New to 3458a - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2025, 07:44:20 pm
content: Just scored this meter from german plant was calibrated in 2023 so not that ... compare my 34410A with ADR1001 eval board and it is rock solid 5.00085 vs 5.0008573. Did some good cleaning and now power up and wait

author: aronake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2025, 06:28:18 am
content: Congrats! Its kind of like having a pet that need constant attentionThe Dallas calibration rams looks rather old. My recommendation would be to search here on EEVblog how to make a backup of them on the GPIB bus and get that done soon.This parallel thread (which you probably already read) on someone who just bought one give good ideas on other first things that is good to do.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/agilent-3458a-i-joined-the-club/

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2025, 08:33:42 am
content: Quote from: aronake on January 28, 2025, 06:28:18 amTHX for info GPIB to USB is on the way so will do backup soon.

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2025, 04:28:20 pm
content: one of us! one of us! one of us!You can easily install option 001, just plug in the 4 chips.Also, if you want to replace the NVRAM's, I designed some FRAM adapters which I'm waiting on Chinese New Year for the PCB house to come back online to get them made. So once I've tested them I will provide the gerbers in my thread (linked above) if you want to get some made too, they are small so super cheap.WinGPIB works great for backing up cal data.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/3458a-logging-via-windows-app-revisited/

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2025, 07:25:07 pm
content: Quote from: TERRA Operative on January 28, 2025, 04:28:20 pmYes please will upgrade too. I'm waiting for new filter and caps to replace infamous rifa's.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 01, 2025, 12:29:16 am
content: I can smell those burnt Rifa caps all the way from Australia!

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2025, 07:46:18 am
content: Found IAN's WINGPIB and dumped cal ram using ar488 but smth odd happend I read 2nd time to verify there is difference on the first bytes is it normal?

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2025, 11:07:59 am
content: I had matching outputs when I did two separate dumps using WinGPIB which matched. Then when I pulled the chips out to install sockets, I copied the chip out again using my T48 chip programmer and it also matched.I'd suggest copying out the data again until it matches exactly.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 01, 2025, 12:45:05 pm
content: Quote from: faraday on February 01, 2025, 07:46:18 amIt sounds like your GPIB interface took a read or two to settle into things and get valid data. Buffer flush maybe.Is it a Prologix or Prologix compatible interface by any chance?If so, I and others have detected an issue with Prologix devices which can give wierd reads (outwith WinGPIB).In the meantime I think I will update WinGPIB to force a few dummy reads before it actually captures data from the 3458A Cal extract.Thanks for reporting.UPDATE:I have released V3.262 which provides 10 dummy reads on the 3458A/3457A CalRam and Settings Ram extracts. This should help flush any buffers.Ian.

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2025, 01:09:18 pm
content: Quote from: IanJ on February 01, 2025, 12:45:05 pmIt's AR488 . What GPIB interface do you recommend?

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 01, 2025, 01:34:15 pm
content: Quote from: faraday on February 01, 2025, 01:09:18 pmI wouldn't necessarily change your interface, just be mindful you should carry out a few Calram extracts and pick one that is repeated perfectly.I use a mix of E5810A, 82357B & Prologix AR488 compatible devices.PS. I have updated WinGPIB to do 10 dummy reads which should fix your leading 00 00 issue.......if it's a buffer issue in the AR488.UPDATE: Re-uploaded V3.262, I zipped 3.261 by accident!Ian.

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 01, 2025, 02:38:55 pm
content: THX for info. I got matched pair finally.Does delay Op (ms) matter with345xA Cal Extract ? I set it to 100ms

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 03:25:44 pm
content: Some polishing

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 03:59:33 pm
content: That came up really nice! I'll have to try with my display window before I drop the ¥6,500 on a replacement...

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 07, 2025, 04:53:32 pm
content: My GPIB to USB work finally it was BAD ARDUINO.

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2025, 10:45:07 pm
content: nvram arrived

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2025, 06:42:12 am
content: That date code indicates it was made on the 109th day of the 4th year of the decade. Depending on the supplier, it's either really fresh or really old.

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2025, 08:58:42 am
content: it's from muser so must be fresh

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 15, 2025, 11:54:19 am
content: Yup, then you have a guaranteed 10 years (more like 15 to 20 in real life) before you have to worry about it again.

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 17, 2025, 10:25:40 am
content: Quote from: faraday on February 15, 2025, 08:58:42 amI hate it when manufacturers only use a single digit year in their date codes. Did Mouser happen to list the mfg date code on their label?According the the CAPHAT date code labelling specs (in ST Micro AN926), the line "MYS 99 414" reads as (MYS) COO Malaysia, (99) Test site Muar, (414) Year xxx4 Week 14.If the W1094Y was a date code, I would have initially thought to read that as week 10 of year 1994 - because of the W & Y... but that cannot be right with stock from Mouser. Rather after looking into it further there is an encapsulation code for CAPHAT where it decodes to (W) Welding, (109) Day of year 109, (4) Year xxx4, (Y) Lot ID. There is an optional test temperature after the first character, but apparently that can be blank which I missed at first.So Julian day for encapsulation of 109 would be in week 16 which makes sense against the silicon tested in week 14. Still doesn't guarantee year is 2024 unless documented/traceable elsewhere.

author: drhex
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2025, 10:40:44 am
content: I still have a few FRAM adapter boards I got made in case you want to go down that way.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 20, 2025, 10:50:19 am
content: Quote from: faraday on February 07, 2025, 03:25:44 pmWhat did you use for polishing?

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2025, 03:12:40 pm
content: Quote from: voltsandjolts on February 20, 2025, 10:50:19 amTEK p1 but any paste for PLEXI polishing should be ok .

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2025, 07:39:58 am
content: Here is CAL72 after 2mth of 24/7

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 04, 2025, 07:58:39 am
content: Quote from: Kean on February 01, 2025, 12:29:16 am

author: Dr. Frank
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2025, 09:03:13 am
content: Hello faraday,the temperature inside your 3458A is quite high. Mine operates on 34..35°C only, at 22°C room temperature.Please clean the fan filter, place your instrument in an open spot, like a desk top, so that air can freely circulate.Avoid placing it in a rack.The inner temperature usually rises by 12 .. 13°C only under these circumstances.Best use a constant lab temperature of 21 ..25°C +/- 0.2°C for highest stability.Frank

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2025, 10:20:09 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on April 04, 2025, 07:58:39 amApocalypse NOW great movie btw

author: faraday
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 04, 2025, 03:35:09 pm
content: Quote from: Dr. Frank on April 04, 2025, 09:03:13 amTHX for info now have 36.7 . Filter was dirty.