CalCard is a product name of Tes tCal whose o�ce is: - Unit 29 , Deneside Lanchester Durham. DH7 0LX United Kingdom

Head O�ce Tel +4 4 (0 )1 2 0 7 5 2 1 4 8 1

TEL: +44 (0)1207 521 481 WEB: www.calcards.co.uk Email: sales@calcards.co.uk

Unit 29, Deneside Lanchester Co Durham DH7 0LX United Kingdom

Instructions for the use of CalCard Instructions. Using the CalCard is very easy, It’s not complex at all: -

1. Place one probe on either of the pads surrounded by black and labelled “Common”. 2. Place the other probe in the selected range you require.

The most important task and first task is to record the base line measurements. When you first get your meter or it returns from Calibration use the CalCard and record the measurement you get for each pad on a piece of paper.

The rear of the card has a peel down stick plastic cover. Before you peel off the protective paper; record these first base line measurements in each of the corresponding boxes on the rear of the card. Best thing to write with is a fine fibre tipped felt pen or similar. Then protect these readings by peeling down the protective laminate Illustrated by these pictures:-

Write in fibre tipped pen the "base" values

Peel off paper from laminate

Stick Down Protective Laminate The Finished Process

CalCard is a product name of TestCal whose office is: - Unit 29,Deneside Lanchester Durham. DH7 0LX United Kingdom

Head Office Tel +44 (0)1207 521 481 Page 2 of 3

Background Since the introduction of the Part P regulations and the associated standards it is not difficult to get

confused by the misleading manufactures statements and requirements associated by the commonly

termed piece of test kit the “Calibration Checkbox”.

More recently a lot of quality on-line forums and what some manufactures marketing material have

inferred, or in some cases stated, are now seriously miss-leading readers as to the requirement of

instrument calibration and checking. All together this confusion is resulting in the electricians

approach to calibration to be one of “belts and braises” and thus purchasing totally over the top high

specification calibration devices. This is purely in response to the fear of the unknown injected by

sweeping statements from many sources.

This instruction document hopes to clarify or reinforce the simplicity of how the CalCard may be

utilised to save expense on unnecessary calibration of your Insulation and Continuity test instrument.

Who Would Need a CalCard? Any trade person working on electrical equipment and installations where inspection and testing is

involved as part of the job environment.

Domestic - compliant to Part P requirements of a competent person

Industrial – Health and Safety at Work Act.

Where does it apply? The CalCard is designed for checking the on-going accuracy of Insulation and Continuity Resistance

test instruments. Its correct use will: -

A. Ensure that instrument measurement ability does not wander or drift over a determined

period.

B. It also can function as a simple check measurement when an electrician doubts his meter

readings and requires simple verification; this is particularly useful when on site carrying

out testing.

The CalCard is not designed for RCD testing or Zs testing. An accepted procedure for carrying out

these tests are described in another document downloadable from

http://www.calcards.co.uk/Documents/RCDAcceptancetests.pdf

Is it necessary? The NICEIC has introduced into its assessment procedure a check to ensure the functionality and/or

accuracy of test instruments. If an Approved Contractor is unable to demonstrate that an effective

control system is in place to ensure the accuracy of test instruments, the Inspecting engineer will

record a non-compliance in the Assessment Report.

CalCard is a product name of TestCal whose office is: - Unit 29,Deneside Lanchester Durham. DH7 0LX United Kingdom

Head Office Tel +44 (0)1207 521 481 Page 3 of 3

Test Operations The most important factor is to start from a reliable baseline for your instrument. This can be either

from the results of formal calibration or from the manufactures original documentation for new

instruments. It is important to understand for on-going checking it is not the absolute resistance

measurement, it is the relative measurements from your established baseline that is being monitored.

This record of the base line measurement should remain the same and therefore periodic

measurements should not differ from this reference source.

Record keeping It is the requirement of a “competent person” to record the results of the check you have carried out

between formal calibration periods. This enables you to demonstrate at an assessment the accuracy

and consistency of your Insulation and Continuity test instrument over time.

The CalCard fulfils this requirement by providing the five reference circuits for insulation and a further

five reference circuits for continuity checking. Each CalCard is designated and identifiable by its own

unique serial number.

A typical record sheet for the CalCard is downloadable from the website at: -

http://www.CalCards.co.uk/Documents/CalCard-Record-Sheet.pdf

Specifications and Guarantees CalCard guarantee is provided by the manufacture TestCal for a period of three years from purchase

and a direct replacement card will be provided should a fault develop.

The CalCard is tested and designed to work up to 1,500V, however the resistor values are verified at

500V (which is most common in most Insulation testers). The tolerance measurements on all the test

points are +/- 1% and they are guaranteed not to drift +/- 0.04% over the period.

Providing the CalCard is not exposed to extended periods of sunlight, or subjected to high moisture

environments the CalCard life will be extended indefinitely. Also the card is rugged but it is not

unbreakable if you subject it to excessive force and/or bending it would be possible to break the

circuitry inside.