PIE Practical Instrument Electronics 525B Specifications

Practical Instrument Electronics

82 E. Main Street Suite 3.14 • Webster, NY 14580 Tel: [phone] • Fax: [phone] • [e-mail] • www.piecal.com

Automated Thermocouple & RTD Calibrator

• Easy to use

With the PIE 525B you can check
and calibrate all your thermocouple and RTD
instruments and measure temperature sensors.

• Take it into the shop, plant or field

Carry it without worry - it comes protected with a rubber boot and
rugged, low profile switches. Easy to operate even in the dark areas of
the plant with the backlit display.

•

Calibrate thermocouple instruments to 0.1 & 0.01 °F & °C

The PIE 525B works with the thermocouples you use including types J,
K, T, E, R, S, B, N, G, C, D, L (J-DIN), U (T-DIN) and P (Platinel II). Or
calibrate from -13.0000 to +80.0000 mV.

• Calibrate RTD instruments to 0.1 & 0.01 °F & °C

Stop carrying around a decade box and RTD resistance tables. The 525B
works with the RTDs you use including Platinum 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 &
1000 Ohm (alpha = 3850), Platinum 100 Ohm (alpha = 3902, 3916, 3926),
Copper 10 & 50 Ohm, and Nickel 120 Ohm. Or calibrate from 0.000 to

400.000 and 0.00 to 4000.00 Ohms. For RTDs the fixed or pulsed sensor
current is measured by the calibrator.

PIE 525B

• Fast calibration with automatic output stepping

Easily set any value quickly to within 0.1° or 0.01° with the adjustable digital
potentiometer “DIAL” plus store any three temperatures for instant recall
with the EZ-CHECK™ switch. Choose between 2, 3, 5, 11 steps and ramp
to automatically increment the output in 100%, 50%, 25%, 10% or 5% of
span. Select step time from 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 & 60 seconds.

• Compatible with ALL process instruments

No competitor’s calibrator is compatible with as many process instruments!
Connect directly to the temperature inputs of transmitters, PLCs, DCS &
multichannel recorders to verify their outputs or displays. RTD simulation works
with older instruments with fixed excitation currents and newer multichannel
instruments that switch the excitation current between input channels.

• Measure thermocouple & RTD sensors

Trouble shoot sensor connections and find broken wires or corroded
connections. The PIE 525B measures probes to 0.1 or 0.01 °C or °F.
Secondary display shows the millivolt or resistance value corresponding to the sensor
temperature as well as the junction temperature measured by the calibrator. Trouble
shoot sensor connections and find broken wires with patented technology. Connect your two, three or four wire RTDs and
the PIE 525B automatically detects the connections.

Actual Size

• Calibration Lab Accurate & Stable

The internal cold junction thermistor is accurate to ±0.05°C and is traceable to NIST. The sensor is thermally bonded to an
isothermal mass which includes brass blocks with screw terminals for connection of bare thermocouple wires along with a
miniature thermocouple connector for fast connections. The circuitry uses an extremely stable voltage reference and low drift
components which make the PIE 525B more accurate than most other handheld and benchtop thermocouple calibrators.

• Perform Heat Treating Uniformity Surveys and System Accuracy Tests

The PIE 525B meets or exceeds the requirement of AMS 2750 as a Field Test Instrument.

• Evolutionary design

PIECAL Calibrators are designed and built by members of the same team that designed and built the calibrators manufactured
by Fluke* under the Altek* label. The PIE 525B improves upon other brands by including a rubber boot, tilt stand, backlit
display with larger digits, rugged switches & a battery compartment for fast battery changes.

* PIECAL Calibrators are not manufactured or distributed by Fluke Corp or Altek Industries Inc, manufacturers of Altek Calibrators.

Thermocouple Connections

RTD Connections

Simulating or reading thermocouples requires the use of
thermocouple or extension grade thermocouple wire.

Plug thermocouple wires into the miniature thermocouple jack
or place bare thermocouple wires onto the brass block under
the screws.

The PIE 525B has two banana jacks (1+ & 2-) mounted in the
top end of the housing. These are not temperature compensated
and are to be used only for millivolt signals.

Simulating or reading RTDs uses copper wire.

Plug 2, 3 or 4 wires into the corresponding jacks on the
calibrator. For RTD source the PIE 525B simulates the (+) RTD
from jacks 1 & 4 and the (-) RTD from jacks 2 & 3.

