How Temperature & Humidity Impact Your Test Equipment Accuracy

Accuracy in testing and measurement doesn’t depend only on your equipment, but it also depends on the environment your equipment is calibrated in. Temperature and humidity can significantly change how instruments behave, even when they appear to be working normally.

Temperature: A Silent Source of Measurement Drift

Electronic components change value as temperature changes. Even a few degrees can cause:

• Resistance drift in DMMs and sensors

• Frequency instability in counters

• Voltage reference movement in power supplies

• Noise increases in oscilloscopes and RF analyzers

Most instruments are designed to meet spec at 23°C, so calibrating them outside that range can produce misleading results.

Humidity: The Hidden Accuracy Killer

Humidity affects both electrical performance and physical materials. High humidity can lead to:

• Leakage currents

• Corrosion

• RF path degradation

Low humidity increases the risk of ESD damage, which can shift measurements without leaving visible signs.

Why a Controlled Lab Environment Matters

At Tra-Cal, every calibration is performed in a temperature- and humidity-controlled ISO-compliant lab, giving your equipment:

• Stable temperature calibration conditions

• Controlled humidity to prevent corrosion and ESD

• Continuous environmental monitoring

• High repeatability and low measurement uncertainty

This means your equipment returns to you more stable, more accurate, and fully traceable to NIST standards.

Equipment Most Affected

• Oscilloscopes

• Spectrum analyzers

• DMMs

• Signal generators

• Network analyzers

• Power supplies

• Torque tools & dimensional gauges

If it measures, then temperature and humidity influence it.

Trust Your Calibration to the Environment Built for Precision

Tra-Cal delivers reliable, traceable results because we control the variables that matter. Reach out to us today!