[Boatanchors] DC Voltmeter Calibration

[Dale Parfitt]

I am with you Al,
I have an HP  5 1/2 digit digital voltmeter and  an offshore version- both
are extremely  close  to one another. They make an excellent calibration
standard.

Dale W4OP

-----Original Message-----
From: Boatanchors [mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of
Al Klase
Sent: Thursday, January 7, 2016 3:37 PM
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] DC Voltmeter Calibration

CORRECT ANSWER!!!

Modern DVM's all contain band-gap references. These are semiconductor
devices that use quantum-physical principles to generate a know voltage. 
They are much more accurate than anything else you're going to lay mortal
hands upon. Sit down with a AA cell, and compare two or three DVM's. You'll
be amazed.

In my case:

$300+ Fluke 87 1.588V
$70'ish Escort 1.589V
$11 Ebay cheapie 1.592V

A VR tube or Zener diode won't even come close.

Al

Al Klase - N3FRQ
Jersey City, NJ
http://www.skywaves.ar88.net/

On 1/7/2016 1:38 PM, D C _Mac_ Macdonald wrote:
> I'd bet you'd get a lot closer than what you have already by using a 
> cheap (sometimes even free) digital meter from Harbor Freight as a 
> "standard for comparison."
>   
> * * * * * * * * * * *
> * 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 *
> * (Since 30 Nov 53) *
> * Oklahoma City, OK *
> * USAF, Ret'd 61-81 *
> ** FAA, Ret'd 94-10 *
> * * * * * * * * * * *
>   
>   
>
>
>> Date: Thu, 7 Jan 2016 13:02:11 -0500
>> To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] DC Voltmeter Calibration
>> From: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
>>
>> A quick and dirty way that will get you a lot closer than +/- 45 VDC 
>> would be to rig up a VR-150 running at about 20 mA.
>>
>> In a message dated 01/07/2016 10:25:07 AM Central Standard Time, 
>> dhallam at knology.net writes:
>>> I obviously need to calibrate my DC voltmeters.  I was setting the 
>>> 300 VDC B+ on my signal generation after some repairs.  I used 3 
>>> voltmeters and got a spread of 45V among the 3 of them, low 285V and 
>>> high330V.  The low was a VTVM and the high  DVM.  What is a good 
>>> standard to use that won't break the bank to acquire?  I used to 
>>> have some mercury batteries but they are a no, no any more.
>>>
>>> David
>>> KW4DH
>> Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
>> wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
>> MVPA 9480
>   		 	   		
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