Author Topic: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!  (Read 35798 times)

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Offline EEVblog

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #25 on: May 19, 2011, 01:54:07 pm »
I am willing to bet that dave did not make a mistake on the rebulid.  I would hope he would have checked the zebra strip on the L.C.D.  I am gravitating towards an E.S.D problem.   Good job Dave on the video love it!

It's not ESD.
Same problem has been reported above by Floyo, and John at Tronixstuff has also reported weird readings and lockups.
So all points toward I didn't damage it in any way (nor would I have expected to).

BTW, zebra strips are self aligning, that's the point of them (several conductive strands per pad), and ESD damage does not fit the symptoms.
I wouldn't rule out a switch alignment/contact problem of sorts, but the likelihood of that is low I think.
Firmware seems to be the odds on favorite at this stage.

Dave.
 

Offline adam_lumpkins

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #26 on: May 19, 2011, 02:21:53 pm »
Yea dave you are right... I was "blowing shit up" as you say and i found a brand new cheap multi-meter in my mail box put a 9-volt in and.... similar problem.   It was all over the place the L.C.D. was lit up like a shit house in a snow storm.  I never  found the problem it didnt matter i blew it up anyway.  I know it was a cheap-o  but just some info that it dose happen on garbage too!!!  Thanx Dave
 

Offline Floyo

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #27 on: May 19, 2011, 03:02:26 pm »
Hmm, some other strange bug. I was trying to replicate the problem by switching the meter from off to Vac, I have the beep switched off against te noise :P. At one point It started doing the start-up beeping again, software settings reported beep on at default freq. I was able to replicate this three times (switch beep off, switch back and forth from off to Vac quickly multiple times --> meter beeps)

Further testing confirms the meter does a factory reset.
 

Offline saturation

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #28 on: May 19, 2011, 04:26:47 pm »
Hi Floyo,

I tried this, so far cannot replicate the issue.  What is your firmware version?

To get it press NULL/Scale, turn DMM on, screen shows p-code.  Mine is 1.3.



Hmm, some other strange bug. I was trying to replicate the problem by switching the meter from off to Vac, I have the beep switched off against te noise :P. At one point It started doing the start-up beeping again, software settings reported beep on at default freq. I was able to replicate this three times (switch beep off, switch back and forth from off to Vac quickly multiple times --> meter beeps)

Further testing confirms the meter does a factory reset.

Best Wishes,

 Saturation
 

Offline Floyo

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #29 on: May 19, 2011, 05:23:38 pm »
Mine is also 1.30. It only happens when you switch the unit on and off in quick succession for a few times, so it´s not much of an real life issue but it happens, to me at least.
 

Offline Kiriakos-GR

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #30 on: May 19, 2011, 05:49:32 pm »
Well,  Agilent from Germany , called me today on my mobile phone.
About the final arraignments about shipping, I had to find for them an business registered address ( but this is another story by it self).

Even so, my point is , that the device that it will actually come to me , will be from the European stock ( batch ).
It will be interesting to see , if it is the same firmware revision with what we have see so far.

And so, now I have to ask Floyo , of where did he lives ?  ( Country )

 
 

Offline Floyo

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #31 on: May 19, 2011, 05:58:06 pm »
I live in the Netherlands and I bought the unit from Conrad, a German company with a Dutch subdivision.
 

Offline Kiriakos-GR

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #32 on: May 19, 2011, 06:41:12 pm »
I live in the Netherlands and I bought the unit from Conrad, a German company with a Dutch subdivision.

Thanks friend ,  my contact is at Boeblingen, Germany.
Agilent Technologies, Basic Instruments Division

One more week of waiting. 
 

