The AMETEK RTC-156 is a professional reference temperature calibrator designed for highly accurate temperature sensor calibration in laboratories, industrial facilities, pharmaceutical manufacturing and field service applications.
With a temperature range from −30 °C to +155 °C, exceptional temperature stability of ±0.005 °C and accuracy of ±0.04 °C when using the specified external reference sensor, the AMETEK RTC-156 provides excellent performance for demanding temperature calibration applications.
The instrument combines active dual-zone temperature control with optional Dynamic Load Compensation (DLC) technology. This innovative combination minimizes temperature gradients and improves temperature uniformity within the calibration insert.
The AMETEK RTC-156 is particularly suitable for calibrating resistance temperature detectors (RTDs), Pt100 sensors, thermocouples, temperature transmitters and short sanitary temperature sensors.
Its interchangeable calibration inserts, intelligent reference sensors, USB communication interface and intuitive color display make it a flexible solution for professional temperature metrology.
Depending on the selected configuration, the AMETEK RTC-156 also provides integrated reference thermometer measurement, sensor-under-test measurement and automated calibration functions.
europascal supports customers with professional temperature calibration equipment, technical advice and calibration services.
For traceable calibration of temperature measuring instruments, visit the europascal Calibration Service.
Your Benefits at a Glance
The AMETEK RTC-156 combines excellent temperature accuracy with advanced temperature control and flexible calibration capabilities.
Its main advantages include:
- Temperature range from −30 °C to +155 °C at 23 °C ambient temperature
- Internal reference accuracy of ±0.10 °C
- Accuracy of ±0.04 °C with the specified external reference sensor
- Excellent temperature stability of ±0.005 °C
- Radial temperature homogeneity of 0.01 °C
- Active dual-zone temperature control
- Optional Dynamic Load Compensation technology
- Intelligent external reference sensors
- Four-wire resistance measurement with True Ohm technology
- Interchangeable calibration inserts
- Immersion depth of 160 mm
- Fast heating and cooling performance
- Heating from −30 °C to +23 °C in approximately 4 minutes
- Heating from +23 °C to +155 °C in approximately 15 minutes
- User-selectable temperature resolution down to 0.001 °C
- USB communication interface
- Color display with intuitive operation
- Automatic temperature stepping
- Optional sensor-under-test measurement
- Optional temperature switch testing
- Compatible with calibration software
- Three configurations: RTC-156A, RTC-156B and RTC-156C
- Suitable for laboratory and field calibration
Ideal for Demanding Temperature Calibration Applications
The AMETEK RTC-156 is designed for applications requiring precise and reproducible temperature conditions.
Its combination of excellent temperature stability, accurate reference measurement and advanced temperature control makes it suitable for professional calibration laboratories and industrial quality assurance.
Typical applications include the calibration of Pt100 sensors, precision resistance thermometers, thermocouples and temperature transmitters.
The instrument is also particularly useful for calibrating short sanitary temperature sensors.
These sensors are frequently used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology and food processing.
Their short insertion lengths and special mechanical designs can make accurate calibration difficult.
The AMETEK RTC-156 addresses these challenges through active dual-zone temperature control and specially designed calibration inserts.
For demanding applications, an external reference thermometer can be positioned close to the sensing element of the device under test.
This helps reduce errors caused by axial temperature gradients and heat conduction.
Temperature Range from −30 °C to +155 °C
The AMETEK RTC-156 provides a temperature calibration range of:
−30 °C to +155 °C
This specification applies at an ambient temperature of 23 °C.
The minimum achievable temperature depends on the surrounding temperature.
| Ambient Temperature | Calibration Temperature Range |
|---|---|
| 0 °C | −46 °C to +155 °C |
| 23 °C | −30 °C to +155 °C |
| 40 °C | −15 °C to +155 °C |
This wide operating range makes the instrument suitable for calibration applications both below and above ambient temperature.
Typical calibration temperatures include −30 °C, −20 °C, 0 °C, 25 °C, 50 °C, 100 °C and 155 °C.
The AMETEK RTC-156 is especially useful for temperature sensors used in refrigeration, environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical manufacturing and industrial process control.
High Temperature Accuracy
The AMETEK RTC-156 provides different accuracy specifications depending on the reference measurement configuration.
Accuracy with Internal Reference
When using the internal temperature reference, the manufacturer specifies:
±0.10 °C
This specification describes the temperature accuracy under the manufacturer’s defined operating conditions.
