I have a UEI Multi meter and use a pipe clamp type temp sensor for Superheat and Subcooling... How can I make sure it is accurate? Would it be internal on my Electric meter or on the Clamp? I can't seem to find any info. I know reg temp sensor ice water would be good for 32*. Can I get the clamp type probe into ice water? Any help would be great. Thanks, brian

If I filled a bathtub with ice and water, I'm sure your pipe clamp would fit. <G> Here is how to make an ice bath for calibration: Thermometer and Temperature Calibration Using a Triple Point of Water (http://www.hartscientific.com/publications/why-tpw.htm)

Normally you would use two pints to calibrate. Boiling water and ice.

The sensor type would help.

Thanks for response... my concern for putting clamp probe in ice water was if it would short out.? I know suction lines are wet... but putting completely in water was the issue... and if off... how to adjust? Thanks.

You want to know about the clamp probe and you ae using a UEI multi-meter. We could care less about the UEI multi-meter. I'd like to know about the clamp probe. Make, model and what sensor it's based on and the temperature limits.

Are there any electronics associated with the probe? Does it require batteries? What do you select on the multi-meter. All are clues.

K simple... Cooper Atkins Type K clamp probe... model 4005mk. No batteries, just plugs into multi meter... put probe to Temp setting.. and boom.. reading... just unsure how accurate it is and best/ easiest way to either test or calibrate! Thanks

The clamp type is made to check surface temp but if you open it up with out clamping it down to anything it will sense air temp check it against a different probe that just senses air temp.

Now we are getting somewhere. K type thermocouples are usually accurate to at least 1 degree and they are good to 1200 deg. C. The wire is made up of a junction of two dissimilar metals, do there is not much that can go wrong. When making the junctions, you can inadvertently create too many twists, but that's not likely in commercial manufacturer. Limits of error is at least +-1 degree.

The measuring instrument now is the limting factor. If you short the input with a wire, the measuring instrument will read room temperature.

You need a calibrator to assess the accuracy. One such calibrator is here. Type K Thermometer/Calibrator, 800010 (http://www.technika.com/Sper/s800010.htm)

The distilled water ice bath and the distilled water boiling water if done properly should find any gross errors. You need a two point calibration. It's best to do it near the temperatures of interest.

Take a 6 inch or so... piece of 3/4 copper pipe and put it in your freezer for a few hours. Take it out and immediately clamp on your temp probe... it everything is set your meter will read 32 degrees...

Thanks for all your help. Brian