© National Instruments Corporation 5-1 Lab-PC+ User Manual
Chapter 5Calibration

This chapter discusses the calibration procedures for the Lab-PC+ analog input and analog output
circuitry.
The Lab-PC+ is calibrated at the factory before shipment. In order to maintain the 12-bit
accuracy of the Lab-PC+ analog input and analog output circuitry, recalibration at six-month
intervals is recommended. Recalibration is also recommended whenever the input or output
configuration is changed.
Factory calibration is performed with the Lab-PC+ in its default factory configuration:
• -5 to +5 V analog input range (bipolar)
• -5 to +5 V analog output range (bipolar)

Calibration Equipment Requirements

For best measurement results, you should calibrate the Lab-PC+ so that its measurement
accuracy is within ±0.012% of its input range (±0.5 LSB). According to standard practice, the
equipment used to calibrate the Lab-PC+ should be 10 times as accurate, that is, have
±0.001% rated accuracy. Practically speaking, calibration equipment with four times the
accuracy of the item under calibration is generally considered acceptable. Four times the
accuracy of the Lab-PC+ is 0.003%. You need the following equipment to calibrate the
Lab-PC+ board.
For analog input calibration, you need a precision variable DC voltage source (usually a
calibrator) with these features:
Accuracy ±0.001% standard
±0.003% sufficient
Range Greater than ±10 V
Resolution 100 µV in ±10 V range (51/2 digits)
For analog output calibration, you need a voltmeter with these features:
Accuracy ±0.001% standard
±0.003% sufficient
Range Greater than ±10 V
Resolution 100 µV in ±10 V range (51/2 digits)