New Agilent meter

[sprocket]

So. 
 
My trusty old SOAR 4050B finally died on my for no apparently reason other then old age. I probably had it for well over 10 years, and probably had had +15years of good use before I got it as a freebee. I was actually quite happy with it, so it was with a bit of sadness I had to bin it.   

 
I have pretty much narrowed it down to either a new Agilent U1272A for 512 US dollars, a used Demo Agilent U1273A for 450US dollars or a new U1273A will set me back 520 US dollars. All prices are including 25% sales tax. So considering that, and the odd 1 to 1 conversion rate between US dollars and euro's that seems to be the norm when American companies sell stuff in the EU, that a pretty good deal for either of them. 
 
Any ways. My question is, does any one have any experiences with those meters with OLED displays. As much as I love bling bling (I'm a sucker for it actually) I'm slightly concerned about the longevity of OLED displays vs. near indestructible LCD displays.

[echen1024]

Where are you located? 512USD for a U1272A is way over MSRP

[EEVblog]

Unless you have very specific need for an OLED display, forget it, LCD is far better and longer battery life.

[sprocket]

Where are you located? 512USD for a U1272A is way over MSRP

I live in Denmark. Renowned for being the most taxed country in the world. Hence our 25% sales tax, but it doesn't really get any better that must American companies thinks that 1 US dollar equal 1 euro. So if some thing cost 300 US dollars in lets say on Testequity.com you can pretty much be sure the same item will cost 300 euros in the EU, that if is a US made product. 
 
But yea I envy the prices you have in the US. I could either save a few bucks or get some thing a tad better for the same amount money, but I guess thats how it is.

[echen1024]

If you know someone in the US, have them buy it, send it to you, and mark it as a gift on customs. Done!

[retiredcaps]

My trusty old SOAR 4050B finally died on my for no apparently reason other then old age.

What is wrong with it?  Some of us like repairing old meters to get them working.  See modemhead's repair of a Yokogawa (similar to Soar).

http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/yokogawa-7534-03-multimeter/

[macboy]

Unless you have very specific need for an OLED display, forget it, LCD is far better and longer battery life.

Can't argue with longer battery life on LCD.

But "far better"? Arguable. If you will use the meter outdoors in full sunlight, then an LCD will be more readable. Indoors, especially in dimly lit conditions, the OLED will hold a clear advantage.

[nanofrog]

Unless you have very specific need for an OLED display, forget it, LCD is far better and longer battery life.

Can't argue with longer battery life on LCD.

But "far better"? Arguable.

In terms of lifespan, LCD definitely has an advantage vs. OLED.

[wraper]

Unless you have very specific need for an OLED display, forget it, LCD is far better and longer battery life.

Can't argue with longer battery life on LCD.

But "far better"? Arguable.

In terms of lifespan, LCD definitely has an advantage vs. OLED.

By order of magnitude

[macboy]

Unless you have very specific need for an OLED display, forget it, LCD is far better and longer battery life.

Can't argue with longer battery life on LCD.

But "far better"? Arguable.

In terms of lifespan, LCD definitely has an advantage vs. OLED.

By order of magnitude

I can see how this could be an issue on a bench instrument which may be left on indefinitely to avoid thermal cycling, but on a battery powered portable instrument that is usually turned on for minutes at a time, is this really an issue? Not for me.

[mos6502]

In terms of lifespan, LCD definitely has an advantage vs. OLED.

Is that even an issue with current OLEDs? I have an AMOLED smartphone and it's fantastic. I use it in the car and as long as there's no direct sunlight on it, it's always perfectly readable. No signs of wear after almost a year of daily use.

[Lightages]

"No signs of wear after almost a year of daily use."

Well it is a known fact that the blue colour in an OLED is susceptible to fading over time causing color shifts. OLED displays have only been around a few years and their really long term durability is unknown but believed to be not very good. One year means nothing.

An LCD display can last decades. I have a multimeter from 1991 that is still going strong. I seriously doubt any OLED display will be working properly in less than 10 years.

The only benefit from OLED on a multimeter is indoor use and over wide angles. It is very hard to beat the overall performance of a well designed LCD.

[Lightages]

If you are really stuck on getting an Agilent at those ridiculous prices, go for the 1272. If you are open to other brands there are other good ones to choose from at lesser prices.

[rfbroadband]

I own the U1273A and I like a lot. I did an extensive study on accuracy vs price of many multimeters and decided to go with the U1273A. The display is good, but I only used and owned the unit for a few months so I can't really comment on anything related to usage over a long period of time.

[Huluvu]

Hi Sprocket,
I own also a Soar 4050 but without the "D" and was wondering about that huge Rubber Holster 
Seems to be very heavy too (original?)

