[volt-nuts] Agilent 3458A Positive Experience

[J. L. Trantham]

Brooke,

Both units were relatively 'recent' vintages.  The HP unit was from 1997 and
the Agilent unit from 2003 and they seem to be identical.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: volt-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
Behalf Of Brooke Clarke
Sent: Sunday, February 12, 2012 8:24 PM
To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement
Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] Agilent 3458A Positive Experience


Hi Joe:

Was the HP unit prior to 1972 and the Agilent unit after that?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volt

I remember using the 3458 in a number of automated systems and when the
definition changed the cal lab manager and I 
compared the newer units (green sticker AFAICR) with the older units and the
difference in their readings corresponded 
to the change in the official volt.

Have Fun,

Brooke Clarke
http://www.PRC68.com http://www.end2partygovernment.com/Brooke4Congress.html


J. L. Trantham wrote:
> Marv,
>
> The 'home-cal'd' unit 'failed' on only the 'AC VOLT High Freq' for the 
> 10 V Range with 3 V input at 4 and 8 MHz.  3 V input at 2 and 10 MHz 
> passed along with all values at the 10 mV, 100 mV, and 1 V ranges.  I 
> used an uncalibrated HP 3326A, a short piece of RG58 and a Tektronix 
> 50 ohm load to a BNC to Banana adapter.  Both 4 and 8 MHz failed with 
> an over reading by about .12 V at 4 MHz and .22 V at 8 MHz.  This 
> suggests that my 3326A outputs a slightly low amplitude at those 
> frequencies.
>
> All other ranges were cal'd using my Solartron 7081 as a 'transfer 
> standard' reading my Fluke 731B at 10 V and a Gray Instruments 10 K 
> resistor.  I have to say that calibrating the 3458A was quite easy, 
> following the instructions in the Calibration Manual, much easier than 
> calibrating my 3478A that I did recently.
>
> The Agilent unit failed all of the DC VOLT GAIN except the 100 mV 
> range with
> +100 mV input.  The -100 mV input and both + and - inputs for the 1 V, 
> +10 V,
> 100 V, and 1000 V ranges all failed, though it was very close, all 
> ranges being off by about 4 ppm.  According to Agilent, all other 
> measurements PASSED in the 'As Received' category.
>
> Prior to sending them back, I did notice that the Agilent unit read my 
> 731B 10 V about 10 uV higher than the HP unit, even before I 
> 'home-cal'd' the HP unit.  The HP unit and my Solartron 7081 seemed to 
> agree with in 2 or 3 uV.
>
> Joe
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: volt-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces at febo.com] 
> On Behalf Of Marv Gozum @ JHN
> Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 1:15 PM
> To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement; 'Discussion of precise 
> voltage measurement'
> Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] Agilent 3458A Positive Experience
>
>
> This is great to know Joe.  Just curious, 'home cal'd' 3458a sounds 
> like a challenge.  When you say 2 of the AC ranges were off, which 
> ones?  Do you have a variable AC voltage and frequency source to use, 
> or did you use some other substitute?
>
> With the Agilent unit DC gain needing adjustment, did the any DC or 
> ohms functions read off specifications before the Agilent was 
> calibrated?
>
>
> At 09:09 02/10/2012, J. L. Trantham wrote:
>> requiring me to 're-cal' the meter using 'in house' equipment.
>>
>> After leaving the meters on for several weeks, with all functions 
>> seemingly correct, I sent both to Agilent for their Agilent 
>> Calibration for $579.81 each.  Both passed (with my 'home-cal'd' unit 
>> being off on only 2 of the AC ranges and the Agilent unit being off 
>> only in the DC
>> Gain) and were returned in about 10 days, amazingly fast.
> Best Wishes,
>
>
> Marv Gozum
> Philadelphia
>
>
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