Meters and Instruments Quality

Meters and instruments quality indicators usually include accuracy, sensitivity, stability and response time. The quality of an instrument or meter is measured comprehensively by multiple indicators. Each of which reflects the performance of the instrument or meter from different aspects.

1. Accuracy (Precision)

It refers to the degree of consistency between the meter's indicated value and the true value of the measured object. Including the influence of various errors such as systematic error and random error. The accuracy levels are generally 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.5, etc. The smaller the value, the higher the accuracy.

2. Sensitivity

The ratio of the change in the instrument output signal to the change in the measured signal that produces the change. If the sensitivity of each scale point of the instrument is the same, the input and output of the instrument are in a linear relationship, otherwise it is a nonlinear relationship.

3. Stability

Stability refers to the performance of a meter that does not change with time and usage conditions. Under the condition that the measurement accuracy meets the use requirements, we should select a meter with good stability.

4. Response Time

When measuring process parameters with an instrument, the change in the displayed value will always lag behind the change in the measured parameter due to the instrument's inertia. The time from the start of measurement to the instrument correctly displaying the measured value is the instrument's response time. Instruments with a long response time are not suitable to measure conditions where process parameters change rapidly or operations are  frequent.

In practical applications, meters and instruments quality is depending on working conditions. Meters or instruments must be selected and evaluated based on specific conditions. For example, high-precision laboratories focus on accuracy and stability, while production line dynamic monitoring focuses on response time and sensitivity .