[volt-nuts] HP3458A calibration memory backup

[Chuck Harris]

Hi Todd,

There is nothing that a human could endure that that part couldn't
take for a couple of years without harm.

The Chinese run a booming market in taking US scrap boards, removing
interesting parts, welding on new leads, adding plating, sandblasting
off old part labels, and putting on new.  They will do both laser
engraving and stenciling... all this on scrap parts... which they
sell as new, or new old stock (depending on which gets more money).

I wonder if Jameco got your DS1220 from a Chinese "refurbisher" that
simply blasted off the old date code and put on a new?

I would send a note to Jameco telling them what happened, and I would
send a picture of the top of the part to Maxim telling them what
happened.  Maxim can tell you pretty quickly if the part is counterfeit.

And, they will probably both send you a replacement either way.

-Chuck Harris

Todd Micallef wrote:
> Mark,
>
> I am using the STMicroelectronics M48Z12 series in at least one of my
> 3458A's. I had trouble sourcing one of the two different memory modules
> from a reputable seller when I replaced my NVRAM. I purchased a DS1220
> previously from Jameco and it died shortly afterward. The datecode on the
> Jameco part was several months old and may have been stored improperly.
>
> The only thing I don't like about the STMicro NVRAM is that they use a
> three digit datecode. One digit is for the year and two for the week. It
> took me a while to track down a document to decipher their labeling system.
>
> Todd