Agilent U1732B LCR meter fail

[norEL]

Hi everyone,

here is a youtube video I uploaded of my Agilent U1732B LCR meter failing in resistans (series) mode without any component attached.
I`m not saying to much, but hope you see what is going on.
Reminds me of the failure Dave discovered on his Agilent DMM.

 

Best regards,

Marius
NORWAY

[lesly]

I look your video, your button and skin label weren't recently released version.
could you verify your firmware version.

[Mechatrommer]

with this silent video, it is less helpfull for me who never own a lcr meter. i dont see anything in the video.

[Floyo]

It doesn't really look like a failure as such, my unit (1731B) does exactly the same. I think it's just some noise together with input parasitics, If you cal the meter in open position (just press "cal") it will show OL on the display. If you take any ordinary (high input impedance) DMM and put it into the mV range it will pick up some 50/60Hz noise and display it as a (jittery) reading, and I think this is the same effect.

So it doesn't look like a big deal to me, tough I could be wrong of course.

[Drirr]

This is not unusual, my unit from APPA is doing the same. It is caused by high dissipation factor.

[saturation]

LCR meters measure resistance using AC, and sensors pick up noise; they will not be OL like a DMM which uses DC, if the leads are left open.

[norEL]

Thanks for your comments!
My LCR meter did not have this weird behavior before. It always went to OL. without CAL it and I am working in my lab where I always have used it.
There is nothing new in my lab either witch could have made some new ac noise, so I took it as a fault on the meter.
I contacted the dealer where I bought it and he would like me to send the meter to him, so now it is on it`s way.
I hope you guys have right, so I can get my LCR meter back SAP because I need it. But now it is up to the dealer to decide...
Maybe I get the new U1733C if I really get lucky "cross my fingers"

I will keep my post updated on what will happen to the meter and if there was a failure on it.

To you that commented on my video: there was no effort in making this video good, it was just to show the behavior of the meter before I did a complain to my dealer.

Best regards,

Marius

[saturation]

If its just the ohms range, I believe the 1732a only reads to 10M ohm, which is far below what many good DMMs can do.

You can easily check the reading if you have a 1 or 10 Mohm resistor and compare it against your DMM then sample check with other resistors too, 100k, 10k and 1k and 100 ohms.

[norEL]

Here is a status update on my LCR meter fail.
The meter was taken back and I could pick out a new meter.
I asked my dealer what was wrong with my old meter, but he could not tell because it was sent to Agilent. So wonder what it was...
But today I received my new Agilent U1733C LCR meter so now the old one is almost forgotten!
Attached some images of the new meter.
I will not make a product review of the meter until I have used it for some time and really tried it out. Look forward to try the new modes, like ESR!! (maybe Dave have a new LCR meter from Agilent to review??)
One thing I can say for sure now is that the U1733C meter has a lot more pleasant "beep" when I turn it on and use the meter than the sickly LOUD "beep" the U1732B had!

Best regard`s

Marius

[Kiriakos-GR]

One thing I can say for sure now is that the U1733C meter has a lot more pleasant "beep" when I turn it on

Best regard`s

Marius

You must to return it back ..  My U1272A plays the Bonney M - Daddy Cool at every boot,
this is what I would describe as pleasant    LOL

Regards.. 

[norEL]

One thing I can say for sure now is that the U1733C meter has a lot more pleasant "beep" when I turn it on

Best regard`s

Marius

You must to return it back ..  My U1272A plays the Bonney M - Daddy Cool at every boot,
this is what I would describe as pleasant    LOL

Regards.. 

That would have been a nice welcome when the meter is turned on for the day Why don`t they add a SD-card for boot music on the meters I wonder??  LOL

Regards

Marius

[zaoka]

It would be nice too see a picture from inside... 

[norEL]

Hello,

here is as requested pictures of the U1733C meter taken apart 
Enjoy!

Marius

[Richard W.]

Hello Marius,

what's your verdict on the Agilent U1733C?
I am looking for a good LCR meter.

Have you tried R and C in series/parallel? Does it work alright?

regards
Richard

[norEL]

Hello Marius,

what's your verdict on the Agilent U1733C?
I am looking for a good LCR meter.

Have you tried R and C in series/parallel? Does it work alright?

regards
Richard

Hello Richard,

so far I love the meter! It works perfectly in both parallel and series modes without any random values popping up when no component is attached as the old one did (so it was something wrong with the U1732B).
The orange details on the meter is more rubber so the meter is not so "slippery" compared to the U1732B. You can also adjust the "beep`s" to different frequencies.
And the U1733C has more features like Z mode, ESR etc. (read the data sheet: http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/techSupport.jspx?pid=1984437&pageMode=PL&t=79841.g.1&cc=NO&lc=eng )
It also have a measuring frequency up to 100kHz (U1733C).
The display have got better resolution and a much better background light (orange).
So for a handheld LCR meter this must today be top of the range.

I would recommend this meter to anyone who ask me for a handheld LCR meter to buy so far.

Hope this helps and feel free to ask if there is any questions.

Best regards,
Marius

PS. I will give a review when I have used the meter and all its features for some time.

[Ronnie]

So for a handheld LCR meter this must today be top of the range.

I would recommend this meter to anyone who ask me for a handheld LCR meter to buy so far.

Do you think it is worth the investment buying an Agilent U1733C? I plan to get one for audio amplifier design. Is the unit made in Malaysia?   

[Kiriakos-GR]

All the Agilent orange product line is made in Malaysia.
Agilent owns the factory.

Hi norEL, thanks for all the information.
The orange rubber it does great work about impacts plus it is non "slippery",  and stands well in high temperatures too. 
I do not think that any one will expose in high temperatures one LCR meter.

But the U1272A DMM it did past the test.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=4190.0

[norEL]

Ronnie,

if you take a look at agilent 173X series there is LCR  meters with different specs and price than the U1733C .
I tend to buy the meters that have all the modes that is possible to get in that meter when I buy. I think it is handy to have ESR, Z-mode etc. incase I need it one day, instead of buying a new meter the day I need a new mode and have several meters for different use than a few meters with many modes.
The U1733C is the only Agilent LCR meter with 100kHz measure freq.
When it comes to buy a LCR meter I will recommend Agilent.
And when it comes to where the meters are made.... It`s Agilent man, they are a known name with a good reputation and I really doubt they will ruin that with bad production of their products.

Marius
 

 

[norEL]

All the Agilent orange product line is made in Malaysia.
Agilent owns the factory.

Hi norEL, thanks for all the information.
The orange rubber it does great work about impacts plus it is non "slippery",  and stands well in high temperatures too. 
I do not think that any one will expose in high temperatures one LCR meter.

But the U1272A DMM it did past the test.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=4190.0

Hi,

Very good review on the U1272A you made!
I really like the new line of meters Agilent comes with. Ok, I got a LCR meter with a failure but what factory does not make any failure time to time.
Agilent really proved that they can give the customer a new product back if there is something wrong. In my case I could choose a different meter.
So this makes me more happy with Agilent as a brand for my test equipment!

Marius

[Ronnie]

I tend to buy the meters that have all the modes that is possible to get in that meter when I buy. I think it is handy to have ESR, Z-mode etc. incase I need it one day, instead of buying a new meter the day I need a new mode and have several meters for different use than a few meters with many modes.
The U1733C is the only Agilent LCR meter with 100kHz measure freq.

@norEL,
  We have the same principle in life; I usually get the best model my money can buy. Just in case I decide to buy U1733C it will be my first Agilent product and hopefully it will serve me at least for a couple of decades   
100 kHz test frequency is right for audio design that is why I prefer U1733C over U1731C or U1732C.