step by step procedure to calibrate NI 4130 using Calibration executive 3.4

[Ibarra]

Hello Brandon,

Unfortunately, what we have here in our lab is 5520A Fluke only.

Can you give me a technical details why our 5520A is not suited for this setup? What is/are the big factor/s in 5520A and 5700A Technical Specifications? How far are the offset?

I'll appreciate your answer. Thanks!

Regards,

Cris

[Brandon_G.]

Hey Cris,

I was running the numbers on the Test Accuracy Ratio when using the 5520A + DMM to calibrate current output/measurement accuracy and found the TAR to be sufficiently high(TAR = 50 @ 5 mA testpoint for example).  My initial assumption on why the 5520A was not chosen as a supported instrument was wrong- I'm sorry for the misinformation.  I did however find a critical performance difference between the 5520A and the 5700A/5720A  that prevents us from specing the 5520A as an acceptable standard.  The 5520A in the 0-10.9999 ohm range is only spec'd for 1-125 mA but calibration in the 200 mA range requires testpoints that exceed 125 mA.  There also isn't any derating information provided  in the 5520A spec for when the current exceeds the Allowable Current shown in the table.  We would not be able to guarantee  proper calibration in the 200 mA range since the calibrator isn't characterized as these higher currents.  I've copied the 5520A resistance spec below for reference:

If taking the risk on the accuracy in the 200 mA is acceptable, it maybe possible to use the 5520A.  However, as mentioned before, we never tested with the 5520A and therefore can't guarantee proper configuration and operability when calibrating the 4130. If the failure your seeing is due to the 5520A not being configured properly because it's not receiving the proper commands from Cal Exec, there probably won't be much we can do to get the 5520A to "play nicely" with the 4130 calibration procedure.  Another possibility for the failure is the 5520A might have over-current protection that's opening the output if the current is exceeded.  This is just a theory but the reason I mention this is, the 5720A will go to a high-impedance state if the output is left open to prevent a high voltage from appearing on the output.  Perhaps there is a similar safety mechanism on the 5520A?

If you wish to still trace down the reason for the failure, can you please run a "verify only" calibration and send me the Step Message Log?  Perhaps we can look at the log and determine why the calibration is failing.  I can't make any promises that we can get the 5520A to work, but we can certainly take a look at it.

Thanks Cris!

Brandon G

[Brandon_G.]

Hey Cris,

I was speaking with my colleague and he brought up a very good point I hadn't thought of previously. Not only are the accuracy specs valid only within 1-125 mA but there could also be the possibility of actually damaging the calibrator if the allowable current is exceeded. Therefore, we should not use the 5520A at all, even if it were acceptable to have undefined accuracy in the 200 mA range.  I wish I had better news for you, but unfortunately I don't. Let me know if there's anything we can do to help further.

Thanks!

Brandon G

[Ibarra]

Hey Brandon,

I've attached the Step Message Log of my previous test as what you have aked me. Hope you could take a look on this.

And also, I've observed that my 5520A is configured to 4-wire by the Cal exe software since I didn't saw the "4-wire" text on the display? Maybe your your right that the failure I'm seeing is due to the 5520A not being configured properly because it's not receiving the proper commands from Cal Exec.

I've tried to configured manually the calibrator to the resistance values in Table 4 in the Calibration Manual, connect the wiring per Figure 2, set the calibrator to External sense (4-wire mode), set the 4130 to the appropriate current level using Soft Front Panels, and verify the voltage is correct using the DMM. I've tested it in 200uA range @ 50uA test Value and 20mA range @ 15mA test value. And the result was good as it passed to the given test limit.

I therefore, conclude that the failure is due to instrument's command not receiving properly? What do you think?

The fact that I might damage the calibrator if the allowable current is exceeded is enough reason in this matter. Thanks!

Regards,

Cris

[Brandon_G. · Accepted solution]

Hey Cris,

I took a look at the log file and I can't make any deductions from the log file on what may not be configured properly on the calibrator.  In the 200 uA Current Programming Accuracy Measurements for example the measurements are all negative and vary from -230 uA to -42 uA.  

The -230 uA to -42 uA would mean the DMM is measuring -2.30 V to -.42 V which I'm not sure how the calibrator would have to be configured to read such values.  Since you have tested the 4130 outside of Cal Exec, with the same pieces of equipment and received good measurements, I'm inclined to agree with you and say the calibrator is not being configured the same way from when you performed manual measurements vs. Cal Exec configuring (or attempting to configure) it automatically.

In any event, the outcome would be the same; the 5520A will not be a good solution to calibrate the 4130.  I would expect a much more user-friendly experience when using either the 5700A or 5720A approved instruments.

Thanks!

Brandon G

[MikeNZ]

Has anyone been able to get the cal exec 3.5 to work for a PXI-4130 using an HP 34401A? I keep getting Error -1074135024 (Elaboration: Resolution). I have tried setting to unsupported instrument and also tried changing language to Fluke 8840A on instrument and software but no luck. So I have been calibrating using a HP3458A and doing the current measurments manually.

Any advice appreciated, Cheers.

[BriBear]

Hi MikeNZ,

Thanks for the post!

I do believe an updated to Calibration Executive 3.6 will resolve your issue.

As this is an older thread, we generally recommend creating a new thread to get your answers resolved faster. If you have further questions about this, please create a new post so others can help and find the information.

Thanks!