Accuracy with External Reference
When using the specified external STS reference sensor, the manufacturer specifies:
±0.04 °C
This specification applies to the RTC-156B and RTC-156C configurations.
The external reference thermometer measures the temperature directly within the calibration insert.
This allows more accurate comparison measurements than relying exclusively on the internal temperature indication.
The manufacturer’s accuracy specification must not be confused with the expanded measurement uncertainty of an individual calibration certificate.
Exceptional Temperature Stability of ±0.005 °C
One of the most important features of the AMETEK RTC-156 is its excellent temperature stability.
The manufacturer specifies:
±0.005 °C
This corresponds to a temperature stability of just five millikelvin.
Temperature stability describes the variation of the calibration temperature over time under defined operating conditions.
The manufacturer evaluates stability after the stability indicator has been active for 15 minutes, followed by a 30-minute measurement period.
Excellent stability is particularly important when calibrating precision resistance thermometers and other demanding temperature sensors.
It helps reduce measurement variations during comparison calibration.
Active Dual-Zone Temperature Control
The AMETEK RTC-156 features active dual-zone temperature control.
The calibration block contains two independently controlled temperature zones.
The lower zone provides precise temperature control in the main calibration area.
The upper zone compensates for heat losses caused by the open top of the calibration block and the inserted temperature sensors.
This design improves temperature uniformity and reduces axial temperature gradients.
It is particularly useful when calibrating sensors with different immersion depths or mechanical designs.
Active dual-zone control also improves the calibration conditions for short temperature sensors.
Dynamic Load Compensation
The AMETEK RTC-156 supports Dynamic Load Compensation, commonly referred to as DLC.
This technology is available with the RTC-156B and RTC-156C configurations when the appropriate DLC sensor is installed.
The DLC system uses a special differential temperature sensor positioned inside the calibration insert.
The sensor measures temperature differences within the insert.
The calibrator uses this information to adjust the active dual-zone temperature control.
This helps compensate for temperature gradients caused by the inserted sensors.
The technology is particularly useful when several temperature sensors are calibrated simultaneously.
It also improves calibration conditions when sensors with large diameters or high thermal conductivity are used.
Dynamic Load Compensation helps reduce the influence of sensor loading on temperature uniformity.
Excellent Radial Temperature Homogeneity
The AMETEK RTC-156 provides excellent radial temperature homogeneity.
The manufacturer specifies a temperature difference between calibration holes of:
0.01 °C
This corresponds to 10 millikelvin.
Good radial temperature homogeneity is particularly important when a reference thermometer and several devices under test are inserted into the calibration block.
It helps ensure that the sensors experience nearly identical temperatures.
The actual temperature differences depend on the calibration insert, sensor dimensions and operating conditions.
Interchangeable Calibration Inserts
The AMETEK RTC-156 uses interchangeable calibration inserts.
These inserts allow temperature sensors with different diameters to be accommodated within the calibration block.
Different insert configurations are available for metric and imperial sensor dimensions.
The manufacturer offers inserts for common sensor diameters, including 3 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm.
Special inserts are also available for short sanitary temperature sensors.
The appropriate insert should be selected according to the sensor diameter and the required calibration procedure.
Good thermal contact between the sensor and insert helps reduce temperature differences.
The manufacturer specifies an immersion depth of:
160 mm
Sufficient immersion depth is essential for minimizing heat conduction errors along the sensor stem.
Calibration of Short Sanitary Temperature Sensors
The AMETEK RTC-156 is particularly suitable for calibrating short sanitary temperature sensors.
These sensors are commonly used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotechnology and food processing.
Sanitary temperature sensors often feature short sensing elements and large process connection flanges.
These characteristics can cause significant heat conduction effects during calibration.
Conventional dry block calibrators may not provide sufficiently uniform temperatures for such sensors.
The AMETEK RTC-156 uses active dual-zone temperature control to compensate for heat losses.
Special calibration inserts and reference sensors are available for these applications.
The reference thermometer can be positioned close to the sensing element of the device under test.
This helps improve temperature comparison measurements and reduce calibration errors.
Fast Heating Performance
The AMETEK RTC-156 provides efficient heating performance.
Typical heating times include:
| Temperature Change | Heating Time |
|---|---|
| −30 °C to +23 °C | 4 minutes |
| +23 °C to +155 °C | 15 minutes |
Fast heating reduces waiting times between calibration points.
This is particularly useful for multi-point calibration procedures.
