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VR10500 Automated Calibration Verification Instructions

December 17, 2018

Back to: Preserving VR Hardware Accuracy

Vibration Research recommends an annual calibration verification for vibration controllers and dynamic signal analyzers. In this lesson, learn how to perform an automated verification for the VR10500. Use the following checklist to track and document this procedure.

Download VR10500 Checklist

VR10500 Automated Calibration Verification Instructions

VR10500 I/O unit

VR10500 I/O unit.

Equipment/Software

  • VR10500 unit that requires calibration verification
  • VibrationVIEW software installed on a Windows PC (download free demo software)
  • (17) BNC (coaxial) cables
  • (16) BNC Tee connectors
  • Dual banana to BNC adapter
  • A Keysight/Agilent/HP 34410A, 34411A, 34461A, 34465A, 34470A, or 3458A digital multimeter (DMM) with valid calibration certificate

Measure IEPE Voltage and Current

Before running an automated verification, we also recommend measuring IEPE voltage and current to ensure the accuracy of the hardware. To do so, the following equipment is required:

  • (15) 50-ohm terminators
  • Dual banana to BNC adapter
  • 36″ BNC cable

Check IEPE Voltage

  1. Turn on the accelerometer power for Channels 1 to 16.
  2. Connect the fifteen 50-ohm terminators to Channels 2 to 16.
  3. Insert the banana adapter into the two holes on the top right of the DMM’s front panel. They should be labeled as Input – HI and LO. Make sure the ground pin is connected to the LO port.
  4. Connect the BNC cable to the banana adapter.
  5. Press the top left button marked VDC.
  6. Connect Ch 1 to the DMM.
  7. Measure and record voltage (24 Volts DC +/- 2.4 Volts = 21.6Vdc – 26.4Vdc tolerance). Any channel not being measured should have a 50-ohm terminator installed to prevent any leakage across channels.
  8. Repeat this measurement on each of the remaining inputs. Any channel not being measured should have a 50-ohm terminator installed.

Check IEPE Current

  1. Connect the fifteen 50-ohm terminators to Channels 2 to 16.
  2. Set up the DMM to read DC amperage by pressing the button labeled DCI in blue.
  3. Press the Shift button on the lower right, and then press the DC V button on the upper left.
  4. Rotate the banana adapter down and 180 degrees so it is connected in the bottom two right holes on the DMM’s front panel. The ground pin should be connected to the LO port.
  5. Connect Ch 1 to the DMM.
  6. Measure and record amperage (3.25mA – 5.25mA tolerance). Any channel not being measured should have a 50-ohm terminator installed to prevent any leakage across channels.
  7. Repeat this measurement on each of the remaining inputs. Any channel not being measured should have a 50-ohm terminator installed.

Automated Calibration Instructions

Run Full Verification (1-year Tolerance)

  1. Connect the VR10500 to a power source.
  2. Connect the VR10500 to the Windows PC running VibrationVIEW.
  3. Run VibrationVIEW.
  4. In the main menu, click Test > Test Type > System Check.
  5. Run the VR10500 in System Check for 1 hour to allow the temperature to stabilize.
  6. After the 1-hour warm-up, click Configuration > Verification.
  7. In the Select Device drop-down list, select the DMM (requires Agilent IO Control application).
  8. In the Select Configuration drop-down list, select the configuration setting Calibration Verification 10500.
  9. Click Next > to connect to the DMM.
  10. A Select User message will appear and require a password. Enter Control as the password and click OK.
Select User message

Select User message.

  1. After communication with the DMM is established, the dialog box will display connection instructions. Verify that the connections are made in accordance with the displayed diagram. Click Next > to begin verification.

DMM connection instructions in VibrationVIEW.

VR10500 unit connected to a DMM.

  1. A form pre-filled with the DMM details will appear. Fill in the remaining fields with the appropriate values. Click OK.
  2. After Output 1 verification is complete, you will be prompted to move the output BNC to Output 2. Move the cable and click Next >. Complete this step for Outputs 3 and 4 when prompted.
  3. If the procedure fails to meet the 1-year factory specifications, a warning message will appear. Check your cable connections and procedure to confirm the proper steps were followed. If the proper procedure was followed and the result is out of the specifications, then the VR10500 must be recalibrated. Contact the factory for recalibration information.
  4. Upon completion, you will be prompted to save a report file. Enter a file name and click Save.
  5. If the procedure meets the 1-year factory specifications, then you will also be prompted to generate a calibration certificate. Generating a certificate will reset the calibration due date in the VR10500 and store the reports and data in the permanent memory of the VR10500 unit. Click Yes.

  1. Enter a file name and click Save.
  2. With VibrationVIEW open and the VR10500 connected, measure the voltage on the aux inputs/outputs connector on the back of the VR10500 between pin 29 (+5V) and pin 30 (GND). If the voltage is less than 4.9VDC, contact the factory. This value does not affect calibration, but continued equipment reliability may be compromised.