Agilent E3620A or E3630A?

[mortos360]

I am going to use this Farnell offer with the free U1272A DMM by buying a PS, but I dont know which 1 is better for my use...  E3620A or E3630A
The actual question is, how usefull is the -20v rail that has only 500mA when you want to use the PS to power broken devices you try to repair?

I would like to buy more broken stuff from Ebay and try to repair it.. just to learn and have some fun.. but I have no idea about the power consumption of stuff like old bench DMM or old osciloscopes and some other test equipment?

E3620A
Output 1: 0 to 25 V, 0 to 1 A
Output 2: 0 to 25 V, 0 to 1 A
Power (max): 50 W

E3630A
Output 1: 0 to 6 V, 0 to 2.5 A
Output 2: 0 to +20 V, 0 to 0.5 A
Output 3: 0 to -20 V, 0 to 0.5 A
Power (max): 35 W

Hope some of you can give me an advice!
I guess sooner or later I will end up buying more PSs    but for now, this1 has to do it.

Thanks!

[digsys]

... I dont know which 1 is better for my use...  E3620A or E3630A  ....  how usefull is the -20v rail that has only 500mA when you want to use the PS to power broken devices you try to repair?
E3620A
Output 1: 0 to 25 V, 0 to 1 A
Output 2: 0 to 25 V, 0 to 1 A
Power (max): 50 W

E3630A
Output 1: 0 to 6 V, 0 to 2.5 A
Output 2: 0 to +20 V, 0 to 0.5 A
Output 3: 0 to -20 V, 0 to 0.5 A
Power (max): 35 W

USUALLY, all outputs are floating, so you can make -ve supplies with either unit, so I wouldn't consider THAT as the deal breaker.
The problem is, each has their own benefits -
1/ 50W is definitely worthwhile : 0-25V MAY be handy AND since both channels are matched, that gives yo 0-50V in series or 0-2A in
parallel (if the unit doesn't have tracking, just be careful doing that manually).
2/ 2.5A is definitely worthwhile : having 3 O/Puts generally is not of interest.
If it was me, I'd go #1

[eevblogfan]

25W a channel is not that great ( yes I am aware of the consumption of modern devices , but you often need to run fans , or some >1A circuits , so only one supply ?  at that cost ? 

I'd go for used ones , either used E2620A , or any other good modals , you should consider E3610A's , you can get them for ~100$ , don't be afraid of buying noun working units , they are easy to serve , me or any other will help you if needed

if you need the lots of functionality the U1272A offers , go and buy one , but assuming you don't . go for the fluke 87V . you can get new for 250$ shipped , or used ( don't make sense ) for ~200$

so please shear with us the needs you have ?

describe some circuit you are going to work with and how many rails do you need ?

I found myself often using up to 15V and sometimes in need for more than 5A , but I got different needs then you right ? if so , I'd like to hear them

Cheers

[mortos360]

Thanks for the feedback!!

My needs are very simple.. I play mostly with arduino stuff and simple circuits, but I am planing (once I got time) to learn more, since I really enjoy electronics so far.
I do own a U1272A (its my first real DMM) and I really love that thing... and since 1 is never enough, this farnell deal gets really attractive.
I guess I could also get 2x used E3610A's and a new DMM for the same money or even cheaper...   I just thought its a good idea to buy the same DMM again in case 1 died so I got something to compare with...   there is also a small chance that my current company would pay 50% for it since they want me to learn more electronics anyway ^^

Anyway... if I buy 1, ill go with the first model then.. but ill still check ebay and make a few calculation.

Thanks for your help!!

[grenert]

The big differences besides power output are:
E3620A- Isolated grounds for each output (i.e., outputs are independent).  No tracking.
E3630A- Shared grounds between 20V outputs.  Tracking (for making matched +/- bipolar supply).

