Products > Test Equipment

Keysight officially lost the plot - don't buy if you're a hobbyist

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switchabl:

--- Quote from: BillyO on November 03, 2022, 05:29:24 pm ---Most hobbyists can equip an entire lab of instruments that fully meet or exceed their needs for what that PS costs.

--- End quote ---

That is thinking like a business though (somewhat ironically). For your hobby, if you decide you like something and it's worth it to you, then you can just go and buy it. It does not have to be cost-effective.  :-//

nctnico:

--- Quote from: BillyO on November 03, 2022, 05:29:24 pm ---
--- Quote from: nctnico on November 03, 2022, 03:27:52 pm ---I got the wrong number. The E36313A I have is a triple channel 160W supply which does have a numeric keypad (otherwise I would not have bought it).

--- End quote ---
Most hobbyists can equip an entire lab of instruments that fully meet or exceed their needs for what that PS costs.

My 'C' brand, cheapie KORAD KA3305P will do things your E36313A will not do (like supply 60V @ 5A or 30V @ 10A) .. and for 1/10 the price.

--- End quote ---
Now you are comparing based on different requirements. The whole point of the E36313A is providing low noise, precission power to circuits. And it can do accurate metering and logging as well (like you have 6 4.5 digit DMMs hooked up to a power supply that measure voltage and current). I have a whole bunch of other power supplies as well that have either higher power or a more precise output voltage.

The thing is, at some point you have to spend money once your requirements become more strict. The dual range current metering is something that used to be only available on Keysight power supplies (at least for as far as I can see). If you work on low power stuff every now and then, that is a very useful feature because a DMM typically has quite a bit of burden voltage when measuring currents in the tens of mA range.

I also have a 25MHz function generator from Tektronix that costs ballpark 3k euro. The reason I got it is because none of the function generators from the B-brands can deliver the required performance. There is nothing elitist about it; just a matter of getting the right tools for the job.

BillyO:

--- Quote from: switchabl on November 03, 2022, 06:28:26 pm ---
--- Quote from: BillyO on November 03, 2022, 05:29:24 pm ---Most hobbyists can equip an entire lab of instruments that fully meet or exceed their needs for what that PS costs.

--- End quote ---

That is thinking like a business though (somewhat ironically). For your hobby, if you decide you like something and it's worth it to you, then you can just go and buy it. It does not have to be cost-effective.  :-//

--- End quote ---
I have no issue with that at all.  If I was Elon Musk I'd have a pretty kick-ass kit for sure.  Heck The stuff I have goes well beyond my needs as it is.

BillyO:

--- Quote from: nctnico on November 03, 2022, 07:03:04 pm ---
--- Quote from: BillyO on November 03, 2022, 05:29:24 pm ---
--- Quote from: nctnico on November 03, 2022, 03:27:52 pm ---I got the wrong number. The E36313A I have is a triple channel 160W supply which does have a numeric keypad (otherwise I would not have bought it).

--- End quote ---
Most hobbyists can equip an entire lab of instruments that fully meet or exceed their needs for what that PS costs.

My 'C' brand, cheapie KORAD KA3305P will do things your E36313A will not do (like supply 60V @ 5A or 30V @ 10A) .. and for 1/10 the price.

--- End quote ---
Now you are comparing based on different requirements. The whole point of the E36313A is providing low noise, precission power to circuits. And it can do accurate metering and logging as well (like you have 6 4.5 digit DMMs hooked up to a power supply that measure voltage and current). I have a whole bunch of other power supplies as well that have either higher power or a more precise output voltage.

The thing is, at some point you have to spend money once your requirements become more strict. The dual range current metering is something that used to be only available on Keysight power supplies (at least for as far as I can see). If you work on low power stuff every now and then, that is a very useful feature because a DMM typically has quite a bit of burden voltage when measuring currents in the tens of mA range.

I also have a 25MHz function generator from Tektronix that costs ballpark 3k euro. The reason I got it is because none of the function generators from the B-brands can deliver the required performance. There is nothing elitist about it; just a matter of getting the right tools for the job.

--- End quote ---
If you have requirements that have to be met for a specific kind of work then you have to buy an instrument that meets those requirements.  That I also don't have an issue with, but sayig something like:
--- Quote ---In general it is not like the B-brands are equivalent to the A-brands in any way.
--- End quote ---
Not only sounds elitist but also belies what you just said above.  Equivalence depends on requirements.  For instance, the Siglent SPD3303 is equivalent to your Keysight in many respects and even exceeds in some while not meeting in others.  If you need the additional current of the Siglent the Keysight will just fail miserably to meet your needs despite being an "A" brand and costing 4 times as much.

J-R:
A big part of being a hobbyist is hunting for good deals!  I picked up the E36313A with GPIB for $1,300 delivered, like new condition.  Added full warranty/replacement coverage for $60/year.

I started out as a B/C brand buyer because I thought to myself "why pay more for the same thing" or "I don't need that extra feature".  But after a bunch of purchases, reality set in and I discovered they are NOT the same thing and more often than not I eventually desired the missing feature(s).  Obviously there ARE exceptions, and I think that is where the "wars" start, but in general I've found my A brand purchases to be worth the extra money and so that is my focus going forward.


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