[volt-nuts] HP 3458A

[gbusg]

Steve,

Both cal versions verify all functions and ranges of the 3458A, and both 
versions provide test data.

However the Standards Lab cal (known as a "Golden calibration) utilizes a 
completely different, more sophisticated procedure and methodology, 
resulting in significantly lower Measurement Uncertainty for most measurands 
(compared to the STE9000 calibration).

If you want to trend your 3458A at specific measurands (e.g., at 10Vdc, 10k 
ohms and 1V 20kHz, etc.), then you will want the Standards Lab cal - this is 
because the STE9000 calibration's Test Uncertainty Ratios are too low for 
you to realize enough meaningful confidence and repeatability of the data 
for the purpose of trending specific measurands.

For the same reason you will want the Standards Lab cal if you plan to use 
Agilent's calibration test report data as correction factors in some 
state-of-art process you have.

If neither of these two applications fit you, then the STE9000 calibration 
will probably suffice for you.

The more I think about this, I think mostly it's other metrology labs who 
need the "Golden calibration" (for at least one of their 3458As) and those 
are the folks who already know what they need and how to order it.

-Greg

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve" <steve-krull at cox.net>
To: "Discussion of precise voltage measurement" <volt-nuts at febo.com>
Cc: <volt-nuts at febo.com>
Sent: Friday, August 05, 2011 2:28 PM
Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] HP 3458A


I haven't sent the meter in for calibration yet. Hoping Santa might bring 
that for Christmas. Our local Agilent rep swore the only difference between 
the Agilent $550 calibration per incident and the pricier ones offered is 
the amount of paperwork you receive; the actual calibration is to full specs 
for all functions and all ranges. The Agilent web site seems to say the same 
thing, so I'm a bit confused by others saying there's calibration and 
there's full calibration. I need to go read the information provided by Greg 
Burnett and then approach Agilent again. When I was in metrology full time, 
all calibrations were to full specs or you had to clearly note any 
deviations and get the customer to buy off on them. It was amazing how many 
would accept things I wouldn't accept for my home lab!

Steve