Top 10 Temperature Calibration Tips

There's a common belief that temperature calibration isn't possible in digital devices. It is a sane belief but still, there's a working logic for this operation. When you enter a desired value to calibrate the device, the internal temperature of the thermistor is manipulated accordingly. This is exactly how it works. Following are top 10 tips on temperature calibration.

1. Select the best thermistor

The Platinum Resistance Thermometer is the most accurate thermistor known to the developers at present. The readings are accurate up to a few decimal places if measured digitally. If you aren't familiar with transducers, then you can go with the analog display. The readings on the scales are accurate too.

2. Avoid usage of fluid chemicals

Try to stick to the dry-well; as the name suggests, it is dry and almost 0% moisture is present. Calibration bath is physically unpleasant as it contains viscous fluids. A dry-well is an excellent way to deal with messy fluids.

3. Keep an extra thermometer

It is recommended that you carry two or more thermometers to minimize the reading errors. Read a number of thermal devices at once and tally the readings. If the readings differ a little, consider the average.

4. Use a thermal source

While calibrating the device, make use of an external thermal source to provide heat to the device.For instance, if you wish to reduce the temperature by two degrees; then make contact of an external source to reduce the temperature by two degrees. Similarly, operate the thermal device to increase the heat. The thermal source must be digital and should be accurate up to at least two decimal places. Digital devices are always convenient.

5. Use calibration baths

Calibration baths are known to enhance calibration by creating sound thermal environment. This minimize the errors considerably and they are compatible with a number of thermal environments and operations. They also have ample of access openings. Calibrations baths are always carried by the technicians/physicists.

6. Make use of a few calibration baths

You don't want to get your work affected by a faulty calibration bath. So it is recommended to have a multiple number of calibration baths. The bath fluids present inside the CB help in keeping the temperature stable up to a certain extent.

7. Carry minimum amount gadgets

Try to save your time by carrying the minimum number of gadgets. For example, the multi-meter does multiple operations including temperature measurement, potential measurement, current calibration, resistance measurement etc. It is economical and convenient to have a multi-meter in place of a dozen unwanted meters.

8. Have knowledge about infrared calibration

Infrared calibrations demands the operator to have a working knowledge in the filed of radio waves and amplitude signals. You must be familiar with surface physics and wave physics. You must know all the factors that influence the deviations in readings carried out by infrared calibrators.

9. Check your deices frequently

The field of temperature calibration involves many temperature affecting factors. You are expected to carry a portable dry-well to check for any errors in your devices.

10. Use a graphing digital thermometer

The fluke 1523 and 1524 are the most preferred digital thermometers that produce stable graphs on the variance of temperature. If you are working on the statistics of the data, then you must have a graphing thermometer.

By: Edward S


Edward S suggests periodic of temperature and pressure calibration equipment to maintain accuracy in laboratory reactions or industrial processes. For more information on calibration of equipment procedure, visit www.rscalibration.com.