[volt-nuts] A Fluke 732A: Return it or keep it?

[Tom Knox]

In my humble opinion your are best off first checking for a local Cal Lab with a Josephson Junction Array Voltage Standard.
You can then drop it off and pick it up your 732A. I would imagine the day of abuse during shipping has more effect on uncertainty then the rest of the year combined sitting in a controlled lab environment. And Speaking of Lab environments adding precise temp and humidity control will have a substantial effect on 732A and 3458A stability. Hooking a number of small electric heaters to PID controllers can provide even out room temperature.  Also I would almost always assume the 732A is more accurate then your 3458A even if you have the 002 or HFL option. Has anyone attempted changing the battery technology to Li-Ion and redesigning the charger? I am sure you could get greatly improved battery life.

Thomas Knox



> From: jltran at att.net
> To: volt-nuts at febo.com
> Date: Sat, 8 Mar 2014 07:50:55 -0600
> Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] A Fluke 732A: Return it or keep it?
> 
> Charles,
> 
> Thanks for the info on batteries.  I agree, some are definitely better than
> others.  However, I'm no 'connoisseur' of batteries yet.  The 732A I got was
> 'unknown working condition' and I wanted the cheapest batteries I could find
> to test the unit and see if I could get it up and running.  So far, it looks
> good.
> 
> Do you wind up having to re-solder some of the battery wires in the battery
> module in order to use the 12 V 5 AH batteries or will they just swing to
> the other side since it appears that the (+) and (-) terminals will wind up
> on the same side, instead of opposite sides with the 6 V 4.5 AH batteries?
> 
> I have not faced the shipping question yet, but, as David pointed out, there
> is an issue with shipping batteries.  I suspect it could be shipped but
> would be ground and, therefore, need a huge battery in order to get it to
> the other side of the country 'hot'.  I recall reading some thoughts on
> current drain for the unit when on batteries but I do not remember what it
> was.  Clearly, it should be at a minimum, and therefore the battery should
> last the longest, when already 'hot' when removed from AC power.  Has anyone
> done that experiment?  I live in NW FL and I am not aware of Cal Labs in my
> neighborhood that could do the work.  Atlanta, perhaps?  Does anyone have a
> recommendation of a capable Cal facility 'close by' to NW FL?
> 
> Short of sending it to Fluke or another facility, I will be limited to using
> my Agilent Cal'd 3458A to 'adjust' the 732A, then 'tracking' the 732A from
> year to year as the 3458A comes back from Cal.
> 
> I paid less than Michael and more than you for my unit but it seems to work.
> I have seen these sell on theBay for $450 and up.
> 
> Joe
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts at febo.com
> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts
> and follow the instructions there.