The actual heating time depends on ambient conditions, sensor loading and the selected calibration insert.
Efficient Cooling Performance
The AMETEK RTC-156 also provides efficient cooling performance.
Typical cooling times include:
| Temperature Change | Cooling Time |
|---|---|
| +155 °C to +100 °C | 4 minutes |
| +100 °C to +23 °C | 8 minutes |
| +23 °C to −24 °C | 15 minutes |
| −24 °C to −30 °C | 10 minutes |
These cooling characteristics make the instrument suitable for calibration procedures involving increasing and decreasing temperature sequences.
The final approach to the lowest temperature requires additional time.
Intelligent External Reference Sensors
The RTC-156B and RTC-156C support intelligent external reference temperature sensors.
Compatible STS reference sensors contain individual calibration coefficients stored in their connectors.
When a compatible reference sensor is connected, the calibrator can automatically recognize the stored calibration information.
This simplifies reference thermometer setup.
It also reduces the risk of incorrect calibration coefficient entry.
The external reference thermometer allows accurate temperature comparison measurements.
This is particularly useful for calibration laboratories requiring low measurement uncertainty.
True Ohm Measurement Technology
The RTC-156B and RTC-156C provide an external reference thermometer input using four-wire resistance measurement.
The instrument uses True Ohm measurement technology.
This measurement method helps minimize errors caused by thermoelectric voltages in the measurement circuit.
The manufacturer specifies a reference resistance measurement range of:
400 Ω
The 12-month accuracy is:
±(0.0012% of reading + 0.0005% of full scale)
This provides accurate resistance measurement conditions for compatible reference thermometers.
Three Available Configurations
The AMETEK RTC-156 is available in three configurations.
AMETEK RTC-156A
The RTC-156A is the basic reference temperature calibrator.
It provides precise temperature generation and control using the internal temperature reference.
This configuration is suitable for applications where external reference thermometers and measurement instruments are already available.
AMETEK RTC-156B
The RTC-156B provides the most comprehensive measurement functionality.
In addition to temperature generation, it includes inputs for:
- External reference thermometer
- Dynamic Load Compensation sensor
- Sensors under test
The RTC-156B supports RTD, thermocouple and electrical measurement functions.
It is particularly suitable for automated calibration procedures and temperature transmitter testing.
AMETEK RTC-156C
The RTC-156C includes inputs for:
- External reference thermometer
- Dynamic Load Compensation sensor
This configuration is suitable for high-accuracy comparison calibrations using external measurement instruments.
Unlike the RTC-156B, the RTC-156C does not provide the complete integrated sensor-under-test measurement functionality.
USB Communication and Calibration Software
The AMETEK RTC-156 includes a USB communication interface.
This allows the instrument to communicate with compatible calibration software.
Computer-assisted calibration can simplify repetitive measurement procedures.
Depending on the instrument configuration, calibration software can be used to control temperature setpoints and support documentation.
Automated temperature stepping helps reduce manual intervention.
This is particularly useful in calibration laboratories and industrial quality assurance.
Calibration of Pt100 and RTD Sensors
The AMETEK RTC-156 is suitable for calibrating resistance temperature detectors.
Typical applications include Pt100 and Pt1000 sensors.
The sensor is inserted into a suitable calibration insert.
The calibrator generates a stable temperature that can be compared with the indication of the device under test.
For high-accuracy applications, a calibrated external reference thermometer is recommended.
The RTC-156B can additionally measure compatible sensors using its integrated measurement functions.
Calibration of Thermocouples
The AMETEK RTC-156 can also be used for thermocouple calibration.
Thermocouples are widely used in industrial temperature measurement.
The calibrator provides a controlled temperature environment for checking thermocouple measurement systems.
The thermocouple is inserted into the calibration block and allowed to stabilize.
Its indicated temperature can then be compared with the reference temperature.
For accurate thermocouple calibration, reference junction compensation and the measurement uncertainty of the readout must be considered.
Calibration of Temperature Transmitters
The AMETEK RTC-156 is suitable for checking temperature transmitters.
Temperature transmitters convert temperature sensor signals into standardized electrical output signals.
A common industrial output range is 4–20 mA.
The RTC-156B provides integrated measurement functions for compatible temperature transmitters.
The calibration block generates the required temperature.
The transmitter output can then be compared with the expected signal.
This allows the complete temperature measurement chain to be evaluated.
