Agilent 34970A, Battery replacement and repair

[nfmax]

Well that is interesting. I wonder why they did such a major redesign on the 34972A if they weren't updating the DMM? I've always preferred the 34401A over the later 6 1/2 digit DMMs because it doesn't have a fan, but there does seem to be a real performance gain

[HighVoltage]

Well that is interesting.
I wonder why they did such a major redesign on the 34972A if they weren't updating the DMM?

- Removing the GPIB interface
- Add LAN
- Add USB
- Add LXI
And probably solving lots of problems with the older design like with the battery and FRAM.

But I am surprised as well, of how much effort was put in to the re-design.

I've always preferred the 34401A over the later 6 1/2 digit DMMs because it doesn't have a fan, but there does seem to be a real performance gain

Yes, I agree.
And even with some 34410A and 34461A meters around, I like to gram the 34401A for most of my daily measurements.
May be just habit.
The fan noise of the 34410A can be reduced with a lower fan speed / different fan.

Back to the 34972A
It seems the screen update rate is also higher on the new model, compared to the old one.
 

[nfmax]

I've always preferred the 34401A over the later 6 1/2 digit DMMs because it doesn't have a fan, but there does seem to be a real performance gain

Yes, I agree.
And even with some 34410A and 34461A meters around, I like to gram the 34401A for most of my daily measurements.
May be just habit.

Heh! It took long enough to wean me off my 3478A onto a 34401A. Having the ranges running up to 3xxx means there is often no significant resolution gain on the 344401A - though the accuracy specification is better

[HighVoltage]

Actually on the 34401A as well as the 34970A / 34972A you can gain one more digit and make it a 7 1/2 digit meter, if you read out the data remotely. It is just probably not very useful.