Maybe I'm not as well respected as "PTB guy", but what is here don't quite agree.
Actually went thru effort to make images. So off we goes:
Overall setup. Poor 3458A jammed under Hulk, flukey on top. No other running gear around.
Far from optimal. I would never set instruments like this for any meaningful transfers/calibrations, but they sit now, since I just need to test code and still do minor fixes for Hulk.
First impression? Thing on top like to cook... Not as hot as K2001/K2002, but far closer than 3458A ever be with dirty filter...
I don't like heat from large bad contrast LCD leaking into sense posts. 3458A is nice in that respect, as noisy out-guard display is as far as possible from input terminals.
Top to rear gradient. +52C near rear PSU, +45c at rear posts. +38ish at front posts. Maybe now we see WHY 8508 needs 4wV mode, while 3458A works just fine with 2-wire?
Fluke terminals close-up. Left = Rear block, right = front block. Here you can very well see why putting single marker in center of the post is POINTLESS
. Over 5°C gradient from post base to end.
Keysight 3458A terminals close-up. Front only
Clearly visible effect of connected cable, acting as a heatsink. You say no fair comparison with cables attached? Well, who gives a byte of binding posts temperatures without any signal attached to unit?
Here are 5720A Hulk terminals and face overall pic again.
Now something different, to make sure this thermal camera does not tell us lies, in terms of relative gradient
This is my secondary 10V FX reference box, in modified Fluke 792A power pack chassis. Good luck finding any thermal gradient anywhere.
Comparison between 3458A (other unit) and 6581T (just for giggles). Not that uniform temperature help Advantest in anything, it is still lightyears away from proper 8.5-digit meters.
And overall setup 2, sitting in unconditioned room at +29c ambient.
I think we will see who is what when I progress to tempco testing on both 3458A/3458X and 8508A.
quarks
Thanks for reviving thread. I only wish you would add also K2002+1801 preamp head spec into your nice charts. That is best AC-powered nanovolt setup money can buy, short of cryogenic stuff.