Agilent U1251B multimeter

[Lo_tse]

Just picked up the U1251B from Active Electronic in Toronto (Canada).  The general feel of the meter was quite good.  However, the two clamshell of the meter body was only held by 3 screws on the back side.  Two in the middle (one on each side) and one near the battery compartment at the bottom end (by the middle).  I found the gap between the clamshells is fairly big and I can squeeze them closer by may be another 1 mm by hands.  I am a little disappointed at this observation.  Just curious, does anyone own this 1250 series meter and observed the same thing?  Anyway, this meter will mainly be use for DIY purpose and will not be exposed to dusty/humid industrial environments, so it should be OK.  This meter has to last me a long long time since I cannot afford another one any time soon.  Can anyone shed any light on what kind of reliability should I be expecting?

I chose this meter mainly for its higher resolution (4.5 digit) and accuracy (basic DC - 0.03%) as compare to other brands.  More importantly, the meter is on sale and Agilent is currently giving out a rebate too.  Overall, I only paid about half of the list price - a pretty good deal, I think. 

[nanofrog]

...I found the gap between the clamshells is fairly big and I can squeeze them closer by may be another 1 mm by hands.  ... Just curious, does anyone own this 1250 series meter and observed the same thing?

Yes.

The battery door is expected, but my U1252B has that issue at the top/display portion as well. A bit annoying if I'm looking at it/messing with it, but doesn't cause any issues with it's operation (also indoors only) and normally doesn't bother me (focused on trying not to smoke something... ).

[Lo_tse]

Hi, Nanofrog,

Thanks for responding.  Actually, you are right, the gap at the top/display portion is quite big too (again, I can squeeze them closer with hands without too much effort)!!   Well, as you said, these should not affect performance.  I just have to take my mind off this.

I also test the continuity beep repsonse.  It is a little slow.  What I do not understand is that the "freebie DMM" that I got from Circuit Specialist delivers instant response whereas many more expensive meters "fall short" on this regard.

Have a good day!

[robrenz]

Lo_tse,  I have 2 of those circuit specialist free meters and I agree the continuity beep is extremely fast. Those meters are also much more accurate than the specs. They match my Fluke 87 on everything I have compared. They are an exceptionaly good meter for the price

[saturation]

Its a good meter, I've had the 1252A for about a year.  My only complaints are:

I don't think the casing plastic quality is as rugged as a Fluke 87V, but I got it cheap and its more accurate in all ranges.

After 1 year the rubber coating on some parts are flaking off.

The charger died 8 months after I got it.

One range calibration was slightly off.

However its fast acquisition, higher precision and other features makes me use as my lab HH over any other DMM!  Its also as easy as the 1272a, to DIY calibrate if you are brave enough to do it, making it far easier to maintain yourself over the long term than a Fluke.  I use the Fluke and the 1272a for outdoors and travel. 

The continuity beep is not the best, but that only matters if you do such troubleshooting on a daily basis, you can always confirm by checking the LCD.  On the 1272a it also flashes the LED backlight, which is better because many times the background noise will drown out sound, and its good to get secondary feedback without actually reading the ohms scale.

[Baliszoft]

The only part i can move (squeeze) on my 1252b is the battery compartment door. The gap there (between the orange parts) is ~1mm and i can push it together to ~0.5mm. I can not really move any other parts/sections (without some serious force), mine is rock solid. Actually too rigid. Btw. i am happy with it (at least until now). I do not know if i can believe to the calibration certificate, the range i am using most of the times (0-5V) has an accuracy of 0.015% (according to the cert).

[Lo_tse]

Its a good meter, I've had the 1252A for about a year.  My only complaints are:

I don't think the casing plastic quality is as rugged as a Fluke 87V, but I got it cheap and its more accurate in all ranges.

After 1 year the rubber coating on some parts are flaking off.

The charger died 8 months after I got it.

One range calibration was slightly off.

However its fast acquisition, higher precision and other features makes me use as my lab HH over any other DMM!  Its also as easy as the 1272a, to DIY calibrate if you are brave enough to do it, making it far easier to maintain yourself over the long term than a Fluke.  I use the Fluke and the 1272a for outdoors and travel. 

The continuity beep is not the best, but that only matters if you do such troubleshooting on a daily basis, you can always confirm by checking the LCD.  On the 1272a it also flashes the LED backlight, which is better because many times the background noise will drown out sound, and its good to get secondary feedback without actually reading the ohms scale.

