[volt-nuts] Agilent 3458A Positive Experience

[Brooke Clarke]

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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