I read most of the thread. This could be a pre-production unit. The errors indicate it could need both the in guard and out guard CPUs. The in guard unit (03458-05503) I think is involved with the A/D conversion and that is where the flatness error is most likly coming from.
On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 7:48 PM, John Phillips <[email protected]>wrote: > That is what I get for jumping in without reading the thread. > I have sent 2 or 3 units in for them to repair... > When they quit selling part I was forced to junk or have them repair. > What parts are needed? > > > on Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 7:12 PM, Tom Miller <[email protected]>wrte: > >> They might not take it in without a serial number. >> >> Regards >> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Phillips" < >> [email protected]> >> To: "Discussion of precise voltage measurement" <[email protected]> >> Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2013 9:34 PM >> >> Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] HP3458a available (was Re: hp 3458a advice) >> >> >> You should be able to any unit repaired by Agilent as long as all the >>> parts >>> are there for the $3000 flat rate repair and calibration charge. >>> >>> On Thu, Feb 7, 2013 at 5:59 PM, J. L. Trantham <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> Paul, >>>> >>>> The 'value' of a 3458A is based on several issues, not the least of >>>> which >>>> is >>>> supply and demand. You only have to look at theBay to get an idea of >>>> what >>>> units are selling for, both working and non-working. The fact that the >>>> unit >>>> passes it's 'Self Test' is not a guarantee that it would be able to be >>>> calibrated to published performance specs. >>>> >>>> Tha Agilent website is very useful in determining an 'upper bound' on >>>> the >>>> value. The 3458A is currently orderable and currently supported. A new >>>> 3458A (without options) is available at $9,085 and would come with a >>>> fresh >>>> calibration and warranty. >>>> >>>> Repair Per Incident is available for $2,660.64. This means that if you >>>> have >>>> a complete unit, they will repair it for that price. That also comes >>>> with >>>> a >>>> fresh calibration. I don't know if that price includes all recommended >>>> upgrades as listed in the Service Notes, of which there are 20, 6 of >>>> which >>>> list 'Modification Recommended' and one of which lists 'Modification >>>> Available'. Perhaps someone on the forum knows the answer to this. >>>> Certainly Gary Biermann at Agilent can answer this. >>>> >>>> The fact that your unit does not have a serial number sticker but >>>> instead >>>> 'MTG PROTO 27' would be concerning as to whether Agilent would consider >>>> this >>>> a 'complete 3458A', and thus a candidate for repair, or, rather, a >>>> 'prototype' or some other descriptor that would imply that it looks >>>> like a >>>> 3458A but is really not a 3458A. >>>> >>>> Both new and newly calibrated units are candidates to add a Repair >>>> Agreement, available for $178.68 per year with up to 5 year blocks >>>> available >>>> for purchase. >>>> >>>> I note you mentioned firmware REV 2,1. The current firmware is 9,1. >>>> Therefore it would appear that you have a rather old and probably not >>>> 'updated' unit. That plus the 'stored in an attic' history would be >>>> concerning about the ability to repair the unit without changing several >>>> assemblies, etc. >>>> >>>> Assuming you could get the unit repaired and updated by Agilent, >>>> complete >>>> with a fresh calibration, then the maximum value would be $9,085 minus >>>> $2,660.64 minus what ever value you place on 'new' over 'old'. >>>> >>>> Then you are left with an older unit, made in the USA, with no (or >>>> perhaps >>>> a >>>> reduced) warranty as opposed to a new unit, made in Malaysia, with a >>>> warranty. The question of whether a 'new' Malaysian unit or an 'old' >>>> American unit is better is the subject of further discussion and >>>> speculation. >>>> >>>> If the unit cannot be repaired by Agilent, then, in my opinion, the >>>> value >>>> goes down and approaches the value of the hardware, transformer, etc., >>>> with >>>> serious questions about the state and reparability of the assemblies, >>>> particularly given the 'stored in an attic' history. >>>> >>>> Gary Biermann would be very helpful in getting the history and >>>> reparability >>>> of the unit. He would be worth contacting about these issues. He >>>> works at >>>> the Loveland Calibration Facility. >>>> >>>> Hope this helps. >>>> >>>> Joe >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: [email protected] >>>> [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces@**febo.com<[email protected]>] >>>> On >>>> Behalf Of Paul Fox >>>> Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2013 8:54 AM >>>> To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement >>>> Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] HP3458a available (was Re: hp 3458a advice) >>>> >>>> part of me hates to do this, but... there have been some rule-breakers >>>> that ignored the "under $350" limit, and now they've ruined it for >>>> everyone. ;-) >>>> >>>> clearly the research i did into prices for "HP3458a, needs repair" was >>>> woefully inadequate. >>>> >>>> i guess the easiest thing to do is to simply remove the "under $350" >>>> part. that way everyone's working under the same assumptions. again, >>>> sorry. local buyers still get preference. (and, if you'd like to chew >>>> me out for being a bozo, that's fine, but please do it privately. maybe >>>> i should have used ebay in the first place. lesson learned.) >>>> >>>> paul >>>> >>>> i wrote: >>>> > resurrecting a somewhat older thread -- >>>> > >>>> > it's now clear to me that i have little interest in (or time for) >>>> > resurrecting my 3458a. several people on the list were interested in >>>> > it when i first brought it up, and you were all very helpful. i'd >>>> > rather not go through the ebay hassle, and i'd rather make it >>>> > available to one of you folks first in any case. >>>> > >>>> > i've put up a small set of pictures, along with a short video of >>>> > the startup sequence at http://www.foxharp.net/hp3458a . re-reading >>>> > my original list message (below), i see that my startup video didn't >>>> > capture an error message i saw back in october. so in addition to >>>> the >>>> > "110, Calibration required -- ACAL" message in the video, i guess we >>>> > should assume that it sometimes