5-1/2 and 6-1/2 digits bench multimeters

[sotos]

PICOTEST M3510A, 6.5 digit, dual display, high performance digital multimeter.

Item is for sale.
If, still interested.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/261084203456?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

[PA4TIM]

I have a Keithley 2000 and I like it. Also a 196 anf 199. I doubed between a Fluke and agilent but the keithley had some functions the agilent had not that were important to me. The accuracy was comparable with the Fluke ( the more expensive one, end on 46 ? ) but that was allmost 400 euro more.
The Keithley was calibrated nist tracable, came with certificate that named calibrators brand and serialnumber and date of nist calibration.
Also an older solartron 7,5 digit.

One day I hope to find an affordable 3458 ( one must have a dream)

[mahwe]

First sorry for my bad english.
i would like to buy a Fluke8846A or a Agilent 34410A.
Does anybody use them with Labview or matlab?
I know the Agilents from the university an i love them, but i like the Plot and the Histogram from the Fluke.
I would like to use the DMM together with other Instruments.
How good is the RS232-USB and the Lan communication in compare with the agilent ?

[Arek_R]

Hi folks, what do you thing about this offer:?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Agilent-HP-34401A-6-5-Digit-Multimeter-2-Wire-4-Wire-KEYSIGHT/183032253806?hash=item2a9d928d6e:g:BRgAAOSwFMdaZn5D

[mbless]

Hi folks, what do you thing about this offer:?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Agilent-HP-34401A-6-5-Digit-Multimeter-2-Wire-4-Wire-KEYSIGHT/183032253806?hash=item2a9d928d6e:g:BRgAAOSwFMdaZn5D

It looks really clean and has GPIB & serial but is too expensive for me. If that is a calibration sticker from Jan. 2009, you should have it calibrated which will run you another ~£250. That brings you up to £700, at which point I'd rather buy a new DMM.

I bought a brand-new (2 month old factory calibration) 34465A for £900 last year. No GPIB, but has usb and ethernet I can connect to for automation.

[Miti]

Nobody likes HP 3478A apparently. It is a 5.5 digits after all, I have 2 of them and I like them a lot. They're well aged, never drift. You replace carefully the battery and it is good for another 20 years.

[nanofrog]

Nobody likes HP 3478A apparently. It is a 5.5 digits after all, I have 2 of them and I like them a lot. They're well aged, never drift. You replace carefully the battery and it is good for another 20 years.

FWIW, I find they're too hard to read since the LCD display isn't backlit. 

[GreyWoolfe]

Nobody likes HP 3478A apparently. It is a 5.5 digits after all, I have 2 of them and I like them a lot. They're well aged, never drift. You replace carefully the battery and it is good for another 20 years.

FWIW, I find they're too hard to read since the LCD display isn't backlit. 

No biggie if you have the surface of the sun over your workbench like I do.   My little Micronta 22-175A display is like that and I can see it just fine.  YLMV(Your lighting may vary).

[nanofrog]

Nobody likes HP 3478A apparently. It is a 5.5 digits after all, I have 2 of them and I like them a lot. They're well aged, never drift. You replace carefully the battery and it is good for another 20 years.

FWIW, I find they're too hard to read since the LCD display isn't backlit. 

No biggie if you have the surface of the sun over your workbench like I do.   My little Micronta 22-175A display is like that and I can see it just fine.  YLMV(Your lighting may vary).

Good point. 

Since I've moved my benches to a different wall, my lighting has actually improved enough such a display would be more visible (swapped CCFL's for ~6000K LED's in the ceiling fixture). Display angle could still be a problem though. An easy fix for handhelds as they're easily repositioned. Not so sure with a bench unit (viewing angle = ?). 

FWIW, I'm still trying to get the lighting sorted (no room for swing arm lamps as before). Looking at inexpensive magnetic machine lights for sewing machines/lathes/milling machines as they'll easily attach to the bottom of my shelves as they've steel angle on the bottoms for additional support.

