[volt-nuts] Traveling Standards

Wed May 9 23:32:30 UTC 2012

   On 5/9/2012 11:53 AM, Bob Smither wrote:

On 05/08/2012 12:52 PM, Charles Black wrote:

   Hi Bob,
   What a great job you are doing by organizing this cooperative field
   comparison! It sounds like a lot of work though!
   Looking at the first lab photo brought back memories of where I started
   with my new (to me) 3458A three years ago! I hope it is OK to offer
   suggestions that will make measuring microvolt levels on a 3458A more
   accurate . Similar techniques can be used on any meter though.
   I have been periodically monitoring my Datron 4910 and 4912 10V
   standards for about 3 years looking at measurement  drifts mainly
   caused by temperature. I have many hours of recorded data looking at
   0.1 PPM resolution drifts in my system. In order to improve data
   stability I  had to change my measuring technique from a BNC cable with
   dual banana adapters (what is shown in the photo) to twisted pair
   copper wires or shielded twisted pair wires (22 or 24 gauge) to
   minimize input thermal offsets and settling time. Tin plating on the
   wires measures about the same offset voltage as copper so it hasn't
   been a problem to use it so far. If I put a huge thermal mass on my
   input terminals (plastic dual banana plug) it can take many minutes to
   stabilize and even then air currents will keep my meter from
   stabilizing as completely as it can. Today my meter has about -240nv
   offset voltage from a copper wire short but I see -1.2 microvolt with a
   shorted dual banana plug, even a gold plated one. I have a shielded
   dual banana to BNC adapter that's even worse.
   My 3458A is very temperature sensitive so I constantly monitor the
   temperature right in front of the input jacks to 0.1 degree C. I try to
   keep mine at 23 degrees and do frequent ACAL's and repeat the ACAL if
   more the terminal temperature varies much over a degree from 23C. The
   TEMP? is also very important to watch and could be used to predict
   temperature offset error. The TEMP? creeps up over a few months due to
   dust in the filter but it is easy to clean with a little tap water.
   The 3458A has a variable resolution feature that can be a problem at
   high resolutions. Full DC resolution is acheived at NPLC = 1000. Lower
   NPLC levels can be used to speed up measurements if loss of accuracy is
   not a concern.
   My shop has distinct thermal stratification so I try to keep the test
   unit  I am measuring at the same height as the meter and  close to the
   meter when doing accurate work.
   As far as the portable standard goes - it would be great if it had gold
   plated dual banana spaced terminal posts similar to the 3458A posts for
   best repeatability and flexibility but, of course, any jacks will work
   if they have enough time to stabilize.
   Charlie

Thanks Charlie - great suggestions.

My goal has always been to know the values from the two references in the TS to
with 10 ppm.  For the two refs (nominal 7 Volt and 5 Volt) this is 70uV and 50 u
V.

   My goal is to be to measure DC voltages between 10V and 1V with a 1 ppm
   accuracy. I have my Datron 10V standard back from Fluke with each cell
   at 0.6 uV/V measurement uncertainty (and data to 0.1 uV for 4 cells)
   and a 3458A which has a 0.1 ppm linearity. The temperature drift of the
   Datron 4910 is 0.05 ppm/DEGC. I checked the linearity of the 3458A with
   my calibrated Fluke 720A and they agreed well within 0.1 ppm so my
   3458A linearity uncertainty is 0.2 ppm or better. So far I have a total
   uncertainty of 0.8 ppm and have to add in the transfer uncertainty
   which can be as little as 0.02 ppm at 10V using my and an 845 similar
   to yours. I can measure the Datron with the 3458A to see what the
   temperature drift is and use that as a correction factor but I have
   seen very little 3458A drift that is not temperature related.  And I am
   sure that there are other errors that  need to be included as well.

I have one meter here that I can easily see thermal effects on (an old Fluke
845AR - 1uV full scale on most sensitive setting) so I appreciate your notes
about the use of copper wires.

   Your first division is at 2uV on the 845's 100uV scale so you can
   compare references within +/-100uV to 2uV. My 845AB wanders around
   about +/-0.2uV so I usually use my HP419A which is stable. My 845 uses
   the early input amp design and I am not sure how much drift is normal.

Even though only trying for 10 ppm I appreciate that any source of error that
can be eliminated needs to be considered.

With your permission I would like to add your notes to the page here:

  [1]http://c-c-i.com/ts

so I refer folks that are taking measurements on the TS to them.

   That's fine with me. You have my permission.

Best regards,

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   Charlie

References

   1. http://c-c-i.com/ts
   2. mailto:volt-nuts at febo.com
   3. https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts