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VC3000 Calibration Check Procedure

The procedure is to set the Pitch and Roll factors to 0, then use gravity to check calibration.  Brackets may be rotated out of the way so they don't have to be removed.

To check the longitudinal accelerometer:

1. Turn the unit on.  The READY screen will be displayed.
2. Press the Setup key to enter setup mode.Press “More”, then “Pitch Factor”, then 0.
3. Press “Roll Factor”, then 0.At the setup screen press CLEAR .
4. Disconnect all connections to the back of the VC3000 and rotate the VC3000 so the front panel is facing up and the back panel is resting flat on the level surface.
5. Press the Continuous key, then the G-Force key (PC, DAQ, RFM only), then the CLEAR key:  Unit will zero adjust itself for temperature and incline. 
6. Do not move the unit during this time.'X = 0.000' will be displayed on the top line.
7.  Unit may now be moved.
8. Rotate the VC3000 180° so the front panel is facing down with the bottom most portion of the front panel on the level surface, allowing the display portion of the unit to hang over the edge of the level surface.
9.  Using a mirror 'X = +2.000' ±0.020 will be displayed on the top line.  X-axis calibration check is completed.

If only checking the longitudinal accelerometer, set the Pitch and Roll Factors back to the default 1 when the calibration check is completed.  Follow steps 1 and 2 above, then in step 3 and 4 press 1 instead of 0.  Otherwise continue with the lateral calibration check.

The lateral accelerometer is more difficult to check because the panels are not flat and there are bracket pins sticking out so the unit will not set flat on its side.  The side panels have an angle of 3 degrees so if the unit is flat on the side panel this calibration check will produce an error of 0.002 G.

 

To check the lateral accelerometer:

1. Follow the first five steps above.
2. Disconnect all connections to the back of the VC3000 and rotate the VC3000 so the X-axis bubble level (left side of unit) is facing down on the level surface.  The pin will have to hang over the edge.  Hold the unit so the bottom is perpendicular to the surface.
3. Press the Continuous key, then the G-Force key (PC, DAQ, RFM only), then the CLEAR key:  Unit will zero adjust itself for temperature and incline.  Do not move the unit during this time.
4. 'Y = 0.000'  will be displayed on the middle line.  Unit may now be moved.
5. Rotate the VC3000 180° so the right side of the unit is down on the level surface.  Hold the unit so the bottom is perpendicular to the surface.
6. 'Y = +2.000' ±0.030 will be displayed on the middle line.  Y-axis calibration check is completed.

Set the Pitch and Roll Factors back to the default 1 when all calibration checks are completed.  Follow steps 1 and 2 in the longitudinal calibration check procedure, then in steps 3 and 4 press 1 instead of 0.