tips about electrical,
flow, pressure, RF and temperature calibration

© 2014 Fluke Corporation.

Temperature Calibration
courses
Instructor-led Training
• Infrared Temperature Metrology, May 20-22
• Principles of Temperature Metrology, June 10-12
• Advanced Topics in Temperature Metrology, Oct. 14-16
• Installation and Training Supplemental Services
(courses scheduled on-demand)

For more information go to: www.flukecal.com/calwebsem

© 2014 Fluke Corporation.

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© 2014 Fluke Corporation.