Electronics > Repair

HP34401A: Just bought one. Do I need to change the caps?

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sianturi:
Howdy,

I just bought an old HP34401A multimeter. The selftest passed, and all seems okay.
Do I have to change the electrolytic caps?

Thanks,
Edwin

SeanB:
Simple answer is YES.

Would you buy a used car, just get in and drive away without inspecting the oil, fuel, tyres and such, expecting it to drive for 100 000km without any looking further?

HighVoltage:
I have repaired many 34401A meters and have never seen a bad electrolytic cap in one of them.
But I have seen lots of failed Tantalum caps in broken 34401A meters.

On the other side, I have older and newer models in the lab and normally they don't fail. I would not install any new caps, if the meter does not show any problems. This meter does not have the typical electrolytic caps problem.

sianturi:
Okay thx guys! I will probably open the multimeter to inspect visually the electrolytic caps.

Kleinstein:
If this meter is not one known for failing because of leaking caps (e.g. like the Keithly 2000), I would not change them. With a good thermal design, godd quality and in a linear supply the caps don't age that much.
Visual inspection should be good enough for the next 10 years.

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