Offline johnboxall

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #33 on: May 19, 2011, 10:58:28 pm »
Yea dave you are right... I was "blowing shit up" as you say and i found a brand new cheap multi-meter in my mail box put a 9-volt in and.... similar problem.   It was all over the place the L.C.D. was lit up like a shit house in a snow storm.  I never  found the problem it didnt matter i blew it up anyway.  I know it was a cheap-o  but just some info that it dose happen on garbage too!!!  Thanx Dave

If you're ever in the mood to blow something up again, could you please record a video of it? :)

Offline EEVblog

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #34 on: May 19, 2011, 11:18:09 pm »
Mine is also 1.30. It only happens when you switch the unit on and off in quick succession for a few times, so it´s not much of an real life issue but it happens, to me at least.

Mine is 1.30 as well.

Dave.
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #35 on: May 19, 2011, 11:18:52 pm »
Hmm, some other strange bug. I was trying to replicate the problem by switching the meter from off to Vac, I have the beep switched off against te noise :P. At one point It started doing the start-up beeping again, software settings reported beep on at default freq. I was able to replicate this three times (switch beep off, switch back and forth from off to Vac quickly multiple times --> meter beeps)

Oooo, you can turn off that bloody annoying turn-on beep?

Dave.
 

Offline ruessel

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #36 on: May 20, 2011, 12:49:34 am »
Hello,
what a coincidence. Got my new U1272A yesterday. Got it from Datatec here in Germany. They have a trade in sale, 25% discount on any 'Orange Agilent' if you send in any old Fluke. So I guess Agilent is really trying to get a better market share against Fluke.
So, I unpacked my new meter, played around a little, next thing, checked Dave's blog - it is an everday routine - and bang, there was his devastating verdict on my new U1272A !!!
First I thought, maybe Dave left one of his big screwdrivers he always uses to poke around on delicate circuit boards, in the meter. But now my U1272 acted the same way - and I haven't even opened it up. Today it did not stop beeping in the Ohms mode with no probes atached. I had to remove the batteries, now it's working again! - So Dave, you did nothing wrong, no screwdriver left in there ;D
Did some measurements today, the resistor in the low-Z mode must be a PTC, I measured 250Vac, it went from 1,4Kohm to 15Kohm after half a minute.
I really like the orange display illumination, but current goes up from 4mA in Vdc or Ohms, 9mA in Vac, to 70mA with illumination.
I do a lot of repair on old audio amplifiers/tuners, so one reason I bought the Agilent, was that 'auto diode' mode, checking transistors in circuit, without having to reverse the leads - this works as expected.

I'm looking forward for Dave's full teardown, but I guess I still like my new agilent!

Regards, Thomas
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #37 on: May 20, 2011, 02:16:51 am »
Hello,
what a coincidence. Got my new U1272A yesterday. Got it from Datatec here in Germany. They have a trade in sale, 25% discount on any 'Orange Agilent' if you send in any old Fluke. So I guess Agilent is really trying to get a better market share against Fluke.
So, I unpacked my new meter, played around a little, next thing, checked Dave's blog - it is an everday routine - and bang, there was his devastating verdict on my new U1272A !!!
First I thought, maybe Dave left one of his big screwdrivers he always uses to poke around on delicate circuit boards, in the meter. But now my U1272 acted the same way - and I haven't even opened it up. Today it did not stop beeping in the Ohms mode with no probes atached. I had to remove the batteries, now it's working again! - So Dave, you did nothing wrong, no screwdriver left in there ;D
Did some measurements today, the resistor in the low-Z mode must be a PTC, I measured 250Vac, it went from 1,4Kohm to 15Kohm after half a minute.
I really like the orange display illumination, but current goes up from 4mA in Vdc or Ohms, 9mA in Vac, to 70mA with illumination.
I do a lot of repair on old audio amplifiers/tuners, so one reason I bought the Agilent, was that 'auto diode' mode, checking transistors in circuit, without having to reverse the leads - this works as expected.

I'm looking forward for Dave's full teardown, but I guess I still like my new agilent!

Regards, Thomas

Thanks, I'll forward on to Agilent yet another person with a problem.
Wow, this is getting serious, and does not appear to be a rare event!

Yes the LowZ ressitor can't just be a standard tempco resistor, otherwise at 240V it would heat up just a tad at 1.5Kohms!  :o

The teardown is fine, the design and build quality is first class, I really couldn't fault it. Will upload that now.

