Agilent E3620A or E3630A? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: mortos360
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 16, 2013, 03:08:22 pm
content: I am going to use this Farnell offer with the free U1272A DMM by buying a PS, but I dont know which 1 is better for my use... E3620A or E3630AThe actual question is, how usefull is the -20v rail that has only 500mA when you want to use the PS to power broken devices you try to repair?I would like to buy more broken stuff from Ebay and try to repair it.. just to learn and have some fun.. but I have no idea about the power consumption of stuff like old bench DMM or old osciloscopes and some other test equipment?E3620AOutput 1: 0 to 25 V, 0 to 1 AOutput 2: 0 to 25 V, 0 to 1 APower (max): 50 WE3630AOutput 1: 0 to 6 V, 0 to 2.5 AOutput 2: 0 to +20 V, 0 to 0.5 AOutput 3: 0 to -20 V, 0 to 0.5 APower (max): 35 WHope some of you can give me an advice!I guess sooner or later I will end up buying more PSsbut for now, this1 has to do it.Thanks!

author: digsys
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 17, 2013, 11:35:27 am
content: Quote from: mortos360USUALLY, all outputs are floating, so you can make -ve supplies with either unit, so I wouldn't consider THAT as the deal breaker.The problem is, each has their own benefits -1/ 50W is definitely worthwhile : 0-25V MAY be handy AND since both channels are matched, that gives yo 0-50V in series or 0-2A inparallel (if the unit doesn't have tracking, just be careful doing that manually).2/ 2.5A is definitely worthwhile : having 3 O/Puts generally is not of interest.If it was me, I'd go #1

author: eevblogfan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2013, 12:03:35 pm
content: 25W a channel is not that great ( yes I am aware of the consumption of modern devices , but you often need to run fans , or some >1A circuits , so only one supply ? at that cost ?I'd go for used ones , either used E2620A , or any other good modals , you should consider E3610A's , you can get them for ~100$ , don't be afraid of buying noun working units , they are easy to serve , me or any other will help you if neededif you need the lots of functionality the U1272A offers , go and buy one , but assuming you don't . go for the fluke 87V . you can get new for 250$ shipped , or used ( don't make sense ) for ~200$so please shear with us the needs you have ?describe some circuit you are going to work with and how many rails do you need ?I found myself often using up to 15V and sometimes in need for more than 5A , but I got different needs then you right ? if so , I'd like to hear themCheers

author: mortos360
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2013, 01:05:10 pm
content: Thanks for the feedback!!My needs are very simple.. I play mostly with arduino stuff and simple circuits, but I am planing (once I got time) to learn more, since I really enjoy electronics so far.I do own a U1272A (its my first real DMM) and I really love that thing... and since 1 is never enough, this farnell deal gets really attractive.I guess I could also get 2x used E3610A's and a new DMM for the same money or even cheaper... I just thought its a good idea to buy the same DMM again in case 1 died so I got something to compare with... there is also a small chance that my current company would pay 50% for it since they want me to learn more electronics anyway ^^Anyway... if I buy 1, ill go with the first model then.. but ill still check ebay and make a few calculation.Thanks for your help!!

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2013, 01:30:50 pm
content: The big differences besides power output are:E3620A- Isolated grounds for each output (i.e., outputs are independent). No tracking.E3630A- Shared grounds between 20V outputs. Tracking (for making matched +/- bipolar supply).

