Calibration range and full-scale range are two terms used to describe the operating range of an instrument, but they represent different aspects of that range:

1. Calibration Range:

   • The calibration range refers to the portion of the instrument's measurement range over which it is calibrated and intended to provide accurate and reliable measurements.
   • It represents the specific subset of the instrument's overall range that has been tested, adjusted, and validated during the calibration process to ensure accuracy and reliability.
   • Instruments may have a smaller calibration range within their full-scale range to focus calibration efforts on the most critical or commonly used measurement range.

2. Full-Scale Range:

   • The full-scale range, also known as the measurement range or span, refers to the entire range of values that the instrument is capable of measuring or detecting.
   • It represents the maximum and minimum values that the instrument can measure or respond to, typically expressed in engineering units (e.g., psi, °C, %RH).
   • The full-scale range encompasses the entire range of potential input values that the instrument can handle, from the lowest to the highest value.

Key Differences:

• Coverage: The calibration range is a subset of the full-scale range, representing the specific portion of the range over which the instrument is calibrated and validated. It may cover only a portion of the instrument's full-scale range.
• Accuracy Focus: Calibration efforts are primarily focused on ensuring accuracy and reliability within the calibration range. Instruments may have different accuracies or performance characteristics at different points within the full-scale range.
• Application Specificity: The calibration range is often tailored to meet the requirements of specific applications or measurement scenarios, focusing on the most critical or commonly used range of values. The full-scale range represents the overall capability of the instrument across its entire range of potential values.

In summary, while both calibration range and full-scale range describe aspects of an instrument's operating range, they serve different purposes. The calibration range represents the portion of the range over which the instrument is calibrated and validated for accuracy, while the full-scale range encompasses the entire range of values that the instrument can measure or respond to.