Meter calibration in Derby area

[sparksburnout]

Not sure if I'm in the right area here, and I know there are other threads, but just wondering if anyone knows a decent and importantly reasonable place or person to get my MFT calibrated? I've noticed some guys have found "walk in" places, this would be good as it would be a right pain to be without it for days on end. I am in Derby/Notts area.

 

[sparksburnout]

Where on ascot drive? Didn't know there was a place there. Took my fluke to neweys just off ascot drive a week ago not got it back yet!

Where are you based mate? Maybe local guys should get together and try and get a bulk discount for this, in my opinion it's just a paperwork exercise for domestic sparks.

 

[davesparks]

What a load of nonsense . Does the MFT operate in a controlled environment where it has time to settle down for 12 hours? It's for domestic work, do you really think it needs calibrating to these fine tolerances anyway? The meter itself won't be that accurate, and pretty unlikely to drift out in a year, just another money squeezing excessive, along with nearly a ton for two more yellow books with a load of rubbish in them about fireproof CU's when all anyone needs to do is tighten the *****g screws up.

You've missed the point. The purpose of the process is to stabilise the calibration equipment and the tester being calibrated to the same environmental conditions.

Plus of course the testers should be allowed to stabilise to the environment before use.

Why would a test in a domestic installation not need to be as accurate as another installation?

 

[Knobhead]

How the hell can calibrating a meter cost more than buying a new one? I think you guys need to get on planet "REAL"

Because we had to use an accredited test house for legal reasons.

Some of us aren’t house bashers and need accurate and reliable instruments.

 

[Engineer54]

To be honest, i'm getting the feeling this is the very first time the OP has ever had, or going to have a test meter calibrated. He obviously doesn't really want to have it calibrated, and can't see any point to it either, after all he only works in domestic!! If the truth be known he's probably being forced into it by a scam provider.

Anyway, i feel we are basically wasting our breath trying to convince this guy of the importance of calibrated test equipment, he obviously knows better and just after the cheapest bit of paper to show Mr Scam man...

 

[Knobhead]

Sorry to say I think you’re right.

After all who needs accurate readings?

 

[sparksburnout]

I never said they don't need calibrating. In my opinion they do not need calibrating every year. I tell you what, I had a fluke multimeter from a firm I worked for in 1985, still got it and yes, I did get it calibrated by a mate as a "foreigner" 2 years ago (at his workplace by one of these accredited labs) and guess what, it was bang on. According to the lecturer I spoke to about this nearly all these calibration outfits only check that the kit is within a certain tolerance window, they don't tweak them, so they are probably reading plus or minus 3 or 4 volts etc anyway. The annual checking the scams insist on is probably because they hope you will use their own service. I also agree that if the situation warrants it you may well need very expensive kit calibrated every year or even month, but not for domestic "house bashing" as you supremos call it!

 

[Engineer54]

I never said they don't need calibrating. In my opinion they do not need calibrating every year. I tell you what, I had a fluke multimeter from a firm I worked for in 1985, still got it and yes, I did get it calibrated by a mate as a "foreigner" 2 years ago (at his workplace by one of these accredited labs) and guess what, it was bang on. According to the lecturer I spoke to about this nearly all these calibration outfits only check that the kit is within a certain tolerance window, they don't tweak them, so they are probably reading plus or minus 3 or 4 volts etc anyway. The annual checking the scams insist on is probably because they hope you will use their own service. I also agree that if the situation warrants it you may well need very expensive kit calibrated every year or even month, but not for domestic "house bashing" as you supremos call it!

For a start no-one is actually saying that your MFT needs official calibrating every 12 months, especially if you are conducting your own regular calibration checks at home.

What you should get back from an accredited calibration lab, is a certificate showing the actual values shown by your meter, against ''Known'' values its been tested against. All test equipment have resolution and tolerance criteria. Good labs will generally tweak your kit if just outside a given tolerance on a certain range. Even if they don't, they will 9/10 contact you while your meters on the bench, giving you the facts of what's been found, if you need a replacement component part, or needs in depth adjustments etc, and advise of any additional fee's before carrying out any work. Any additional work/parts that is agreed, will carry a warranty.

Actually many of these labs are a very competitive alternative to sending your meter back to the manufacturers for repairs etc. In fact many of them being accredited by virtually all the better test equipment manufacturers. I doubt if your average ''Mobile Mick'' is officially accredited by anyone but himself...

 

[sparksburnout]

For a start no-one is actually saying that your MFT needs official calibrating every 12 months, especially if you are conducting your own regular calibration checks at home.

What you should get back from an accredited calibration lab, is a certificate showing the actual values shown by your meter, against ''Known'' values its been tested against. All test equipment have resolution and tolerance criteria. Good labs will generally tweak your kit if just outside a given tolerance on a certain range. Even if they don't, they will 9/10 contact you while your meters on the bench, giving you the facts of what's been found, if you need a replacement component part, or needs in depth adjustments etc, and advise of any additional fee's before carrying out any work. Any additional work/parts that is agreed, will carry a warranty.

Actually many of these labs are a very competitive alternative to sending your meter back to the manufacturers for repairs etc. In fact many of them being accredited by virtually all the better test equipment manufacturers. I doubt if your average ''Mobile Mick'' is officially accredited by anyone but himself...

I think we may have reached a point of agreement. I do check mine with a couple of hi stability known resistances, and against two other meters for voltage, at regular intervals, and yes getting it calibrated every 3 years would be good enough, in my opinion, but every year is unnecessary. I am sure mobile mick does not have the same credibility as fixed labs, but he's a cheap and easy solution to satisfy the scams between "proper" jobs.

 

[Engineer54]

I think we may have reached a point of agreement. I do check mine with a couple of hi stability known resistances, and against two other meters for voltage, at regular intervals, and yes getting it calibrated every 3 years would be good enough, in my opinion, but every year is unnecessary. I am sure mobile mick does not have the same credibility as fixed labs, but he's a cheap and easy solution to satisfy the scams between "proper" jobs.

Seeing as the Mobile Mick's cost basically the same as accredited fixed labs, it's a no brainer to have the ''Proper'' Job conducted!! You just seem hell bent on not giving your MFT a decent calibration, process. I just wonder what would happen, if during one of your home tests you didn't see the normal value it gave on previous checks, ...probably think to yourself, oh that'll be the tolorance, that's ok!! lol!!

The implementation of so called ''Cheap Solutions'' to satisfy important issues usually have a nasty habit of coming back to bite you hard in the arse...

 

[Silly Sausage]

Seeing as the Mobile Mick's cost basically the same as accredited fixed labs..................

It'll be because no one wants to be without their gear for a few days.
After all, you never hear of anyone going to a job without their test equipment ... :smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5:

 

[arkin]

Anyway when you've quite finished your ****ing contest, where is the place on ascot drive?

 

[Engineer54]

Anyway when you've quite finished your ****ing contest, where is the place on ascot drive?

Instead of trying to be clever, why don't you be clever and go and find it yourself, seeing as you are in the area!!

 

[sparksburnout]

It'll be because no one wants to be without their gear for a few days.
After all, you never hear of anyone going to a job without their test equipment ... :smilielol5::smilielol5::smilielol5:

That's a big part of it Archy. You can guarantee your going to get called out the day after you send it in can't you? Suppose it might be worth getting a standby really

 

[arkin]

Sorry for trying to be clever, I forgot no one is as clever as you. Planet size brain springs to mind

 

[Knobhead]

You can’t even get a quotation right.

Try using Google and the GPS you no doubt own to hold your hand and find the dammed place.