author: eevblogfan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2013, 03:33:25 pm
content: Okay , 50% is niceif so , I'd go for the E3620A , I prefer you to own the sort of "same" lvl meter but just from other company , fluke , HP , keithely , Brymen , Rigol etc ....fluke 87VBrymen BM857you may whant to try metrix MTX3282BI bought my *new* fluke 287 for 300$ including shipping , to that price you really should consider him as well ,another option it to buy 3 or more fluke 87-||| or so ,since I am working at Cal lab , I can tell you that I have seen few flukes in general , and fluke 87's in particular , the beast read one count out ( and after warm up it is smack on sometimes ) ,I also have a look at the tables ( every year the same customer came to calibration ) so we have the tables there , you can really trust my word , that meter is awsome and it is so good at what it is intended to do .many PPLs can suggest you the fluke , so be sure that is not spend of $$s .can you tell us how many meters would you like/ need ?if you need more then one , go for another high end one , my preference will be something new , not the same ,if you need more then 2 , please go for some old HP agilent keithely , and so forth , you will gain much more ( fluke 8050 can be picked up for 50$ !~!!!!! )another point is when you may need more then say 3 meters *just for DC* , you may whant to have a look at that meter :http://www.ebay.com/itm/400443484310?var=670076741352&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649I can post you some pics . that meter does well , and it is indeed 3 count top ( Ie , when applying 10V , it'll show 10.001 , at 20V it might be 2 count out and at 30V may be 3 , but no more)would you like to by E3631A from me ? - I have two in the job and the boss willing to sell them , I'll ask for price on sunday

author: mortos360
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 17, 2013, 08:52:01 pm
content: @eevblogfan"other company's DMM.. "whats wrong with agilant? I really like the look and feel of that DMMI know fluke is awesome and stuff.. but.. ugly too!! I just dont like its design.I am really no that professional to care too much about the specs ^^ I play with arduinos and 99% of all my uses of a DMM is check the voltage, resistance and continuity. That may change at some point.. but for now.. every 50$ DMM would probably do the job.. ^^"how many DMMs I would need.."I never needed more then 1.. so I guess 2 is more the enough for now!"the E3631A.."Well.. this is an awesome unit, but I think its a bit too much for my budgetanyway.. ask for the price and PM me plz!!Also.. I am in europe!! shipping may not be cheap.. but im interested!!

author: eevblogfan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2013, 01:41:08 pm
content: heyQuotewell , I didn't really knew what's your job so I went for my best advice ,when saying "other company's DMM.. " I ment simply for better variety and range , the U1272A is okay and gives lots of functions , but there are more meters in the market whose offer you something new , say the metrix , the fluke 287 , the brymen ( 500.000 count ! ) and perhaps even try scope meteryes the shipping is ugly here , where are you from ?please tell me what's your budget for her , I may argue with the boss and reduce the price for you , plus calibration avalible for freeanywhay . if I was you , I'd go for 3 87's and 2 E3610A's , but that's your call

author: mortos360
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2013, 01:57:48 pm
content: Quote from: eevblogfan on May 18, 2013, 01:41:08 pmI guess once I need 1 of thos functions, ill know it..This forum is FULL of informations about DMMs.. its like a never ending story.. so I know what option I got.. I just never needed anythign more then basic funktionality.Once I need more funktions and higher accuracy, I know where to look for informations ^^ Thanks for your feedback tho!!QuoteAustria.. not Australia!!My budget is around 400Euros, but it was planed to get me a PS and second DMM!See what you can do with the price and PM me plz

author: eevblogfan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 18, 2013, 02:28:56 pm
content: heyon ebay they go for 800~1K$ , I might be able to get it for 450$ ( which is 2X better then ebay ) and that's including the cal and adjust if needed , but that wound give you the U1272A , so you should stick with the 2 E3610A , assuming you'll be able to get them ~120$ each , that gives you only 280$ for multimeter , you can get with that the 87V but you's like the U1272A so that wont work out here ,that's just Due to your tenacity to get that U1272AI think getting two E3610A's and say 2 87-3's is much better , but agin it's your call and I should help you with that ,so go for the E3620A and the U1272A , good luck and happy buying

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 19, 2013, 12:21:21 am
content: Just an aside, if I were to buy a multimeter, I would buy a different model and even a different brand so one complements the other -the things the Agilent doesn't have can be had in a Fluke, for example.Anyway, Agilent meters are the duck's guts.