[GreyWoolfe]

Nobody likes HP 3478A apparently. It is a 5.5 digits after all, I have 2 of them and I like them a lot. They're well aged, never drift. You replace carefully the battery and it is good for another 20 years.

FWIW, I find they're too hard to read since the LCD display isn't backlit. 

No biggie if you have the surface of the sun over your workbench like I do.   My little Micronta 22-175A display is like that and I can see it just fine.  YLMV(Your lighting may vary).

Good point. 

Since I've moved my benches to a different wall, my lighting has actually improved enough such a display would be more visible (swapped CCFL's for ~6000K LED's in the ceiling fixture). Display angle could still be a problem though. An easy fix for handhelds as they're easily repositioned. Not so sure with a bench unit (viewing angle = ?). 

FWIW, I'm still trying to get the lighting sorted (no room for swing arm lamps as before). Looking at inexpensive magnetic machine lights for sewing machines/lathes/milling machines as they'll easily attach to the bottom of my shelves as they've steel angle on the bottoms for additional support.

I have 2, 4ft Envirolite 6 bulb 5200K LED shop fixtures over my workbench, end to end, suspended from the ceiling.  Each fixture is supposed to be 10,000 lumens.  Doesn't matter if they are or not, they are BRIGHT!  I am completely LED in the office and I am very happy about it.  Lots of light, a better quality light from the fluorescent bulbs and cheaper to run.

[nanofrog]

I have 2, 4ft Envirolite 6 bulb 5200K LED shop fixtures over my workbench, end to end, suspended from the ceiling.  Each fixture is supposed to be 10,000 lumens.  Doesn't matter if they are or not, they are BRIGHT!  I am completely LED in the office and I am very happy about it.  Lots of light, a better quality light from the fluorescent bulbs and cheaper to run.

Are you trying to replicate a small star in there or something? 

I suspect I'd end up like this after sitting in that much light...   

[Arek_R]

Hi folks, what do you thing about this offer:?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Agilent-HP-34401A-6-5-Digit-Multimeter-2-Wire-4-Wire-KEYSIGHT/183032253806?hash=item2a9d928d6e:g:BRgAAOSwFMdaZn5D

It looks really clean and has GPIB & serial but is too expensive for me. If that is a calibration sticker from Jan. 2009, you should have it calibrated which will run you another ~£250. That brings you up to £700, at which point I'd rather buy a new DMM.

I bought a brand-new (2 month old factory calibration) 34465A for £900 last year. No GPIB, but has usb and ethernet I can connect to for automation.

Yeah it's not a good price, but well here in EU it's like that.
Or maybe someone could save me with untaxed shipping in normal prices from USA to me
So we find nice deal, I purchase it to someones adress in US, send via paypal $50 for shipping + "thank you" in equivalent of 20-pack of beer
Because usually they charge automatically like $100-$300 for shipping and some ridiculous 40% tax, global shipping program in a nutshell...

EDIT: Found better offer from US with normal shipping price($40): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hewlett-Packard-34401A-6-Digit-Digital-Multimeter/282912993966?hash=item41deedb2ae:g:fp4AAOSwrXdaxiOR
With some luck I might be able to get it for 300GBP($400?)
What do you think?

[nanofrog]

Yeah it's not a good price, but well here in EU it's like that.
Or maybe someone could save me with untaxed shipping in normal prices from USA to me
So we find nice deal, I purchase it to someones adress in US, send via paypal $50 for shipping + "thank you" in equivalent of 20-pack of beer
Because usually they charge automatically like $100-$300 for shipping and some ridiculous 40% tax, global shipping program in a nutshell...

EDIT: Found better offer from US with normal shipping price($40): https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hewlett-Packard-34401A-6-Digit-Digital-Multimeter/282912993966?hash=item41deedb2ae:g:fp4AAOSwrXdaxiOR
With some luck I might be able to get it for 300GBP($400?)
What do you think?

You might want to take a look at reshipping services (example).  FWIW, other members have used such services successfully. 

