Full calibration support for multirange instruments can be costly and time consuming. This paper presents a case study in which a new empirical-model-based approach was used to substantially reduce the number of tests required to fully characterize an instrument. The Fluke 792A Thermal Transfer Standard was the subject instrument for the study. Test results showed that measurements made at 50 test points were sufficient to allow accurate predictions of the instrument's performance at all 255 test points specified by the manufacturer. An accurate model relating ac/dc difference to voltage and frequency for the instrument was formulated using complete test data from many devices collected by the manufacturer over several production runs. An empirical test point selection procedure was used to select an optimal set of test points and subsequently to predict the ac/dc differences of other 792As based on the limited set of measurements taken at the selected test points.
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