Dave.
 
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Offline insurgent

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #38 on: May 20, 2011, 03:31:28 am »
I think it's obvious that they simply accidentally loaded Windows Vista on to the meters instead of the proper software.
Just select the menu option "Install Windows Genuine Advantage" and you should have no further problems!
 

Offline Floyo

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #39 on: May 20, 2011, 05:00:27 am »
Oooo, you can turn off that bloody annoying turn-on beep?

Dave.

Yes you can, but then the machine doesn't beep at all. One thing I would like to see added to the firmware is a function where the meter only beeps when its necessary, Auto Hold, probe in current jack, Continuity and so forth, and that it remains silent for the rest of the time. I find the beeping every time a button is pressed rather annoying.
 

Offline EEVblog

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #40 on: May 20, 2011, 06:32:36 am »
I like a gentle beep when the buttons are pressed, but I hate the LOUD beep when the thing switches on.
Shame you can't select any option you want.

Dave.
 

Offline Kiriakos-GR

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #41 on: May 20, 2011, 07:59:45 am »
" Gentle Beep "

Well, if the people who works with electronics, dislike the power of it ,
I bet that this DMM will end up like the "Helen of Troy"  for the electricians .. :D
 

Offline elCap

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #42 on: May 20, 2011, 02:11:57 pm »
I could reproduce the problem on my 1272 tonight, but I don't know how really.. I was playing around with the ohms and turn it off and on an it hang up after some jumping around of the scales and high voltage indication. Problem was fixed by off-on. Then I could not reproduce it again. My fw is version 1.3 as well.

I saw a reviewer of this meter over at element14 also reported problem with the meter hanging up and scales jumping all over.
Can be found here: http://www.element14.com/community/roadTestReviews/1002

So I guess that makes it 6 cases, so far..

I could also reproduce the problem with factory reset:
Hmm, some other strange bug. I was trying to replicate the problem by switching the meter from off to Vac, I have the beep switched off against te noise :P. At one point It started doing the start-up beeping again, software settings reported beep on at default freq. I was able to replicate this three times (switch beep off, switch back and forth from off to Vac quickly multiple times --> meter beeps)

Further testing confirms the meter does a factory reset.
« Last Edit: May 20, 2011, 02:28:11 pm by elCap »
 

Offline Neilm

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #43 on: May 20, 2011, 03:01:41 pm »
And so dear friend Shafri , I do not see any " plague " near by .. 
i mean, beta testing usually involved in software. but i dont know if its happening in hardware as well, but it seems starting like that. except they dont call dave a beta tester.


The company I work for sends out a couple of Alpha units as demonstrators to real world installations, and then sends out Betas to various companies with instructions to use them as often as possible and to try to break them.

A couple of times the answer has come back that the Beta units were fine, only to find that when they reached full production some small issue came out of the wood work, either as a bug that was introduced when something else was fixed or something that was just plain missed.

If the Agilent fault is only repeatable when turned off and on again quickly, I would (software hat on) expect it to be a power issue with the micro-controller not being properly reset - clearly a hardware issue.

Neil
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe. - Albert Einstein
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Offline saturation

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #44 on: May 20, 2011, 04:59:51 pm »
I haven't been able to replicate the random screen issues on my 1272a, nor do I have the long wait auto-ranging issue.  I will keep trying as I did see something like it but I can't replicate it.

When I switch to ohms, it does seem to go berzerk, but its the auto-ranging algorithm, as it eventually settles on OL if I do nothing, but it will quickly read when I short or put a resistor on the probes.

I am still going through a lot of tests.

I've had 1 major issue, it was shipped with the Vdc range out of cal.  Its running at 0.11% at all ranges while its rated at 0.05%.  Its easy to fix properly but its a fairly odd finding in a new DMM with a valid certificate.

I do like the meter's potential, it has features far better than a Fluke 87V if it continues to work reliably and could be a game changer in the industrial DMM arena.  Its Vac range is more accurate than the 87V particularly past 1kHz.  

