Duncan S
New member
At the EuroSpeleo surveying workshops there was discussion about how DistoX units occasionally go out of calibration.
Andrew Atkinson reported that although his does occasionally do this (so does mine), he'd not found any way to produce the problem under controlled conditions.
After one workshop, a Frenchman asked if I would mind my unit going out of calibration and he showed me how to do it.
The test was simple. Hold the Distox firmly down on the table and if the readings changed then the calibration had been upset.
What did he do?
Nothing more than rotate the springs in the base of the unit using a ball point pen
Here's a photo showing the springs on my unit.
Note how the lanyard is wrapped around the spring.
If the lanyard causes rotation of the spring then the unit will go out of calibration!!!!!!!!!!
Also, I've just been washing my DistoX under the tap using a brush and I'm pretty sure the springs were moved while getting mud out from the springs. I've not re-checked the calibration but I won't be surprised if I find I need to re-calibrate at the start of my next surveying session.
Does anyone know if removing the springs with needle nose pliers is a good idea, or am I missing their purpose?
Andrew Atkinson reported that although his does occasionally do this (so does mine), he'd not found any way to produce the problem under controlled conditions.
After one workshop, a Frenchman asked if I would mind my unit going out of calibration and he showed me how to do it.
The test was simple. Hold the Distox firmly down on the table and if the readings changed then the calibration had been upset.
What did he do?
Nothing more than rotate the springs in the base of the unit using a ball point pen
Here's a photo showing the springs on my unit.
Note how the lanyard is wrapped around the spring.
If the lanyard causes rotation of the spring then the unit will go out of calibration!!!!!!!!!!
Also, I've just been washing my DistoX under the tap using a brush and I'm pretty sure the springs were moved while getting mud out from the springs. I've not re-checked the calibration but I won't be surprised if I find I need to re-calibrate at the start of my next surveying session.
Does anyone know if removing the springs with needle nose pliers is a good idea, or am I missing their purpose?