xDevs.com | Fluke 5450A Resistance calibrator

Intro
Disclaimer
Manuals and documentation
Exterior and user interface
Teardown and design evaluation
Troubleshooting and repair
Calibration following Fluke procedure
Direct calibration with HP 3458A
Alternative calibration by resistor measurements
Leakage measurements
Python application for testing
Calibration history log
Conclusion and summary

Intro

This article is dedicated to Fluke 5450A decade resistance calibrator evaluation, calibration, service and performance tests.

Model 5450A Resistance Calibrator can be used to verify resistance measuring accuracy of precision DMM, ohm-meters, and other measurement equipment. Unit provides cardinal point resistance values in decade steps from 1 Ω to 100 MΩ and decade steps from 1.9 Ω to 19 MΩ. Typical accuracy is ±8 ppm. Also 4-wire Kelvin connections eliminate the effects of lead resistance. All functions and resistance switching can be controlled either from the front panel or remotely over IEEE-488 (GPIB) interface for use in automated setup.

Back in 80’s this resistance calibrator was complimenting DC Voltage calibrators, such as Model 5440B and 5442A. Later in 90’s this combination replaced by Fluke 5700/5720A series multi-function calibrators, however many design concepts and ideas from 5450A such as circuit arrangement and resistance ranges were reused from 5450A.

Disclaimer

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Manuals and documentation

Fluke 5450A Operation Manual

Exterior and user interface

Before we dig into the instrument itself, I’d like to point out how this box was shipped. Usually when I buy equipment from secondary market sellers just toss the gear into cardboard box, fill (if you lucky) with foam and peanuts and let the package go, hoping for the best. Few times I got damaged panels/chassis due to bad packaging.

However this time, seller from Italy went above and beyond and build nice wooden crate, with foam inside that matches 5450A nicely to reduce any risks of shipping damage. Sharing photos of the box as a result, hoping that other sellers could follow such example in future too.

Image 1-2: DIY shipping box for Fluke 5450A

Image 3-4: DIY shipping box for Fluke 5450A

Image 5-6: Fluke 5450A ready for international travel

TBD

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-544-fluke-5450a-resistance-calibrator-teardown/msg1113471/#msg1113471

Part 1:

Part 2:

Initial check, June 2017

Fluke 5450A range	Calibration value 5450A	Measured 3458A-3 (Δ, ppm)	Spec, 1y
Short	0	0.00004	±0.0001 mΩ
1 Ω	0.999604	0.99960 (-4)	±110 ppm
1.9 Ω	1.899486	1.89947 (-8.4)	±100 ppm
10 Ω	10.00065	10.00068 (+3)	±33 ppm
19 Ω	19.00095	19.00084 (-5.8)	±31 ppm
100 Ω	100.0057	100.0071 (+14)	±16 ppm
190 Ω	190.0141	190.0156 (+8)	±15.5 ppm
1000 Ω	1000.046	1000.0522 (+6)	±13.5 ppm
1900 Ω	1900.109	1900.123 (+7.4)	±13 ppm
10 KΩ	10000.57	10000.622 (+5.2)	±13 ppm
19 KΩ	19000.52	19000.82 (+15.8)	±12.5 ppm
100 KΩ	100001.2	100001.31 (+1.1)	±14 ppm
190 KΩ	190004.3	190003.6 (-3.6)	±13.5 ppm
1.0 MΩ	1.000034 MΩ	1.000009E6 (-25)	±19 ppm
1.9 MΩ	1.900054 MΩ	1.899893E6 (-84)	±19 ppm
10 MΩ	10.00016 MΩ	9.996236E6 (-392)	±50 ppm
19 MΩ	19.00054 MΩ	18.98499E6 (-818)	±56 ppm
100 MΩ	100.0301 MΩ	99.80216E6 (-2278)	±200 ppm

Calibration, using F8508A-01 transfer to SL935

Fluke 5450A range	Calibration value 5450A	Measured 8508A to SL935 DEVN (Δ, ppm)	Spec, 1y
10 KΩ	10000.57	10000.6059 () to RSTD 10 kΩ σ = 0.09 ppm	±13 ppm