So why these issues are happening to the 1272a is puzzling.  I have a 1252a that is flawless compared to the 1272a, and the 1252a can easily excel against the Fluke 87v in accuracy and data logging.
« Last Edit: May 20, 2011, 05:03:08 pm by saturation »
Best Wishes,

 Saturation
 

Offline Kiriakos-GR

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #45 on: May 20, 2011, 08:02:03 pm »
If the Agilent fault is only repeatable when turned off and on again quickly, I would (software hat on) expect it to be a power issue with the micro-controller not being properly reset - clearly a hardware issue.

Neil

I had never played with range switch of my Fluke 28II or 87V , so to see if it has issues, after repeatable reboots.
When working on the field , you just turn on the meter normally and you just work with it.

If the meter goes crazy , when it boots it's and every time , it is damaged.
If this happens ones every 100 boot up , it's a small issue .
Most people had said so far, that when or if,  it happens , an simple power off , restores it for operation.
The most unacceptable would be to act crazy , when it boots normally and after.  

One of my own personal tests , would be to test both ( Fluke 28II and the U1272A ) by having them connected to mains for four complete days.
That's an true electrical test .

In my eyes even the Fluke 28II is untested by me, about electrical robustness,
and so at my own score board,
the game Fluke VS Agilent is 0-0 .

I am not specialist about the software,
all that I can tell about that, is that I have do five firmware updates, in my mobile phone,
and some times , it does collapses too.
And it was had 400$ retail price.
    


  
« Last Edit: May 20, 2011, 08:05:04 pm by Kiriakos-GR »
 

Offline Kiriakos-GR

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #46 on: May 21, 2011, 03:24:37 am »
Well I have two questions for the people who they own the U1272A ,
and if they can test and report it would be nice.

1)
Set the DMM to DC volts, and use your PSU at 32V volts .
Start drooping the voltage, until the 30.000 counts resolution to become active again.
Report this voltage.

2)
Set the DMM at Ohms range , measure one resistor of 1.8K or 2.2K Max, and one resistor of 3.3K or 4.7K Max.
Check the display response ,  do you find it , to react faster in any of the two measurements ?

Thanks.  :)
  
  
« Last Edit: May 21, 2011, 03:28:08 am by Kiriakos-GR »
 

Offline Floyo

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #47 on: May 21, 2011, 08:07:02 am »
1) Around 26.5 Volts
2) The 4.7K seems to be faster then the 2.2K, tough this is a bit subjective since I haven't used a stopwatch, but it would make sense because the meter has to switch to a lower range for the 2.2K.
 

Offline Kiriakos-GR

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #48 on: May 21, 2011, 09:45:08 am »
Thank you  Floyo, for the fast respond.   :)

About the resistance check .
It would be more practical , to do it like this .

1 ) Power on -->  Ohms mode.
2 ) cross your leads = Auto range drops to ohms.
3 ) measure  the low in value (1.8K or 2.2K )
4 ) cross your leads = Auto range drops to ohms.
5 )  measure  the high in value ( 3.3K or 4.7K)
6 ) compare the display response. ( give an estimate of the display refresh rate. )

So far from the Fluke documents its known that the 80 series , and the 28II model.
At the 20.000 counts they refresh the display , only ones per second.
When they work at lower counts , they come close to 4 refreshes per second.

The U1272A in theory is capable for five refreshes per second,
and I am a believer , but I have to ask in which resolution ?

I am seeking for the truth , and only the truth, so help me God..  :D

« Last Edit: May 21, 2011, 09:46:44 am by Kiriakos-GR »
 

Offline Floyo

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Re: EEVblog #170 - Agilent FAIL!
« Reply #49 on: May 21, 2011, 11:38:10 am »
When I do the measurement like this the correct value appears almost in an instant. I don't exactly know what you mean by refresh rate, the time it takes to display the proper value in the proper range, or the updating of the bar graph.
 


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