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Advice please, used 34401a

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std:
Hello guys! 

I just going to buy used 34401a (6.5 digits multimeter), which I want to power on/test (not remote like ebay).
One guy sells few HP 34401a, another sells bunch of Agilent 34401a. I'm absolutely newbie related to buying used equipment or related to 34401a.  How to test and pick best one?  What should I do to avoid potential problems?

Give me advice please.

tatel:
Not 34401 owner but I looked for one some time ago. It seems you can boil it all to:

a) You'd probably want to get one with red and black connectors. There are VFD replacements for these, but not for the all-red models, if I got it right.

b) of course, you should check the VFD display is bright, not dim.

c) then, if you turn the device on and you see it "PASS" the initial test all should be good

Also, you could use the search feature and look for 34401-related threads in the forum

Have a nice day

factory:
And ask the seller to run the full self test & report back with any error codes, if any are shown.

David

mawyatt:
The AG 34401A are from Agilent and newer than HP 34401A. The all Red terminals 34401As are the oldest and some can have the VFD display replaced (we just did ours).

Also, our older HP can't be "enabled" with the TEMP function, our AG can and we did such. Not sure how you can tell which old HP 34401A display can be replaced and which can't tho, same for added TEMP Function. Maybe best to stay with a newer AG version.

These are amazing DMMs, but can take ~4 hours to completely stabilize, however no annoying fan noise :-+

Best

Kean:
Check the revision info.  It will be three numbers, like 10-05-02 on my two units, which relate to firmware revisions of the measurement, I/O, and front panel sections.

As mentioned, the early HP models will have all red banana jacks.  I would generally recommend avoiding them unless the display is good and the price is even better.
They will likely have a revision 1 display board which if it fails likely cannot be repaired.  And the main board wont work with a rev 2 display either.
The older models are also possibly not going to have had all the service note fixes applied.

See these threads as well, but it covers much the same points discussed here.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fair-price-for-an-agilent-34401a/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-34401a-revisions/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/q-agilenthp-34401a-versions-is-any-particular-one-preferable/

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