Calibration and Repair

• Bode 100
• CIBANO 500
• CMC 256plus
• CMC 310
• CMC 353
• CMC 356
• CMC 430
• CPC 100
• CT Analyzer
• TESTRANO 600

 

Calibration is the documented comparison of a measurement device (Device Under Test or DUT) against a traceable reference. The reference, often referred to as a calibrator, serves as the gold standard for accuracy. A calibration should answer the question: “How accurate is my measurement device compared to a known and reliable reference?”

During calibration, the DUT’s measurement result is compared to the output of the reference. The reference is meticulously calibrated and maintained to ensure its accuracy.

Furthermore, the reference’ accuracy is traceable to a national or international standard held by a metrology body, usually a National Metrology Institute. This ensures consistency and reliability across different laboratories and industries.

Calibration helps ensure the accuracy and reliability of measurements and tests. Therefore, it is an essential factor in improving efficiency, compliance, safety, and sustainability of any operation.

Precise and reliable measurement results are only possible with testing instruments that have been calibrated correctly. However, the accuracy of each individual instrument changes over its product lifetime. Therefore, it is essential to calibrate regularly and, if necessary, adjust testing equipment depending on the area of application.

Calibration frequency depends on several factors, including the type of instrument, its usage and application, as well as industry standards. Establishing calibration intervals involves a thoughtful approach to ensure accurate measurements while avoiding unnecessary downtime and cost.

OMICRON endeavours to design and produce the most accurate, reliable and consistent devices to serve the safety of the electrical power industry worldwide. However, all electronic components and mechanical devices exhibit drift over time and due to environmental conditions. To ensure that your OMICRON device constantly operates within published specifications and tolerances, we recommend having it calibrated regularly.

Calibrating testing equipment annually is quite common and useful, even if neither ISO 9001 nor ISO/IEC 17025 make it mandatory. However, the standards clearly require testing equipment to function with sufficient accuracy for an intended purpose.

It is the responsibility of the user to determine for themselves whether their test equipment is still suitable for the application and what the appropriate calibration interval is.

The following aspects should be considered:

• Manufacturer recommendations
• Usage Intensity: Consider how frequently you use the device. High-usage instruments may require more frequent calibration.
• Environmental Conditions: Harsh environments (extreme temperatures, humidity, or exposure to chemicals, vibrations or shocks) can affect accuracy. Devices in such conditions need more frequent calibration.
• Application: When it comes to high accuracy measurements, for example meter tests, different requirements apply to the test device. For critical applications, regular checks are essential.
• Stability Over Time: All instruments drift over time. Regular calibration informs you about this and adjustment corrects the drift.
• Industry standards and regulations:
  • ISO 9001: If your organization follows ISO 9001 quality management standards, it is mandatory to either calibrate regularly, in defined time intervals, or prior to use.
  • Industry-Specific Standards: Industries like aerospace, healthcare, and manufacturing have specific requirements. Compliance often necessitates regular calibration.
  • Critical Measurements: Devices used for safety-critical measurements should be calibrated more frequently.

 

Potential calibration Intervals:
1. Annually: Many instruments benefit from annual calibration. Depending on the factors mentioned above, this interval can be extended to 2-3 years after observing stability.  
2. Semi-Annually: For critical devices or those in harsh environments calibrating twice per year can be appropriate. High-precision instruments or critical applications might even be checked quarterly or monthly to monitor the drift.
3. Before Critical Tasks: Calibrating before important measurements is highly recommended.

Calibration
Calibration only involves measuring physical quantities and comparing the measurement results from the test object with a suitable and traceable reference measuring instrument under defined, reproducible conditions.

Verification
Verification is a comparison of a device’s measurement results collected in a calibration with limit values, for example the published tolerances and the interpretation of these results. This means that a statement is made as to whether the device is still within the tolerance range specified by the manufacturer.

Adjustment
During adjustment, the deviation between the test instrument’s measured values and a reference instrument is reduced to a minimum or brought back within a defined tolerance range. This requires an intervention in the test instrument.

During our factory calibration, the device is fully tested, calibrated, and then adjusted. All relevant, technical limit values are checked during an automated test procedure in a climate-controlled environment (temperature/humidity).

The factory calibration includes:

• Device cleaning inside and outside
• Replacement or repair of wear parts on the housing
• Repair of transport case
• Safety and functional checks
• Firmware updates
• Preventive maintenance
• Adjustment to the optimal values
• Calibration (as-left calibration) including calibration certificate and report

 

OMICRON has been ISO 9001 certified since 1998. As part of the requirements, we use measuring instruments that are sufficiently precise for quality assurance. All the relevant measuring instruments used are calibrated annually in an accredited laboratory.

