Measurement setup to characterize electrical standards

Abstract

At the National Institute of Metrological Research (INRIM) a measuring setup able to vary, accurately and in a selective way, the temperature, humidity and pressure to detect eventual hysteretic phenomena and to evaluate their effects on electrical standards as high precision standard resistors and Zener-diode based DC Voltage standards. Main element of the setup is a pressure-tight case housing the standards and acting the stresses due to the desired parameters. By means of pressure-tight-connectors, the standards under test are connected to the measuring instruments, while the climatic conditions are acquired through inner and external sensors. Humidity is controlled by means of two conditioning containers filled respectively with water and silica-gel, which regulate the air-moisture percentage the case in a range of 10-90%. A pumping system establishes the pressure in the case from 600 hPa to 1400 hPa. The characterization vs. humidity and pressure is made at constant temperature by means of a commercial air-bath acting from 15 and 45 ° C. Preliminary results have been obtained for pressure dependence of commercial 100 Ω resistors and of an INRIM-developed 10 V Zener-diode based DC Voltage standard.