New Agilent 34461A 6.5 Digit Bench Multimeter

[HighVoltage]

The auto zero is compensating for errors in the meter internal circuitry, nothing to do with external measurements you are making.

I think the auto zero also compensates for any external voltage offset, that might be in the circuit under test.

 

[Hesam_a]

Is this unit a good replacement for HP 3457A?
Specifically in the case of  micro-Amp measurement.
I know HP 3457A can measure micron amps at  300.0000 u Amp Dc setting . the resolution at this setting is 100p Amp (6 1/2 digits)

Do you know if 34461A has the same capability?

[robrenz]

34661A has a 100µA range

[OldNeurons]

I opened my 34461A and found 2 capacitors with the top sides covered with something I believe is kapton tape ...
Any idea why they did that ?

[HighVoltage]

It is the same on the later models of the 34401A DMMs
It is probably done to protect the capacitors from excess heat during the reflow soldering process.

[slurry]

I copy+paste from another thread i started in my hunt for my perfect benchtop multimeter, i bought the 34461A:

I learned that there was a new firmware for 34460a, 34461a, 34465a and 34470a released may 14th,
i promptly downloaded it and briefly read the release notes, now we can measure CAPACITORS!!!
there is a lot of small fixes and some new functions, the multimeter now boot in 30 seconds instead of 50, great!

  to Keysight and a big


..but please tell me how to activate that particular function because i cant find it.. 
here is a link to the release notes: http://www.keysight.com/upload/cmc_upload/All/Firmware_2.08_Release_Notes.pdf

Press shift-freq to activate capacitor measurement,
max selectable range is 100µF, i tried a Elna gold 470µF and it worked fine, but 1000µF did not.

[rosbuitre]

I copy+paste from another thread i started in my hunt for my perfect benchtop multimeter, i bought the 34461A:

I learned that there was a new firmware for 34460a, 34461a, 34465a and 34470a released may 14th,
i promptly downloaded it and briefly read the release notes, now we can measure CAPACITORS!!!
there is a lot of small fixes and some new functions, the multimeter now boot in 30 seconds instead of 50, great!

  to Keysight and a big


..but please tell me how to activate that particular function because i cant find it.. 
here is a link to the release notes: http://www.keysight.com/upload/cmc_upload/All/Firmware_2.08_Release_Notes.pdf

Press shift-freq to activate capacitor measurement,
max selectable range is 100µF, i tried a Elna gold 470µF and it worked fine, but 1000µF did not.

Hi
Measurement up to 100uF

Capacitance 1.0 nF to 100.0 uF

Regards

[VK5RC]

Please see the link by OldNeurons (still firing well I think) re front panel reset, causes resting to incorrect PLC frequency in some countries, another update is coming.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/34461a-line-frequency-setting-wrong-after-front-panel-reset/msg667528/#msg667528

[rosbuitre]

New version of BenchVue Software, 2.7 in the keysight site 

Regards

[HighVoltage]

New version of BenchVue Software, 2.7 in the keysight site 

Regards

Thanks for letting us know.
As far as I heard, Keysight fixed the bug without any other enhancements.

[rosbuitre]

Hi
Can anyone tell me if this Temperature Probe is compatible with my Keysight 34461A ?

https://www.openhacks.com/page/productos/id/153/title/Sensor-de-Temperatura-NTC-Impermeabilizado#lightbox[%27galeria%27]/2/

Regards
Osvaldo

[plesa]

I do not think it is compatible, 34461A has support for 5k thermistor only.
34410/34411 has suport for 10k thermistors.
Maybe you can ask for adding this thermistor into next FW.

[rosbuitre]

I do not think it is compatible, 34461A has support for 5k thermistor only.
34410/34411 has suport for 10k thermistors.
Maybe you can ask for adding this thermistor into next FW.

Thank you 

[rosbuitre]

New version of BenchVue, 3.0

http://www.keysight.com/main/software.jspx?ckey=2417463&lc=eng&cc=US&nid=-536902435.1058513&id=2417463

Regards

[HighVoltage]

New version of BenchVue, 3.0
Regards

Nice find
officially to be released on 10-20-2015

[TheSteve]

Can anyone with the 34461A tell me if the continuity test has been improved with a software update at all since Dave's review of it? It wasn't terrible in the review but certainly doesn't look to match a Fluke 87V.
His test can be seen here:

[rosbuitre]

Hi
In my Keysight 34461A, the 2.09 version of FW worsened until it unusable in that function, worse than a DMM of  $10, waiting for months an update of FW to correct it.

Regards

[TheSteve]

Well that is a real shame. Keysight get with it!!!

[HighVoltage]

It seems the 34461A is constantly switching between an OHM measurement and beeping
The good thing, the 34470A does not have this problem
And not all 34461A's show this as badly. But nothing changed for me with the FW 2.09 update

[TheSteve]

I guess I'll be pondering it a while longer. I really want a good continuity beeper in my bench meter. I'd be selling my 34450A and Keithley 2001 to buy it and wouldn't want to be disappointed.

[rosbuitre]

The 34461A is excellent, beautiful, pity that these things bother, I have to use my old Tek to measure continuity having the 34461A  in my workbench

Regards

[billfernandez]

ON mine, continuity is detected with no perceptible delay.  But the beeper, instead of being on continuously, emits a staccato beeping with variable period.  Is that the issue you're talking about?

[TheSteve]

Wow, so the 34461A doesn't have dual display either?

Why is it my lower model 34450A can measure DC and AV volts at the same time, and various other combinations. It also has no fan and boots in 5 seconds. It is slow though in dual mode- especially in auto range. The green OLED display while boring is also amazing to look at.

My Keithley 2001 can also measure both and it throws in frequency too - at a reasonable sample rate.

Selling both to get a 34461A just doesn't seem logical even though the 34461A is a great looking machine.

It is a real shame, I think Keysight needs to throw in a few more features!

I guess I will keep looking for the ultimate(for me) bench DMM.

[HighVoltage]

Wow, so the 34461A doesn't have dual display either?

Of course the 34461A has a dual display
Just push the "Display" button and then the "2nd Meas" softkey.

[TheSteve]

Wow, so the 34461A doesn't have dual display either?

Of course the 34461A has a dual display
Just push the "Display" button and then the "2nd Meas" softkey.

Is this something they added in a software update? In Dave's video he specifically says it has no dual display capability.

edit - just reading the firmware release notes. It looks like they added "limited secondary measurements" in version 2.08.

Can anyone comment on how well it works to measure DC and AC at the same time such as you might want to use when probing a power supply in a piece of gear - does it have a decent update rate?