Hi, Saturation

Thank you for sharing your comments and opinions.  I agree that the slightly slow continuity beep is not a big deal.  I am not a electrician and don't much diagnoses/troubleshoot on power supply panels or circuits.  As I mentioned in my message, the meter feel sturdy and solid but I wish the meter has more of that protective "rubber" covering.  It is also my feeing that the Fluke is the more rugged piece. 

I was quite surprised that the meter came calibrated - not NIST calibrated but still.  I feel quite assuring knowing that my meter is reliable and trustworthy (at least for one year!!)

I cannot complain the response, it is quite fast and I love the high resolution.  For the price I paid, I am happy.

Regards,

[Lo_tse]

Lo_tse,  I have 2 of those circuit specialist free meters and I agree the continuity beep is extremely fast. Those meters are also much more accurate than the specs. They match my Fluke 87 on everything I have compared. They are an exceptionaly good meter for the price

Hi, robrenz

Really?!!  Wow, it's good to know that those freebies are decent equipments.  May be I should pay more respect to mine.

Regards,

[nanofrog]

I also test the continuity beep response.  It is a little slow.

Thanks to Dave and his EEV Blog, I was aware of the continuity speed.

As it happens, it's not that big a deal for me, as the time it takes to make sure I've probed the traces, it beeps.

Maybe I'm just slow, but super fast continuity testing is faster than I can probe traces. So if it's fast enough for my probing speed, it's sufficient. So I don't knock the unit for that.

Overall, I found the U1252B to offer a better bang-for-the-buck than Fluke's offerings (compared it with the Fluke 287), and have been quite satisfied with it.

After 1 year the rubber coating on some parts are flaking off.

I've not had mine that long, so it's not been an issue so far (got it in Jan 2012).

The charger died 8 months after I got it.

I'd like more information on this if possible, as I recall it was mentioned earlier (recall you indicated it was a good design, but poorly implemented). Any specifics you can offer?

[saturation]

Yes, sorry I haven't had time to post photos yet, a good portion of the PSU is hand assembled, repaired, but not well cleaned.   The parts are acceptable quality, but its not made to the same standard as the DMM,  nor most laptop supplies.  Here's quick photos via my phone, as the pictures tell the story.


Component side, 1252A charger:




solder side, aka 'suicide' for the PSU.  This is exactly how it appears, I still haven't had time to find shorts or examine the tracings for defects, but this type of workmanship puts high potential for premature failure:

The charger died 8 months after I got it.

I'd like more information on this if possible, as I recall it was mentioned earlier (recall you indicated it was a good design, but poorly implemented). Any specifics you can offer?

[mzacharias]

If as I understand this (rotten) power supply is now fixed, what was it? Capacitors? We've seen a ton of bad caps in small switchers... Money makers when it's someone else's, a PITA if it is yours...

[nanofrog]

Yes, sorry I haven't had time to post photos yet, a good portion of the PSU is hand assembled, repaired, but not well cleaned.   The parts are acceptable quality, but its not made to the same standard as the DMM,  nor most laptop supplies.  Here's quick photos via my phone, as the pictures tell the story.

solder side, aka 'suicide' for the PSU.  This is exactly how it appears, I still haven't had time to find shorts or examine the tracings for defects, but this type of workmanship puts high potential for premature failure:

I see what you mean...

I'll have to keep an eye on mine (only used it a couple of times so far, and I don't leave it plugged into mains when not in use), but I'm not willing to crack the enclosure as it appears to be one that's glued together (looks like you had a job just getting it apart to access the PCB).

This is truly appreciated. Thank you.

[BBQdChips]

Does any place in the USA sell Agilent meters at pricing near the Canadian reseller listed above?  I'd like to take advantage of the rebate that has only a few days left and just grab one.  I shouldn't be spending like this, but, I've wanted one for some time and this is about as good a time as any.

[Lo_tse]

Does any place in the USA sell Agilent meters at pricing near the Canadian reseller listed above?  I'd like to take advantage of the rebate that has only a few days left and just grab one.  I shouldn't be spending like this, but, I've wanted one for some time and this is about as good a time as any.

According to Agilent's website, the rebate on US purchases had ended on Jan 30 , 2012.  I remembered reading  some threads in the forum that Grainger (US) was having a big sale last fall on Agilent's DMM and a bunch of guys that frequent this forum managed to get good deals.   

I was lucky that the reseller is having a sale on these meters on top of the rebate.  I have to confess that it is the deep discount that motivated me to buy the U1251B - I cannot afford these meter at list price. 