With OMICRON Calibrations service, we have established a globally recognized, state-accredited ISO/IEC 17025 calibration laboratory that meets the highest international standards.

OMICRON Calibrations is a legally independent body that aims to provide customers with the most accurate and complete calibrations for OMICRON products possible, according to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

The results of the factory calibration are checked again by OMICRON Calibrations and cover calibrations with even lower measurement uncertainty and more precisely defined ambient conditions. In addition, well-founded interpretations of the measurement results as well as estimates regarding the definition of extended calibration intervals can be requested.

When calibrations are performed, it’s important to be able to trust the process by which they are carried out. Offering a high-quality calibration that perfectly suits a particular instrument is a complex task that demands a high level of expertise.

We do not only set highest standards during the development of our products but also our calibration solutions. Our extensive experience of calibrating our devices allows us to select all critical test points that ensure full functionality.

Third-party laboratories are limited to verifying the input and output variables of current or voltage. In contrast, our capabilities extend beyond these parameters, enabling us to also calibrate switch-off limits and frequency response. Furthermore, our fully automated test procedures allow for better comparability between calibrations than a manual calibration where different operators have performed the calibration.

When you calibrate with us you can be assured to get that peace of mind a regular calibration interval is supposed to give you. On top of that we provide you with the additional services listed under factory calibration which will prolong the life of your device.

• ARCO 400
• Bode 100
• Bode 500
• CAL 542x
• CB MC2
• CIBANO 500
• CMC 256plus
• CMC 310
• CMC 353
• CMC 356
• CMC 430
• CMC 500
• CMS 356
• COMPANO 100
• CP TD1
• CP TD12
• CP TD15
• CPC 100
• CPL 1/2
• CT Analyzer
• DANEO 400
• DIRANA
• EIC1
• FRANEO 800
• HGT1
• LLX 1
• LLX 2
• LLX 3
• MONCABLO
• MONGEMO
• MONTESTO 200
• MONTRANO
• MPD 500
• MPD 600
• MPD 800
• RIV1
• SHT1
• TANDO 700
• TESTRANO 600
• UHF 800
• UPG 620
• VOTANO 100 and VBO2

 

Current median turnaround time inhouse at OMICRON across all products and locations:

• For calibrations: 1-6 days
• For repair: 5-15 days

 

During the factory calibration your product is brought into the best condition possible including an adjustment to ensure that the device operates within its specifications. This service is for you if you want to ensure reliability and precision, and if you have your devices calibrated for compliance reasons. It is the ideal choice for routine checks and regular calibration intervals, and it is our standard offer.

The ISO/IEC 17025 calibration is for special requirements. In case a defined measurement uncertainty and traceability is important to you, then this is the right choice. In some countries and industries an ISO/IEC 17025 calibration is mandatory. In this case, you should definitely choose OMICRON Calibrations. If you would like to have an as-found calibration only and no adjustment to be performed to monitor the drift, then you should also opt for the ISO/IEC 17025 calibrations. Additionally, if you want consulting services on your calibration interval, the OMICRON Calibrations team is the right partner for you.

1. As-Found: Initial data is recorded during calibration.
2. Adjustment/Repair: This involves an intervention into the product to bring limit values back within the defined tolerance range. If needed, this is based on As-Found data.
3. As-Left: Data is recorded after adjustments.
4. Found-Left: This refers to the situation when no adjustment is wanted or needed, In this case, As-Found data is the same as As-Left.

Many issues can be solved in your nearest service center. Our calibration capabilities and service centers are continuously extended. If your issue cannot be resolved in a local service center or with a service partner, the devices need to be sent back to OMICRON Austria .

The warranty and guarantee period shall be 24 months starting with the handover of the product to the customer, if not explicitly agreed otherwise in writing. This period is limited to 6 months for repairs and hardware modules.

• Regular Calibration: We routinely calibrate all our test equipment at independent laboratories to maintain expected tolerances.
• Golden Devices: We use “golden” devices to verify consistency across our test towers. This involves calibrating the same golden device on different towers and comparing the results.
• Independent Verification: We validate our results with an independent IEC 17025 calibration lab regularly. For this validation, we calibrate a device using our internal test towers, then the device is sent to the independent lab for verification.