As per the eBay unit you linked, it's a good price IMHO (add ~$100 in shipping and customs based on eBay's estimate). So I'd recommend figuring out your max bid and give it a go. 

[Arek_R]

It's $40 for shipping and $65 for import charges.
I'll try $320, which will close in $425 or about 300GBP.

[rhb]

I picked up a 3478A for $109 with shipping recently. It arrived somewhat dirty, but it cleaned up really well.  I can't say about the calibration but it is rock steady on any of three LM399 references.  Pretty hard to beat in the "bang for the buck" department.

[GreyWoolfe]

I have 2, 4ft Envirolite 6 bulb 5200K LED shop fixtures over my workbench, end to end, suspended from the ceiling.  Each fixture is supposed to be 10,000 lumens.  Doesn't matter if they are or not, they are BRIGHT!  I am completely LED in the office and I am very happy about it.  Lots of light, a better quality light from the fluorescent bulbs and cheaper to run.

Are you trying to replicate a small star in there or something? 

I suspect I'd end up like this after sitting in that much light...   

Funny you mention the small star.  When I turn one of them on, SWMBO asks if I am trying replicate the sun in the office   I just 
As far as the guy with the cane, you can't look at these fixtures when they are on,  they leave spots, not that I didn't do that when I first set them up, of course not.   I also don't press the red button that says DO NOT PRESS! 

[Miti]

I picked up a 3478A for $109 with shipping recently. It arrived somewhat dirty, but it cleaned up really well.  I can't say about the calibration but it is rock steady on any of three LM399 references.  Pretty hard to beat in the "bang for the buck" department.

They are amazing instruments with few limitations:
- As mentioned before, they don't have back light - a minor inconvenience for me.
- Unshrouded connectors - I think this is bigger than the back light. You'll have to cut the probes shrouds.
- It only goes up to 300V - I don't remember the last time I needed to measure more than 300V though.
- Doesn't have high Z mode - this is a big one in my opinion, 34401 and Fluke 884x both have it and I used it many times.

Sure 34401 and Fluke are different beasts and if you need that resolution and you can afford one, go for it. I have both at work and a Fluke 8845A at home but my go to instruments are HP3478A and Fluke 179 for continuity. It just feels so right, so reliable, it's hard to describe. Fluke 8845A (and 34401 as well)  is a bit annoying with its ever changing last two digits and slow buzzer so unless I really need that resolution or I need Hi Z or multiple meters, I don't feel like using it.

[mtdoc]

- Unshrouded connectors - I think this is bigger than the back light. You'll have to cut the probes shrouds.

No! Don’t do this.

Get a set of Probemaster 8018S probes with retractable shrouds. They’re excellent probes that work perfectly with the excellent HP3478A.

[nanofrog]

- Unshrouded connectors - I think this is bigger than the back light. You'll have to cut the probes shrouds.

No! Don’t do this.

Get a set of Probemaster 8018S probes with retractable shrouds. They’re excellent probes that work perfectly with the excellent HP3478A.

Seconded.  These are excellent probes, and the retractable connectors make them usable in both new and old equipment (works with both shrouded and non-shrouded input jacks on DMM's).

FWIW, you'd want the 8018S version (retractable connectors).



FWIW, they also offer a 9000 modular series (9101S).

[Miti]

Interesting, thanks! I use Probemaster at work, the ones with retractable tip, but I missed that they make retractable shrouds as well.
The reason why I cut them was that I had a lot of Fluke and Pomona with broken wire from too much bending, recovered from the garbage bin at work and repaired.
We can't fix them due to safety concerns but for me, they are acceptable, I don't have high voltage, high energy applications.
Well, the 3478A value just went up.
Not to mention that we may be onto something with calibration.  Check this out:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/hp-3478a-how-to-readwrite-cal-sram/

Soon we may be able to fine tune whatever range we want in the comfort of our basement for almost nothing... well, you'll need a transfer standard of some sort and a GPIB adapter.