[volt-nuts] Buying HP-3458A

Tue Jul 8 13:23:23 EDT 2014

Randy,

Yes, that is my understanding.  The person who would be able to definitively answer this question is Gary Bierman at Agilent at the Loveland Calibration Lab.  A very knowledgeable person regarding the 3458A.  I had a long talk with him before undertaking the purchase of my 3458A's.  I wound up with three 3458A's for about the price of one new one.  All three 3458A's turned out to be functional with no failures.  All three were of similar 1990's to early 2000's vintage with the same major components.  Two were HP and one was Agilent, all made in the US.  I had no Malaysian units.

I removed the three Dallas chips in each of them, installed sockets, and installed new Dallas chips that I programmed with the data from their respective removed chips.  A total of 9 Dallas chips for the three units.

I also removed the single EPROM in each of them, installed a socket, and updated the firmware to the latest version I could find.

I managed to lose the CAL data from one of the units by, I think, trying to read it while still warm from the unsoldering process.  I calibrated that unit using some 'home standards' and a recently calibrated Solartron 7081 as the 'transfer standard'.

I then sent the units in for Agilent Calibration, all three of which passed.  Then I was able to avail myself of their 'service agreement' for each of the units.

They all agree very closely when measuring my now somewhat upgraded 'home standards'.

They are truly impressive units.

Good luck.

Joe

-----Original Message-----
From: volt-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On Behalf Of Randy Evans
Sent: Tuesday, July 08, 2014 9:29 AM
To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement
Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] Buying HP-3458A

Joe,

I imply from your e-mail that if I get a "cheap" 3458A that is complete but doesn't work, Agilent will repair it and calibrate it for a fixed fee of $2740.46, regardless of what is wrong with it?

Of course that means i would need to insure the unit is complete with no missing parts.

Randy

On Sun, Jul 6, 2014 at 3:15 PM, J. L. Trantham <jltran at att.net> wrote:

> It is worth mentioning (re-mentioning) that once your 3458A passes 
> calibration with HP/Agilent/Keysight, etc., it becomes eligible for 
> their 'repair agreement' at $178.68 per year (with a small discount if 
> you purchase multiple years, up to a maximum of five years).  This 
> means that if it 'breaks' within that time period, it is repaired and 
> recalibrated for no additional charge.
>
> Per the Agilent US site, the 'repair per incident' charge is $2740.46.
>
> So, if you happen to get a 'good' 3458A that Agilent calibrates, you 
> can then get the service agreement (insurance policy?), which applies 
> even if you do not change the NVRAM's.  If they die, send it back to 
> Agilent and they will repair and recalibrate.
>
> In my shop, the 3458A is the 'house standard' that I use to measure 
> the resistance standards and voltage standards that I have.
>
> Joe
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: volt-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces at febo.com] 
> On Behalf Of R.Phillips
> Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2014 2:08 PM
> To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement
> Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] Buying HP-3458A
>
> Randy
> I'm already forgetting some of the facts that made up the price that I 
> paid for the repair and re-cal. for my 3458A, as I have been involved 
> in a number of other restoration/repairs, but it was remarkably 
> similar in £ sterling, against your US $ price - so I guess it would 
> seem to be a fixed charge ? My instrument failed when the 'classic' 
> RAM/ROM 's ran out of battery support and further, they found another section which had gone bad.
> There's nothing to give your more confidence than the Agilent 
> Calibration Certificate that comes with the package,as this is 
> probably the prime instrument in the collection of we lucky owners, so 
> it has to be good.  As I have stated in a previous exchange, the 'new' 
> processor/ROM/RAM board is now fitted with sockets, and the devices 
> that were formerly fitted, have been replaced with the new type that 
> only connect the battery support power when they are plugged in to their sockets.
> Roy
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Randy Evans
> Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2014 6:44 PM
> To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement
> Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] Buying HP-3458A
>
> That e-mail I referenced is several years old.  i believe the current 
> repair price is just over $2800.
>
> Randy
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 5, 2014 at 10:49 PM, John Phillips 
> <john.phillips0 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > They do really offer that service as long as you send them a 
> > complete meter... No missing parts. Well they will take a few 
> > missing screws and such. My experience with them is they charge the 
> > same no mater what need to be fixed. Not sure what the price is, 
> > there prices are country dependent.
> > I
> > thought it was a little more than $2200 last I checked.
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Jul 5, 2014 at 4:08 PM, Randy Evans 
> > <randyevans2688 at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > I am in the market for a used HP-3458A and, in researching past
> > messages, I
> > > came across an interesting question:
> > >
> > > *Chris Erickson* ericksonc2 at comcast.net <volt-nuts%
> > >
> > 40febo.com?Subject=Re%3A%20%5Bvolt-nuts%5D%203458A%20questions&In-Re
> > pl y-To=%3C001b01cc7960%24a15d2840%24e41778c0%24%40net%3E
> > > >
> > > *Thu Sep 22 19:48:41 UTC 2011*
> > >
> > > If Agilent will fix everything, bring it up to specs, and 
> > > calibrate it no
> > >
> > > matter what's wrong with it for $2200, then why would I spend
> > > $5000-6000
> > or
> > >
> > > more for one that is in good shape - even if calibrated? Just grab 
> > > the first
> > >
> > > bargain that comes along for $1500-3000, send it straight to 
> > > Agilent and
> > be
> > >
> > > money ahead. Seems the better course of action to me if that price 
> > > is
> > >
> > > accurate - do they really offer this service?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > I could not find an answer to this question but it does beg the 
> > > question.
> > >  Does nayone have an answer as to why not buy the cheapest unit 
> > > and send
> > it
> > > in for repair?
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > >
> > > Randy Evans
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > and follow the instructions there.
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > John Phillips
> > _______________________________________________
> > volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts at febo.com To unsubscribe, go to 
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> > and follow the instructions there.
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