Manually calibrating a Digital Multimeter using MET/CAL procedures

MET/CAL™ Calibration Management Software is built to automate the calibration of a wide range of electrical test equipment. The software walks you through the process you need to take to run a test and takes you step-by-step through the procedure. You can also use MET/CAL to guide you through a manual test. This video demonstrates what MET/CAL can do using a 5520A High Performance Multi-Product Calibrator to manually calibrate a Fluke 117 Electrician's Multimeter.

Manual calibration procedure

Before beginning your calibration, MET/CAL shows a series of prompts to ensure you’re set up and ready to go. These prompts include:

• Ambient condition information
• Test information
  • High voltage warning
• Test decisions
  • Whether or not to pause the procedure on failed tests
  • Warm up and environment information
  • Review list of additional equipment
  • Required additional equipment

Even before you begin calibrating the device under test (DUT) or unit under test (UUT), you need to make sure the buttons and functions are working properly. The prompts continue with Test information telling you exactly what to do with the UUT, in this case a Fluke 117 Digital Multimeter. The steps include making sure the screen looks correct after pressing the HOLD button, making sure the backlight button turns the backlight on and off, even verifying that there is a beep for each button pressed.

Manual measurements with MET/CAL

At this point, you will begin taking the steps to calibrate each measurement function of the digital multimeter. MET/CAL shows each step to take, each button to push, and how to connect test leads to get the measurements you want. The process also includes safety functions, like putting the calibrator into a standby state after a failed test and at the end of the procedure. These help keep technicians safe throughout the process.

As the Fluke 117 has no communication interface, MET/CAL will prompt you to enter the readings you’re getting at each step of the way. For the 117, the beginning of the process goes through Capacitance, LoZ Capacitance, Continuity, Ohms, and Volts. When you run this process manually, MET/CAL follows through the written performance with prompts and measurements tested at each step. As you go through the steps, you’re producing results as the procedure is running.

MET/CAL walks you through each step, making sure every function the 117 can measure is tested. MET/CAL continues to guide you through tests as you enter the measurements and updates the results window with the pass/fail results indicating adherence of the 117 to its specification.

Once you’ve finished the steps within MET/CAL, you’re prompted one last time to enter any work notes, edit the work order, or print a completed calibration sticker.

But, the coolest thing about MET/CAL is that you can automate this entire procedure. If the Device under test (DUT) has a computer interface, you can include automation of the dial turns and button pushes as well as automate the calibrator output and instructions to the operator. Using MET/CAL offers time and effort savings; no need to write down measurement numbers by hand.

Watch the whole What is MET/CAL? on-demand webinar to see the results as they are produced and how to go through it within MET/CAL Editor.

Keep learning

• What is MET/CAL? on-demand webinar
• MyMet Support
• Managing & Automating calibrations of your Lab using Fluke MET-TEAM and MET-CAL on-demand webinar
• MET/CAL® Calibration Management Software
• Michael Johnston Tracks His Career with MET/CAL Software
• How to calibrate a digital multimeter