[eevblogfan]

Okay , 50% is nice

if so , I'd go for the E3620A , I prefer you to own the sort of "same" lvl meter but just from other company , fluke , HP , keithely , Brymen , Rigol etc ....

fluke 87V 

Brymen BM857

you may whant to try metrix MTX3282B

I bought my *new* fluke 287 for 300$ including shipping , to that price you really should consider him as well ,

another option it to buy 3 or more fluke 87-||| or so ,

since I am working at Cal lab , I can tell you that I have seen few flukes in general , and fluke 87's in particular , the beast read  one count out ( and after warm up it is smack on sometimes ) ,

I also have a look at the tables ( every year the same customer came to calibration ) so we have the tables there , you can really trust my word , that meter is awsome and it is so good at what it is intended to do .

many PPLs can suggest you the fluke , so be sure that is not spend of $$s .

can you tell us how many meters would you like/ need ?

if you need more then one , go for another high end one , my preference will be something new , not the same ,

if you need more then 2 , please go for some old HP agilent keithely , and so forth , you will gain much more ( fluke 8050 can be picked up for 50$ !~!!!!! )

another point is when you may need more then say 3 meters *just for DC* , you may whant to have a look at that meter : http://www.ebay.com/itm/400443484310?var=670076741352&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

I can post you some pics . that meter does well , and it is indeed 3 count top ( Ie , when applying 10V , it'll show 10.001 , at 20V it might be 2 count out and at 30V may be 3 , but no more    )

would you like to by E3631A from me ? - I have two in the job and the boss willing to sell them , I'll ask for price on sunday  

[mortos360]

@eevblogfan

"other company's DMM.. "
whats wrong with agilant? I really like the look and feel of that DMM
I know fluke is awesome and stuff.. but.. ugly too!! I just dont like its design.
I am really no that professional to care too much about the specs ^^   I play with arduinos and 99% of all my uses of a DMM is check the voltage, resistance and continuity. That may change at some point.. but for now.. every 50$ DMM would probably do the job.. ^^

"how many DMMs I would need.."
I never needed more then 1.. so I guess 2 is more the enough for now!

"the E3631A.."
Well.. this is an awesome unit, but I think its a bit too much for my budget
anyway.. ask for the price and PM me plz!!
Also.. I am in europe!! shipping may not be cheap.. but im interested!!

[eevblogfan]

hey

"other company's DMM.. "
whats wrong with agilant? I really like the look and feel of that DMM
I know fluke is awesome and stuff.. but.. ugly too!! I just dont like its design.
I am really no that professional to care too much about the specs ^^   I play with arduinos and 99% of all my uses of a DMM is check the voltage, resistance and continuity. That may change at some point.. but for now.. every 50$ DMM would probably do the job.. ^^

well , I didn't really knew what's your job so I went for my best advice ,

when saying "other company's DMM.. " I ment simply for better variety and range , the U1272A is okay and gives lots of functions , but there are more meters in the market whose offer you something new , say the metrix , the fluke 287 , the brymen ( 500.000 count ! )  and perhaps even try scope meter 

yes the shipping is ugly here , where are you from ?

please tell me what's your budget for her , I may argue with the boss and reduce the price for you , plus calibration avalible for free

anywhay . if I was you , I'd go for 3 87's and 2 E3610A's , but that's your call

[mortos360]

when saying "other company's DMM.. " I ment simply for better variety and range , the U1272A is okay and gives lots of functions , but there are more meters in the market whose offer you something new , say the metrix , the fluke 287 , the brymen ( 500.000 count ! )  and perhaps even try scope meter 

I guess once I need 1 of thos functions, ill know it..
This forum is FULL of informations about DMMs.. its like a never ending story.. so I know what option I got.. I just never needed anythign more then basic funktionality.
Once I need more funktions and higher accuracy, I know where to look for informations ^^    Thanks for your feedback tho!!

yes the shipping is ugly here , where are you from ?

please tell me what's your budget for her , I may argue with the boss and reduce the price for you , plus calibration avalible for free

anywhay . if I was you , I'd go for 3 87's and 2 E3610A's , but that's your call

Austria.. not Australia!!
My budget is around 400Euros, but it was planed to get me a PS and second DMM!
See what you can do with the price and PM me plz

[eevblogfan]

hey

on ebay they go for 800~1K$ , I might be able to get it for 450$ ( which is 2X better then ebay ) and that's including the cal and adjust if needed , but that wound give you the U1272A , so you should stick with the 2 E3610A , assuming you'll be able to get them ~120$ each , that gives you only 280$ for multimeter ,  you can get with that the 87V but you's like the U1272A so that wont work out here ,

that's just Due to your tenacity to get that U1272A 

I think getting two E3610A's and say 2 87-3's is much better , but agin it's your call and I should help you with that ,

so go for the E3620A and the U1272A , good luck and happy buying 

[ivan747]

Just an aside, if I were to buy a multimeter, I would buy a different model and even a different brand so one complements the other -the things the Agilent doesn't have can be had in a Fluke, for example.

Anyway, Agilent meters are the duck's guts.