When reading an RTD sensor the PIE 525B uses patented
circuitry to automatically detects if 2, 3 or 4 wires are connected.
This is helpful to troubleshoot sensor connections.

Flip out stand for bench use

PIE 525B Specifications

Unless otherwise indicated all specifications (except Cold Junction) are rated from a nominal 23 °C, 70 % RH for 1 year from calibration

General

Operating Temperature
Range

Storage Temperature Range -30 to 60 °C (-22 to 140 °F)

Temperature effect ≤ ±50 ppm/°C;

Relative Humidity Range 10 % ≤RH ≤90 % (0 to 35 °C), Non-condensing

Normal Mode Rejection 50/60 Hz, 50 dB

Common Mode Rejection 50/60 Hz, 120 dB

Size 5.63 x 3.00 x 1.60 in, 143 x 76 x 41mm (L x W x H)

Weight 12.1 ounces, 0.34 kg with boot & batteries

Batteries Four “AA” Alkaline 1.5V (LR6)

Optional NiMh

battery kit

Battery Life 50 Hours

Low Battery Low battery indication with nominal 1 hour of

Protection against

misconnection

Display High contrast graphic liquid crystal display. LED

Voltage Source

Ranges and Resolution -13.000 to 80.000 mV & -13.0000 to 80.0000 mV

Accuracy ±(0.008% of Setting + 0.006 mV)

Source Current

Output Impedance < 0.3 Ohm

RMS Noise ≤ ± 0.0005 mV from 0.1 to 10 Hz

Short Circuit Duration Infinite

Rechargeable

-20 to 60 °C (-5 to 140 °F)

Cold Junction Sensor ≤ ±25 ppm/°C

10 % ≤RH≤ 70 % (35 to 60 °C), Non-condensing

120 VAC for North America Only; charger, four
NiMh batteries, AC & DC cords [Part # 020-0103]

operation left

Over-voltage protection to 60 vrms (rated for 30
seconds)

Red LED indicates OVERLOAD or out of range

conditions

backlighting for use in low lit areas.

≥ 10 mA

Thermocouple Source

Accuracy ±(0.008% of Setting + 0.006 mV)

Cold Junction
Compensation

Output Impedance < 0.3 Ohms

Source Current > 10 mA (drives 80 mV into 10 Ohms)

RMS Noise ≤ ± 0.0005 mV from 0.1 to 10 Hz

Thermocouple Read

Accuracy ±(0.008% of Reading + 0.006 mV)

Cold Junction
Compensation

Input Impedance

Open Thermocouple Threshold: 10,000 Ohms nominal

RTD and Ohms Source

3 Wire & 4 Wire Accuracy

From 1 to 10.2 mA

External Excitation Current

B e l o w 1 m A o f E x t e r n a l
Excitation Current

2 Wire Accuracy

Resistance Ranges 400 Ohm Range: 0.00 to 401.00 & 0.000 to 401.000

RMS Noise

Allowable Excitation

Current Range

Pulsed Excitation

Current Compatibility

± 0.09°F (±0.05 °C) - Thermistor traceable to NIST for 11
years

± 0.09°F (±0.05 °C) - Thermistor traceable to NIST for 11
years

> 10 Megohms

Pulse: < 10 microamp pulse for 300 milliseconds

±(0.015% of Setting + 0.05 Ohms)

Add ( ) to 90 Days & 1 Year Accuracy

Add 0.1 Ohms to 3 Wire & 4 Wire Accuracy

4000 Ohm Range: 0.0 to 4010.0 & 0.00 to 4010.00

400 Ohm Range: ≤ ± 0.005 Ohms from 0.1 to 10 Hz
4000 Ohm Range: ≤ ± 0.05 Ohms from 0.1 to 10 Hz

400 Ohm Range:10.2 mA max; steady or pulsed/intermittent
4000 Ohms Range: 1 mA max; steady or pulsed/intermittent

DC to 0.01 second pulse width

0.025 mV

mA Excitation Current

Voltage Read

Range and Resolution Same as Voltage Source

Accuracy ±(0.008% of Reading + 0.006 mV)

Input resistance ≥ 10 MΩ

RTD and Ohms Read

Resistance Ranges Same as RTD and Ohms Source

Accuracy ±(0.015% of Reading + 0.05 Ohms)

Excitation Current

0.9 mA to 401 Ohms, 0.4 mA to 4010 Ohms (nominal)