Just Purchased Fireboard 2: Calibration?

[dflaher]

Hi...

Just cashed in on a Christmas present and received my Fireboard 2. I also purchased a Competition Probe Pack and their Magnetic Base.

Although FB's website says that calibration is not needed, does anyone here that owns one recommend it? If so, how do/did you perform the calibration? Ice bath for example?

Thanks.

 

[RustyJake]

I tested mine, and they were all within about .4°F in both ice bath and boiling water.
I was fine with that, and even if they were out with more variance I wouldn't have adjusted them. I wad testing to have a reference to where they were relative to actual temps.
If you adjust the offset to correct any of them, you are going to need to remember to use that exact same probe in that same port every time.
The setting is changed in the unit and is done to the port, and doesn't follow the probe

 

[Slimpicker]

If you got a certificate then it's calibrated.
Yes there is an area in the menu to add + or - the probe readings but I only had to do it to the one RTD probe I bought, at room temp it was off 30° for some dumb reason

 

[miguelb]

I tested mine with ice water and it was already calibrated. I did had one of the probes failed and they shipped a replacement since it was still under warranty.

 

[dflaher]

If you got a certificate then it's calibrated.

I didn't get a certificate, but their support website says the following here:

Each FireBoard is calibrated at our lab before it ships. We use high precision resistors that simulate temperature, resulting in a precise temperature curve for each thermometer. This calibration is not NIST traceable. We offer the option to send the FireBoard to a separate testing facility for an extra fee; this additional calibration would include a NIST traceable certificate.

The process of temperature calibration is a relatively detailed and technical scientific process. Although calibration work can be done outside of a laboratory environment, we don’t generally recommend it. Below is an overview of the calibration process, with links for more information.

I think I am confident that the probes are within any tolerance that I would notice. If I happen to suspect they are not, then I will do an ice bath test.