Rank: Forum user 
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Mornin All
row brewing in office
Does electrical testing equipment need annual calibration?
I say yes
Colleague - he say no as self testing is sufficient
L
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Rank: Super forum user
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This from the HSE guidance:
23 All items of test equipment, including those items issued on a personal basis,
should receive a regular inspection and, where necessary, a test by a competent
person. Records are recommended to be kept of inspection and testing of the
equipment, particularly where faults are found. These records will help decide how
often visual inspection or testing will need to be carried out. It is important that
electricians are aware of the kinds of defect which may occur in test equipment.
Would suggest to me that you are more right, Although it doesn't state calibration it does say competent person must inspect. So I guess in a way you are both sort of right????
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Rank: Super forum user
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I agree I think they do need some sort testing but the manufactures manual should give you the answer. I am no electrician but from experience I recollect some do self-test and have a failsafe modes, however I am sure that it does not cover all functions and they do have to be calibrated. Have a look at this though: http://www.theiet.org/fo...d=205&threadid=33573
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Rank: Super forum user
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If your company/organisation operates a formal quality assurance system, then calibration of technical/test equipment should be required under that system.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Lojikglos wrote:Mornin All
row brewing in office
Does electrical testing equipment need annual calibration?
I say yes
Colleague - he say no as self testing is sufficient
L It does not need any calibration unless the readings you require need the levels of accuracy that can only be guaranteed by getting the equipment calibrated. There is no reason to get the equipment calibrated on safety grounds of the equipment itself. The Electrical "schemes" do not require annual calibration, but the NICEIC I do know requires monthly cross checks against known values for the functions required on a test instrument to complete certification under BS7671. So, the answer is it depends. More info needed really, but, there is no definitive need for calibration. I have a meter that is fine and dandy, not been calibrated for 5+ years, I never use it to record readings for certification only for fault finding. Just because it is not calibrated does not make it dangerous. I am more than competent to assess the safety of the meter & its leads, and in fact anyone using that sort of meter must be, or they are not competent to use the meter in the first place.
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Rank: Forum user
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As an avionics technican all of our test equipment within the military aviation environment is calibrated annually. I think that it really depends on the tolerances that you require your meter to measure on whether you decide to calibrate your test equipment or not. I personally would not calibrate test equipment if all I wanted to know if a circuit was open or closed, but where I am required to achieve readings that require the measurement of millivolts, and the reading has to be within certain tolerances to ascertain whether or not an electrical system is working correctly, then I would say that it is essential that you calibrate your test equipment to ensure it's integrity. And to ensure you do not allow an electrical system where the readings are required to be within fine tolerances to be incorrectly assessed as working.
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Rank: Forum user
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The only valid reason for having the 17th edition test kit calibrated is if the values given by the instrument fall outside the manufactures instructions and/or BS EN 61010.
To do this: When the kit has been calibrated for the first time or at any time in the future, by use of a recommended 'test assembly' that is easily purchased, a set of 'bench-mark' readings can be taken - the assembly should be connected to the same socket outlet for comparisons. Then, when ever thought necessary, the instrument can be tested on this assembly and the values compared. I refer to Guidance note 3 from the IET.
I hope that makes some sort of sense.
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