Selecting Instruments & Laboratories The Right Measures

Victor Tan Principal Metrologist (Temperature Metrology) National Metrology Centre, A*STAR 62791958 victor_tan@nmc.a-star.edu.sg
1 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

How to Select Measuring Instrument

Nowadays manufacturers are producing products with more stringent performance specifications
1.0132mV Measuring Instrument What should be the accuracy? Product
Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre 2

Output voltage: 1.000mV20V

How to Select Measuring Instrument

Accuracy =product tolerance10 (rule of thumb) Accuracy =product tolerance4 (still acceptable but with increased risk) Best accuracy =(2010) V=2V Minimum accuracy required=(204) V= 5V 1.0132mV Measuring Instrument What should be the accuracy? Product
Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre 3

Output voltage: 1.000mV20V

Buy Measuring Instrument

Available budget is sufficient to buy a voltmeter with an accuracy of 5V

0.0000 mV Measuring Instrument

4 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

Verification
How to verify that the accuracy is within 5V?

0.0000 mV Measuring Instrument

5 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

How to Select Calibration Lab?

Send to accredited calibration lab There are 3 calibration labs that can calibrate the voltmeter How to select? Go to SAC accreditation directory
www.sac-accreditation.gov.sg

6 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

7 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

Lab A Terms Of Accreditation

Measurement Quantities/Instruments/ Range Be Calibrated Voltmeter Method Calibration and Measurement Capability Expressed as an Uncertainty 0.3V

STCP-195 (Rev 0)

Lab B Terms Of Accreditation

Measurement Quantities/Instruments/ Range Be Calibrated Voltmeter Method Calibration and Measurement Capability Expressed as an Uncertainty 1V

BBC-665 (Rev 0)

Lab C Terms Of Accreditation

Measurement Quantities/Instruments/ Range Be Calibrated Voltmeter Method Calibration and Measurement Capability Expressed as 8 an Uncertainty 5V

Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre CDC-987 (Rev 0)

Lab A Terms Of Accreditation

Measurement Quantities/Instruments/ Range Be Calibrated Voltmeter Method Calibration and Measurement Capability Expressed as an Uncertainty 0.3V

STCP-195 (Rev 0)

Lab B Terms Of Accreditation

The voltmeter to be calibrated has an accuracy of 5V

Voltmeter BBC-665 (Rev 0)

Measurement Quantities/Instruments/ Range Be Calibrated

Method

Calibration and Measurement Capability Expressed as an Uncertainty 1V

Lab C Terms Of Accreditation

Measurement Quantities/Instruments/ Range Be Calibrated Voltmeter Method Calibration and Measurement Capability Expressed as 9 an Uncertainty 5V

Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre CDC-987 (Rev 0)

Selection of Calibration Lab

Accuracy of voltmeter: 5V 5V100.5V(10:1 ratio), 5V41V(4:1 ratio) Lab A (CMC=0.3V) Lab B (CMC=1V) Lab A meets the requirement of 10 to 1 ratio, Lab B meets the requirement of 4 to 1 ratio Lab A is the preferred lab due to better capability. Lab B is selected if budget is a concern(increase risk!)
10 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

Calibration Result
Error at 1.0000mV is -2.0V having expanded uncertainty of 1.5V with confidence level of approximately 95% at k=2

11 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

Verification
Specification of voltmeter=5V Absolute value of error + expanded uncertainty=|2.0V|+1.5V=3.5V It is smaller than the specification and therefore, the meter conforms to specification
12 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

Verification
Error (V) Upper Limit: 5V

0 -2 Uncertainty bar

Lower Limit: -5V

13 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

Conclusion
Identify test specification Select measuring instrument with accuracy 10 times or at least 4 times better than the test specification Select calibration laboratory with CMC 10 times or at least 4 times smaller than the specification Expanded uncertainty shall be provided with the calibration result Absolute value of error + expanded uncertainty should be < specification to verify conformity The same method applies for the conformity assessment of product. Uncertainty must be known too!
14 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre

End of presentation Thank you for your attention

15 Copy right @ 2010 All rights reserved National Metrology Centre