Rgds

[arvidj]

The LCD vs. OLED discussion for the Agilent U127?A meter may be moot. According to the TEquipment site the LCD U1272A is "Discontinued - no replacement". However the U1272A does show up on the Agilent site and is listed alongside the U1271A, the U1273A and the U1273AX in their U1270 brochure which suggests that Agilent intended to market all of the versions and has not discontinued the LCD version.

The "no replacement" comment is strange as I would have expected the U1273A to be the recommended replacement.

I am in the market for a good multimeter so a call to TEquipment will be required to see if the preferred version is still available.

[nanofrog]

The LCD vs. OLED discussion for the Agilent U127?A meter may be moot. According to the TEquipment site the LCD U1272A is "Discontinued - no replacement". However the U1272A does show up on the Agilent site and is listed alongside the U1271A, the U1273A and the U1273AX in their U1270 brochure which suggests that Agilent intended to market all of the versions and has not discontinued the LCD version.

The "no replacement" comment is strange as I would have expected the U1273A to be the recommended replacement.

I am in the market for a good multimeter so a call to TEquipment will be required to see if the preferred version is still available.

May just be discontinued in their inventory (not selling well enough for them?), rather than EOL from Agilent.

[echen1024]

Tequipment does not sell much Agilent gear. Just look at their fake Logo.

[sprocket]

My trusty old SOAR 4050B finally died on my for no apparently reason other then old age.

What is wrong with it?  Some of us like repairing old meters to get them working.  See modemhead's repair of a Yokogawa (similar to Soar).

http://mrmodemhead.com/blog/yokogawa-7534-03-multimeter/

It's just completly dead. Used it one night, turned it off, next day it was dead. I have been trying to seen if there is some thing visually wrong, and done a wee bit a probing around on the pcb, but nada. And the MCU gets voltage fed to it, so I'm fairly sure the MCU for what ever reason decided to die.  And with out schemactis it's more trouble then it's worth. The DMM was a freebee, so it's not the end of the world other then I have had it 10 years or and served me well. It's actually surprizingly well designed considering how old it is.

Hi Sprocket,
I own also a Soar 4050 but without the "D" and was wondering about that huge Rubber Holster 
Seems to be very heavy too (original?)

Rgds

Yea original. Where I worked at the time, the SOARs got swaped out for flukes. It's probably 20-25 years old or there abouts.  weighs about 530grams.

[EEVblog]

May just be discontinued in their inventory (not selling well enough for them?), rather than EOL from Agilent.

I'd be incredibly surprised if Agilent have discontinued the U1272A. There is no reason to do that and force OLED on people, and they know it.

[sprocket]

If you are really stuck on getting an Agilent at those ridiculous prices, go for the 1272. If you are open to other brands there are other good ones to choose from at lesser prices.

Oh yea.. the prices are ridicules. But it's not only in Denmark they are pricey. Price variation in the EU is mostly due to different VAT. levels in each country. the biggest problem is actually pricing policy of American companies products the EU. Agilent isn't the only company doing this.. I have been wanting to buy a set of grado PS500's or SR325IS for ages, but prices are bumped about 50% in the EU vs. US prices and online stores in the US are not allowed to export them. But that's a different story.

I have had other brands of DMM's and never really been satisfied with them. I know what I get with either Fluke or Agilent. Top quality that will last for years. And since I get 15% discount from the official Agilent distributor in Denmark, it's kind of a no brainer.

[ElectroIrradiator]

I'd be incredibly surprised if Agilent have discontinued the U1272A. There is no reason to do that and force OLED on people, and they know it.

Farnell (EU) still has a truckload of them ready for delivery. They ask $480 (US) for one, excluding local VAT.

[arvidj]

Sent the following to TEquipment:

On your website the http://www.tequipment.net/AgilentU1272A.html is listed as “Discontinued ... no replacement”. Has Agilent discontinued the U1272A [it still seems to be alive and well on their web site and in their literature] or is it that TEquipment has simply decided to not offer the U1272A to its customers?
 
Thanks,
Arvid

Response:

Hello Arvid,

Thank you for your inquiry.

We are no longer offering it. Did you need to have that specific meter or would you be open to an alternative?

If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards,

Pete Stoermer
Technical Sales Consultant

[Lightages]

Farnell (EU) still has a truckload of them ready for delivery. They ask $480 (US) for one, excluding local VAT.

Wow. At that price I would not even think of it.

[ElectroIrradiator]

Wow. At that price I would not even think of it.

Well, that is the EU instrument market for you.

Curiously there seem to be little price difference on Agilent products around the world, once we move into the 'serious' prices for scopes and the likes. Not much to be saved there by parallel importing stuff from the US.