To Calculate Total Measurement Error

Each specification includes correction factors which account for errors present due to operational limitations of the multimeter. This section explains these errors and shows how to apply them to your measurements. Refer to the section titled “Interpreting Multimeter Specifications” beginning on page 182 to get a better understanding of the terminology used and to help you interpret the multimeter's specifications.

The multimeter's accuracy specifications are expressed in the form: ( % of reading + % of range ). In addition to the reading error and range error, you may need to add additional errors for certain operating conditions. Check the list below to make sure you include all measurement errors for a given function. Also, make sure you apply the conditions as described in the footnotes on the specification pages.

If you are operating the multimeter outside the 23°C ±5°C temperature range specified, apply an additional temperature coefficient error.

For dc voltage, dc current, and resistance measurements, you may need to apply an additional reading speed error or autozero OFF error.

For ac voltage and ac current measurements, you may need to apply an additional low frequency error or crest factor error.

Understanding the “% of reading” Error

The reading error compensates for inaccuracies that result from the function and range you select, as well as the input signal level. The reading error varies according to the input level on the selected range. This error is expressed in percent of reading. The following table shows the reading error applied to the multimeter’s 24-hour dc voltage specification.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Range Error

Range Error

 

 

Range

Input Level

(% of range)

Voltage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10Vdc

10Vdc

0.0015

150μV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10Vdc

1Vdc

0.0015

15μV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10Vdc

0.1Vdc

0.0015

1.5μV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding the “% of range” Error

The range error compensates for inaccuracies that result from the function and range you select. The range error contributes a constant error, expressed as a percent of range, independent of the input signal level. The following table shows the range error applied to the multimeter’s 24-hour dc voltage specification.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Range Error

Range Error

 

 

Range

Input Level

(% of range)

Voltage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10Vdc

10Vdc

0.0004

40μV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10Vdc

1Vdc

0.0004

40μV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10Vdc

0.1Vdc

0.0004

40μV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

180 HP E1312A and HP E1412A Multimeter Specifications

Appendix A

Page 180
Image 180
HP WaterSkis E1312A, WaterSkis E1412A manual To Calculate Total Measurement Error, Understanding the % of reading Error