HP E36xx- whats' up with color coding?!     - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: reagle
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 05:07:16 am
content: Just bought several HP E3610/11s for work on ebay. All mid- 1990 vintage. Out of three, two (one of each kind) had both + and - binding posts color coded red. The third and newer 3611 has red, black, green as expected for +, -, GND.Any ideas why would they do such a silly thing? These all came from different sellers and show no signs of damage or rework.I love these units otherwise- very clean, easy to maintain and being HP all documentation is available.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 07:52:49 am
content: Sometimes people rip off the color coded rings. These are sold as spares. You cant get the green one anymore...Probably replaced when the supply went in for calibration.

author: elCap
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 08:11:33 am
content: It's same on my E3615A. Also my 34401A has all connectors red. (all mid 90s, bought used in Japan)Yes, it's silly.. why?

author: andersm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 08:40:50 am
content: My E3610A has the expected red, black and green binding posts. On the other hand the CC button is bright red as a previous owner mislaid the original one.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2013, 11:05:09 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on February 05, 2013, 07:52:49 amNo its standard. My HP6002A also has red rings on the + and - connectors.

author: reagle
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 10, 2013, 06:41:13 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on February 05, 2013, 11:05:09 amOh, that's what i figured. It definitely looked factory original. Now, whose bright idea that was I wonder ..

author: Huluvu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2013, 09:05:38 pm
content: Same situation at my home labI was also wondering what happened to this HP's and the thoughts behind.

author: reagle
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 08, 2013, 01:38:08 am
content: Just looked at an HP3478A and all inputs are color codded red as well ?!

author: nukie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2013, 03:52:00 am
content: What's wrong with good old Black Sharpie? I don't care as long as they make the most robust power supplies I ever had. There are more important issues such as "why not include an output switch ?" That would be so much more useful.

author: JuiceKing
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2013, 04:12:08 am
content: Quote from: reagle on February 05, 2013, 05:07:16 amYes, I noticed this when looking for bargains on eBay. They are relatively fragile, too, so you often see ones where the plastic is cracking or broken off.I was able to order spare plugs from Agilent last year, including some with the green rings. Not sure if that situation has changed. Anyway, they were very easy to replace in the 3610A and 3630A. (Some other HP equipment, notably the 334A, block access to the plugs and make them effectively impossible to replace without complete disassembly.)

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2013, 05:32:15 am
content: Quote from: nukie on March 08, 2013, 03:52:00 amIt is called attention to detail. If Agilent puts random colors on the binding posts someone is not paying attention. The ones putting them on and the QC. And from that people extrapolate "if they don't even manage to get the colors right, what else don't they get right?"

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2013, 01:01:05 pm
content: I just got a HP E3610A from eBay and it has the red-red-black colors on the binding posts. The + post has a crack, but still works okay. I'm pretty sure it was damaged in shipment since packaging was almost non-existent. I checked at the Agilent web site and replacement parts appear to still be available in all three colors. Unfortunately they want around $12 (US) for each binding post. I only paid $130 for the item, so I'm reluctant to spend $36 just to update the binding posts. I have not found an alternate source for the grey with colored rings style of binding posts that HP/Agilent use.

author: JuiceKing
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2013, 01:21:20 pm
content: Quote from: rdl on March 08, 2013, 01:01:05 pmYep, my experience exactly. I bit the bullet, fixed the posts, and thank myself every time I use the power supply. Which is a lot. It's a really useful one.- Ken