Technical Highlights
| Specification | AMETEK RTC-156 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | AMETEK |
| Model | RTC-156 |
| Product type | Reference Temperature Calibrator |
| Calibration principle | Dry block |
| Temperature range at 23 °C ambient | −30 °C to +155 °C |
| Temperature range at 0 °C ambient | −46 °C to +155 °C |
| Temperature range at 40 °C ambient | −15 °C to +155 °C |
| Internal reference accuracy | ±0.10 °C |
| Accuracy with external STS reference | ±0.04 °C |
| Temperature stability | ±0.005 °C |
| Radial homogeneity | 0.01 °C |
| Temperature resolution | 1 °C, 0.1 °C, 0.01 °C or 0.001 °C |
| Temperature control | Active dual-zone |
| Dynamic Load Compensation | Models B and C with DLC sensor |
| Heating time, −30 °C to +23 °C | 4 minutes |
| Heating time, +23 °C to +155 °C | 15 minutes |
| Cooling time, +155 °C to +100 °C | 4 minutes |
| Cooling time, +100 °C to +23 °C | 8 minutes |
| Cooling time, +23 °C to −30 °C | 25 minutes |
| Immersion depth | 160 mm |
| Calibration inserts | Interchangeable |
| Communication interface | USB |
| Reference thermometer input | Models B and C |
| Sensor-under-test input | Model B |
| Available configurations | RTC-156A, RTC-156B, RTC-156C |
AMETEK RTC-156 or RTC-157?
The AMETEK RTC-156 and RTC-157 are both professional reference temperature calibrators.
They share many technical features, including excellent temperature stability, active dual-zone control and optional Dynamic Load Compensation.
The main difference is the achievable minimum temperature.
| Specification | AMETEK RTC-156 | AMETEK RTC-157 |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature range at 23 °C ambient | −30 °C to +155 °C | −45 °C to +155 °C |
| Internal reference accuracy | ±0.10 °C | ±0.10 °C |
| External reference accuracy | ±0.04 °C | ±0.04 °C |
| Temperature stability | ±0.005 °C | ±0.005 °C |
| Radial homogeneity | 0.01 °C | 0.01 °C |
| Immersion depth | 160 mm | 160 mm |
| Active dual-zone control | Yes | Yes |
| Optional DLC | Yes | Yes |
The AMETEK RTC-156 is suitable for applications requiring temperatures down to −30 °C at normal laboratory ambient conditions.
The AMETEK RTC-157 extends the lower temperature range to −45 °C.
The appropriate model should be selected according to the required calibration temperature range and operating conditions.
Why Choose the AMETEK RTC-156?
The AMETEK RTC-156 combines exceptional temperature stability with advanced temperature control and flexible measurement capabilities.
Its temperature range from −30 °C to +155 °C covers numerous industrial and laboratory applications.
The temperature stability of ±0.005 °C provides excellent conditions for precision calibration.
Active dual-zone temperature control improves temperature homogeneity and reduces axial temperature gradients.
Optional Dynamic Load Compensation helps minimize the influence of sensor loading on temperature uniformity.
Intelligent reference sensors simplify setup and support accurate comparison measurements.
The RTC-156B configuration provides additional measurement functions for automated calibration procedures.
The AMETEK RTC-156 is particularly suitable for calibrating short sanitary temperature sensors used in pharmaceutical and food processing applications.
Its combination of precision, flexibility and efficient operation makes it an excellent solution for demanding temperature metrology.
europascal supports customers with professional temperature calibration equipment, technical advice and calibration services.
Typical Applications for the AMETEK RTC-156
The AMETEK RTC-156 is suitable for numerous professional temperature calibration applications.
Typical applications include:
- Pt100 calibration
- Pt1000 calibration
- RTD calibration
- Thermocouple calibration
- Precision resistance thermometer calibration
- Temperature transmitter calibration
- Temperature switch testing
- Short sanitary temperature sensor calibration
- Pharmaceutical manufacturing
- Biotechnology
- Food processing
- Refrigeration systems
- Environmental monitoring
- Industrial process instrumentation
- Calibration laboratories
- Industrial quality assurance
- Temperature metrology
- Field calibration
The combination of excellent temperature stability, active dual-zone control, optional Dynamic Load Compensation and flexible measurement functions makes the AMETEK RTC-156 a professional solution for demanding temperature calibration applications.
For professional calibration services, visit the europascal Calibration Service.
Find more temperature calibration products at europascal here.
Manufacturer information for the AMETEK RTC-156 can be found on the official AMETEK website.
