Amphenol Wilcoxon ReferenceMate REF1500 Vibration Reference Source

Introduction

The Amphenol Wilcoxon ReferenceMate REF1500 is a portable vibration reference source designed for quick field verification of accelerometer measurement chains. It provides a stable, known vibration signal so maintenance and test personnel can confirm that vibration sensors, cables, and connected instrumentation are operating as expected.

Part Description

The REF1500 is a vibration calibrator that generates a reference vibration level of 1 g at 159.2 Hz. This repeatable output supports functional verification of accelerometer-based measurement systems without requiring a full laboratory calibration setup.

Designed for portable use, the unit can accommodate sensors weighing up to 250 g. It includes common mounting options—1/4-28, M6, and 10-32 studs—to support a range of accelerometer mounting configurations. The reference source can operate from an AA battery for convenient field use or from AC power for bench and extended-use applications.

Applications

Potential applications for the REF1500 include:

• Field verification of accelerometers
• Functional checks of vibration measurement chains
• Troubleshooting vibration monitoring installations
• Pre-test verification of sensor and data acquisition systems
• Inspection of cables, connectors, and signal-conditioning equipment
• Routine predictive maintenance program checks
• Verification of portable vibration analyzers
• Confirmation of installed condition-monitoring sensors

Industries

The REF1500 can be useful in a variety of industries, including:

• Industrial manufacturing
• Oil and gas
• Power generation
• Wind energy
• Aerospace and aviation maintenance
• Automotive testing
• Railway and transportation
• Marine and offshore operations
• Mining and aggregates
• Process automation
• Research laboratories
• Machinery condition monitoring services

Usage Ideas

1. Maintenance Route Verification
   Carry the REF1500 during scheduled maintenance rounds to verify that portable accelerometers and handheld vibration analyzers are producing consistent readings.

2. Installed Sensor Troubleshooting
   Use the reference source to test a removed or accessible accelerometer when investigating abnormal vibration-monitoring data from a machine.

3. Test Bench Readiness Check
   Verify the operation of an accelerometer, cable assembly, signal conditioner, and data acquisition channel before beginning a machine vibration test.

Conclusion

The Amphenol Wilcoxon ReferenceMate REF1500 is a practical portable tool for verifying accelerometer-based vibration measurement systems. With its 1 g, 159.2 Hz reference output, support for sensors up to 250 g, multiple mounting stud options, and battery or AC operation, it is well suited to maintenance, troubleshooting, and test preparation tasks across many vibration-monitoring environments.