What you will learn

You’ve got the approval and the budget to purchase a new pressure calibration system. Now how do you find the perfect solution?  Asking yourself these six questions is a great way to get started. You'll want to examine your workload, the location of the calibration, pressure generation and control, and automation among other factors.

Choosing a pressure calibration system: questions to ask

1. What is the accuracy or uncertainty of the device to be tested?
Once you know the specifications of your device under test (DUT), you can then look for calibrators that will give you a 4:1 test uncertainty ratio.

2. Where will you be using the calibrator?
If you are taking the calibrator out into the field, your requirements will be different than if you are using it in a stable laboratory environment. For example, for field work you’ll want something lightweight and portable. If it is multi-functional so you can one tool instead of many, so much the better.

3. What are the pressure range and test medium of the device to be tested?
Once you know which categories of instruments will meet your measurement uncertainty needs and will operate in your environment, you can determine which models in those categories can be used to calibrate your pressure devices, based on pressure measurement mode (absolute, gauge, differential), test medium (gas, oil, water…) and pressure measurement range.

4. Do you need to generate and control pressure?
Most calibration procedures require comparison of the device under test (DUT) and calibration standard at multiple pressure points across the DUT’s range. Some DUTs or processes to be calibrated have built-in pressure generation and/or control, so it may not be needed by the calibration standard. Fluke Calibration offers a number of calibrator models with built in pressure control, and we offer generation and control pressure calibration accessories for when an external source is required.

5. To what extent can the calibration process be automated?
Automation of the pressure calibration process has many potential benefits, including increasing productivity, ensuring better pressure measurements, minimizing human bias from calibration process, standardizing calibration procedures, eliminating data collection and transcription errors and reducing safety and ergonomic concerns. Fluke Calibration products offer features to enable automation to the extent allowable by the device under test (DUT). In cases in which the DUT has electronic output (remote communications or an electrical signal that can be read by a DMM), Fluke Calibration provides solutions for completely unattended calibration, even at the highest levels of measurement performance (primary standards).

6. Do you need anything else to complete your pressure calibration solution?
You’ll want to make sure you have all the bits and pieces needed to connect everything together; protect the system from contamination; connect the DUT to the test port. You’ll also want a way to mount and apply pressure to the DUT, and to take readings during the calibration. Do you need to mount or transport the system – if so, do you have the appropriate equipment? How will you maintain the equipment? Do you need training?

Fluke Calibration offers additional information to help you make the best choice in a pressure calibration system. You’ll find it here.