[BBQdChips]

Lo_tse,

Taken from the PDF rebate form:

* Offer valid from August 1, 2011 to April 15, 2012. One rebate
check per HH DMM serial number redeemed. Offer available
only in the United States and Canada. You can purchase your
new HH DMM unit from a distributor or from Agilent, but only
end users are eligible to receive the cash rebate. Distributors are
expressly excluded from receiving cash rebates under this offer.

So, it looks like they must have extended the rebate in the US.  I see that lots on computer hardware, one rebate ends, another begins.  This is a fairly good deal though, and like you, I don't know that I want one bad enough to pay list. 

I haven't found a US reseller with what I'd call attractive pricing, yet.  Still looking.  Thanks for the headsup tho.

[free_electron]

Try metrictest. I got my u1253. Rebate arrived within 3 weeks

[Lo_tse]

Lo_tse,

Taken from the PDF rebate form:

* Offer valid from August 1, 2011 to April 15, 2012. One rebate
check per HH DMM serial number redeemed. Offer available
only in the United States and Canada. You can purchase your
new HH DMM unit from a distributor or from Agilent, but only
end users are eligible to receive the cash rebate. Distributors are
expressly excluded from receiving cash rebates under this offer.

So, it looks like they must have extended the rebate in the US.  I see that lots on computer hardware, one rebate ends, another begins.  This is a fairly good deal though, and like you, I don't know that I want one bad enough to pay list. 

I haven't found a US reseller with what I'd call attractive pricing, yet.  Still looking.  Thanks for the headsup tho.

You are right.  Agilent must have extended the rebate program.  Yeah, I was having the same problem when searching for a official Agilent distributor/dealer/partner that offered discount (only about 6-7 in the whole Canada!).  Turne dout that quite a few of these "official distributor/dealer/partner are actually in the US.  SOmething that bothers me too is that the Canada list price was higher than that in th US??  I was lucky that Active  Tech was having a sale and I think I got the last one, I think.

Anyway, good luck!

Regards,

[saturation]

You're welcome.  Yes, its not biggie to replace with a susbtitute brick, but what I found easiest is I just use the test probes with alligators and clip it to my bench PSU, set at 20V, 250mA.

The quality of the PSU is just not something you'd expect from Agilent paying full price for this DMM.  The case looks more like thermoplastic welding, its leaves no residue and the seals are very clean ... those terrible gouges you see are my attempts to try to open it with hot air, and the plastic would just flow together and seal.  Its very easy to reseal once open.  The lower half is cut open with a dremel tool, which is the easier and better way to do it. 

I see what you mean...
I'll have to keep an eye on mine (only used it a couple of times so far, and I don't leave it plugged into mains when not in use), but I'm not willing to crack the enclosure as it appears to be one that's glued together (looks like you had a job just getting it apart to access the PCB).

This is truly appreciated. Thank you.

My guestimate is the sloppy workmanship shorted out a component, and it very possible I can salvage this PSU and reseal it.  However, as I've no time to troubleshoot it I'll just salvage the parts and use my bench supply for charging.  The 1252a series is not a preferred field meter as its not as tough as the 1272a or the 87V, and it has short battery life.  But at in the lab, I use it almost all the time and the bench PSU are easily available.

If as I understand this (rotten) power supply is now fixed, what was it? Capacitors? We've seen a ton of bad caps in small switchers... Money makers when it's someone else's, a PITA if it is yours...

[BBQdChips]

@free_electron,
Thanks, I submitted a quote request with them, but the auto response says it may take up to 2 days. 

@Lo_tse,

After seeing that rebate form, I ordered from Active, U1252.  I quickly went to the Agilent site to see what the rebate process was, and there the information is contradictory, and says what you said to begin with.  So, maybe they have not extended it.   I called Active and they were very helpful.  They are in fact contacting Agilent to see what the issue is and see if there is some error.  If not, they're going to cancel my order and I'll just wait around to find another deal some time in the future.  I've been wanting one of these or a nice Fluke for some time. 

I did see another promo on the Agilent site as well. There they have a deal where you get a FREE U1272x with the purchase of a bench power supply.  Of course knowing my luck, there'll be an exclusion:  "Available worldwide! (except central pennsylvania)"   


 

[free_electron]

@free_electron,
Thanks, I submitted a quote request with them, but the auto response says it may take up to 2 days. 

Call them. they are in Hayward, California. you will know the price on the phone in 5 minutes. to order : they'll send you an email with a pdf file , fill it out and fax it back. done
I called them in the morning , filled out the pdf file , faxed it and an hour later i had the meter ( i went to pick it up at their warehouse, i only live about 10 miles away). they have truckloads of these things in stock. They are actually agilents warehouse...