Companies big and small need accurate, affordable measuring instruments for use in product research and development (R&D), quality control, condition monitoring, workplace safety and more. From accelerometer devices used to measure vibrations and oscillations in machinery to wood moisture meter products designed to determine the humidity of lumber, PCE Instruments’ breadth of measuring instruments and test equipment offerings covers a full range of commercial and industrial applications.
Everyday consumers also need accurate, affordable measuring instruments for evaluating home energy efficiency, monitoring weather conditions, checking swimming pool pH levels and more. For these types of applications, PCE Instruments offers a number of easy-to-use measuring devices — no expert knowledge required.
Should you have any questions concerning PCE Instruments’ products or services, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff will help you find the best measurement solution for the task at hand.
Additionally, our staff has prepared the following glossary of commonly used terms to assist you in your search.
Glossary of Terms
A-C |
D-E |
F-L |
M-R |
S-Z
Accuracy: The defining variable of the measuring device as to its degree of precision.
Adjust: To fine tune the measuring device to ensure that only the most accurate readings are taken, particularly useful in items such as scales.
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Calibrate: To determine the error of the device's display with respect to the true value being measured.
Calibration: Verification that the device is correctly calibrated within its limits.
Calibration certificate: Documentation that states the device is calibrated correctly and operates in accordance with a set of standards.
Calibration interval: The period of time between calibrations. To ensure that correct measurements are being taken, the device should be calibrated periodically. While it's impossible to accurately determine when a device will require calibration, it always helps to have a guideline. To determine the calibration interval for your measuring device, consider the following factors:
- Measuring magnitude allowed margin of tolerance
- Performance of the measuring device
- Frequency of use
- Operating conditions
- Stability of previous calibrations
- Required measuring accuracy
- Quality control requirements for your company or laboratory
The user needs to calibrate the measuring device to maintain measurement accuracy over time, so the margin of error does not become too large for the required reading.
CEM: This is the federal authority for legal meteorology in Spain.
CE marking (CE mark): A manufacturer's declaration that the product complies with the essential requirements of the relevant European health, safety and environmental protection legislations in practice. The letters "CE" are an abbreviation of the French phrase "Conformité Européene" which literally means "European Conformity.”
Certificate of revision: Certification from the factory confirming that the product being delivered meets the product specifications (specified on the data sheet).
Connection port: Interface connecting to a computer for outputting data or updating software (typically an RS-232C).
Conformity certificate: Certification that confirms the device conforms to stringent standards laid out by the notifying body and that the device will be compatible with certain other devices detailed on the certificate.
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Data logger / data recorder: Many devices have an internal memory for collecting and saving measurement values. This memory can be used
in situ to store readings and can be programmed to work in conjunction with a computer to store data for further analysis. As such, devices equipped with a data logger can function independently without someone continuously monitoring the device.
Declaration of conformity: Document that declares that a device meets CE requirements (electronic devices almost always come with the distinctive CE mark).
DIN: The Deutsches Institut für Normung (German Institute for Standardization) develops norms and standards for rationalization, quality assurance, environmental protection, safety and communication in industry, technology, science, and government, as well as the public domain.
DIN EN ISO 9001 certification: This certification signifies that a company has demonstrated that it has adapted its entire management system to meet the DIN EN ISO 9001 standard of quality. After inspection by the relevant authorities, the company is awarded a DIN EN ISO 9001 certificate of quality according to the management system it has in place. This certificate is completely different from that of the ENAC calibration certificate (see “ENAC” below), which relates to the relative characteristics of the technical measurements made by measuring instruments. Certification according to DIN EN ISO 9001 is not the same as an accreditation.
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ENAC: The ENAC calibration service is a union of technical measurement laboratories that are accredited to be within determined parameters. They are highly competent in the field of technical measurement. An ENAC accredited laboratory has the right to issue internationally established calibration certificates for these parameters and measuring instruments. ENAC certificates are valid in many countries around the world, including those of the European Union.
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Factory calibration certificate / manufacturer calibration certificate: Document declaring that the measuring device is calibrated and adjusted according to the quality control standards of the device manufacturer.
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Ingress protection (IP): The higher the numerical value of IP, the less likely the device is to be disrupted by dust and water penetrating the enclosure.
Interface: Port connecting to a computer for outputting data or updating software (typically an RS-232C).
ISO: The International Organization for Standardization. ISO develops and publishes international standards.
ISO 9000: System of quality management to identify a company’s level of quality control in compliance with DIN standards. ISO 9000 is short for DIN EN ISO 9000. Standards in the ISO 9000 family include:
- ISO 9001:2015: Establishes the requirements of a quality management system
- ISO 9000:2015: Covers the basic concepts and language
- ISO 9004:2009: Focuses on how to make a quality management system more efficient and effective
- ISO 19011:2011: Provides guidance on internal and external audits of quality management systems
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Legibility: The smallest numerical value legible on the device's display.
LCD / LCD display: In a liquid crystal display (LCD), pixels are switched on or off electronically using liquid crystals to rotate polarized light. LCD displays are not self-lit. Devices with LCD displays typically have either a backlight or need to be used in a room with sufficient lighting.
LED / LED display: A light emitting diode (LED) display is formed from a matrix of diodes which emit light in a pattern to display what is expected on the screen. This kind of display is self-lit.
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Margin of error: Indicates the maximum range of error possible for any given value displayed by the device.
Measuring equipment: These are devices that give visual representation of data and allow for certain parameters to be measured or calculated and displayed in specific unit types. Measuring equipment can be electronic or mechanical devices. Measuring equipment is often used in conjunction with a computer and sometimes used in conjunction with other devices.
Measurement deviation: The deviation of the measured value displayed compared to the true value.
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OIML: The Organisation Internationale de Métrologie Légale regulates the relative interests in technical measurement in legal contractibility for meteorology.
Overload indicator /overcharge indicator: Symbol or character displayed by the device to indicate an overload or overcharge. The overload indicator usually appears as “OL.” An overload has the potential to damage the measuring device beyond repair.
Operating temperature: The temperature range in which the measuring device can be used reliably. If the device is used outside of this range, errors can occur in the measurements. If temperatures are extreme, the internal electronics of the measuring device can be destroyed.
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Recalibration: Periodically, devices need to be tested to confirm their accuracy. If a device is inaccurate, it needs to be recalibrated to determine the error of the device's display with respect to the true value being measured. As a guideline for best practice, PCE Instruments recommends recalibration annually, or at least every 3 years.
Repeatability: This process demonstrates that the measurement shown on the device can be comparable to one or more measurements according to the national standard for the parameter being measured. Thanks to CEM and the DIN EN ISO 45001 quality standard, there is no need to independently demonstrate a device’s repeatability.
Resolution: Minimum width of the character or digit represented on the display of the measuring device.
Response time: Period of time from device connection to measurement display. Usually, a slow response time is due to the speed of the sensor, and not to the speed of the device itself.
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Standard deviation: A measure used to state the possible variances from the same variable being measured under the same circumstances.
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Thermal influence: This is a physical influence on the measurement and can only be corrected via incorporated measurement compensation systems. Some measuring devices come with automatic temperature compensation, while others have incorporate temperature compensation mechanically—either by an adjustment wheel or by indicating the error occurred due to the thermal influence on the display.
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Validation: Documented test that a process or procedure meets the appropriate safety levels required to perform the specific task.
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