gives "204, "Hardware Failure -- >>>> Flatness >>>> > DAC Convergence: 198" >>>> > >>>> > i haven't opened the unit, and wasn't really planning on it. if >>>> > there's something that you'd like to know that will be clear from >>>> just >>>> > looking, and if it might appreciably change the unit's value for you, >>>> > let me know and i'll find a screwdriver and take some more pictures. >>>> > >>>> > i have two original (i believe) copies of the manual. no service >>>> manual. >>>> > firmware version is "REV 2,1". >>>> > >>>> > so how about this: best offer (by private mail) under $350 gets it, >>>> > shipping not included (it looks like shipping will be in the $40 to >>>> $80 >>>> > range, once i find a box). for obvious reasons, a local-to-boston >>>> > transaction will be given a lot of preference. >>>> > >>>> > i'll wait until next wednesday evening (i.e., about a week -- feb 13) >>>> > before choosing a lucky recipient, since i hear some people don't >>>> read >>>> > their mail as continuously as i do. >>>> > >>>> > paul >>>> > >>>> > i wrote: >>>> > > thanks joe, and to the other couple of people who responded >>>> privately. >>>> >>>> > > i need to figure out how much of a project i want this to be, and >>>> how >>>> > > it ranks against all the other projects that i also don't have >>>> time >>>> > > for. :-) >>>> > > >>>> > > i have the full users manual (two copies!), but i don't have >>>> anything >>>> > > else that speaks GPIB. i'll play with some of the front panel >>>> > > commands you've suggested, while i think about what to do. >>>> thanks! >>>> > > >>>> > > paul >>>> > > >>>> > > j. l. trantham wrote: >>>> > > > Paul, >>>> > > > >>>> > > > First, the meter is worth something if nothing other than >>>> parts. >>>> It is >>>> > ... >>>> > > > Good luck. >>>> > > > >>>> > > > Joe >>>> > > > >>>> > > > -----Original Message----- >>>> > > > From: [email protected] >>>> [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces@**febo.com <[email protected]>] On >>>> > > > Behalf Of Paul Fox >>>> > > > Sent: Monday, October 15, 2012 9:50 AM >>>> > > > To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement >>>> > > > Subject: [volt-nuts] hp 3458a advice >>>> > > > >>>> > > > hi -- >>>> > > > >>>> > > > i'm not a volt-nuts regular, and not even a precision >>>> measurement >>>> nut >>>> > > > at all, but given past discussion in the list archives, i think >>>> you >>>> > > > folks might be able to help. >>>> > > > >>>> > > > i was recently given an HP 3458a multimeter. the donor >>>> thought it >>>> > > > worked when he last used it, but that was quite a long time >>>> ago, >>>> and i >>>> > > > think it was stored in an attic for some time, so i'm not too >>>> > > > surprised that it now doesn't pass self tests. :-/ he mainly >>>> wanted >>>> > > > it out of his house, along with a bunch of other vintage (sadly >>>> mostly >>>> > > > non-working) equipment he'd accumulated over the years. >>>> > > > >>>> > > > the self-test error is: >>>> > > > ERRSTR 204, "Hardware Failure -- Flatness DAC Convergence: >>>> 198" >>>> > > > >>>> > > > judging from past list traffic, repairs on these units are >>>> > > > expensive, and it would still need recalibration to be useful, >>>> and >>>> > > > there are may be other parts (eeproms?) that may not be good >>>> > > > any more. i'm not really interested in pursuing any of this >>>> > > > myself. >>>> > > > >>>> > > > what's worse is that the unit doesn't have a serial number. (i >>>> assume >>>> > > > the s/n would normally be obvious on the rear of the unit.) it >>>> bears a >>>> > > > sticker on the back that says "MTG PROTO 27". i think the unit >>>> came >>>> > > > from a place that themselves produced reference standards, and >>>> they >>>> > > > may have gotten a very early model from HP to work with. >>>> that's >>>> > > > conjecture. i haven't opened the unit, so i don't know if >>>> there >>>> are >>>> > > > other clues to its age inside. >>>> > > > >>>> > > > so: is this machine useful to anyone? given the error message >>>> above, >>>> > > > are there any measurements at all that it might still get >>>> correct, >>>> in >>>> > > > it's current state? >>>> > > > >>>> > > > paul >>>> > > > =--------------------- >>>> > > > paul fox, [email protected] (arlington, ma, where it's >>>> 63.1 >>>> degrees) >>>> > > > >>>> > >>>> > =--------------------- >>>> > paul fox, [email protected] (arlington, ma, where it's 30.0 >>>> degrees) >>>> > ______________________________**_________________ >>>> > volt-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >>>> > To unsubscribe, go to >>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/**mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts<https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts> >>>> > and follow the instructions there. >>>> >>>> =--------------------- >>>> paul fox, [email protected] (arlington, ma, where it's 19.2 >>>> degrees) >>>> ______________________________**_________________ >>>> volt-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe, go to >>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/**mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts<https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts> >>>> and follow the instructions there. >>>> >>>> ______________________________**_________________ >>>> volt-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >>>> To unsubscribe, go to >>>> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/**mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts<https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts> >>>> and follow the instructions there. >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> John Phillips >>> ______________________________**_________________ >>> volt-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >>> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/** >>> mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts<https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts> >>> and follow the instructions there. >>> >>> >> ______________________________**_________________ >> volt-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/** >> mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts<https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts> >> and follow the instructions there. >> > > > > -- > John Phillips -- John Phillips _______________________________________________ volt-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts and follow the instructions there.
