What's a good price for HP 3457A - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sanka
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 08:09:56 pm
content: There is someone an hour away from me with an old HP 3457A multimeter to sell. He says it has been in storage for a while and hasn't been calibrated in years. But he does know that it powers up and seems to look for input. He indeed was its user when he put it away in storage and it worked fine at that time. I should be able to do some basic sanity checks in person before picking it up.I am wondering what a fair price for this unit might be. He wants US $200 and I said I'd pay $150, and we are sort of deadlocked there :-) There won't be any shipping fee as I'll pick it up myself. I am curious to know what eevblog members think a good price to pay would be.Thanks for your input.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 08:32:20 pm
content: If it works, $200 is a fair price.Dave.

author: donald
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 08:53:40 pm
content: does comes with any plugin cards???

author: sanka
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 09:09:07 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 12, 2013, 08:32:20 pmThanks, Dave.Quote from: donald on February 12, 2013, 08:53:40 pmNo

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 09:48:15 pm
content: For USA buyers a simple technique is search eBay for what you want then click on the sold listing option:http://www.ebay.com/csc/Electrical-Test-Equipment-/92074/i.html?_ipg=200&_from=R40&clk_rvr_id=450074651736&_nkw=HP+3457a&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=ncPrices depends on condition so it can give you an idea of what its worth. The true value then becomes the median between seller and buyer expectation.I've used the above for several years and noted it doesn't have all the sales of a model, but it works for low, med and high price ranges.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 10:43:13 pm
content: I think the only plugin cards for the 3457A are for scanner options, which are of very limited value to the majority of the hobbyists out there.In my opinion $200 is on the high side, but the lack of shipping costs and risk, and the ability to check it out before you buy is worth a little extra. I would probably check it out and buy it if it produces reasonable values (bring a resistor and a battery so you can test if the resistance, voltage and current ranges are in the right ballpark) if I were in the market for a 6.5 digit bench meter.An AA battery represents a voltage source that can be used to test all ranges from 3V and up. You can short all of the ranges for 0V reading. A battery plus suitable resistor can form a current source. Shorting the current terminals will give you a second data point. Shorting the inputs can also test 0 ohm on all the ohms ranges, and a suitable resistor can be used to test most resistance ranges.The 3457A also has an internal self test that at leasts tests all digital circuits (not sure how much of the analog circuits it tests, probably a fair amount).

author: george graves
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 11:29:24 pm
content: Quote from: saturation on February 12, 2013, 09:48:15 pmWhere the heck is the "sold listing" option!?!?!? That would be awesome but I've never see that before - in fact your link doesn't even bring up sold items for me. Only items currently for sale.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2013, 11:34:09 pm
content: Advanced search, check 'completed listings'. It's mutually exclusive with 'search title and description', so uncheck that if you have it checked.

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 13, 2013, 01:14:53 am
content: I would say 200$ is a bargain for such an instrument. I'd buy it any time for that price.

author: donald
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2013, 05:52:34 am
content: I think the only plugin cards for the 3457A are for scanner options, which are of very limited value to the majority of the hobbyists out there.Actually they made two plug ins as far i am aware, mine HP3457A came with 44491A -" Gen purpose relay" which get used..don

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 16, 2013, 07:28:48 pm
content: Quote from: sanka on February 12, 2013, 08:09:56 pmhere it italy 200$ is a very good price.you should ever request a video of self test result (no photo, because single test sign "pass" like the complete test).

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 05:49:58 am
content: I just scored a HP3457A for AU$150And it's bang-on too!(it does settle down to the LSD against my MV-106 transfer standard)No doubt a video or two will follow.Dave.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 06:00:10 am
content: This is a good price! It's a good meter. I love the numeric keyboard... I use sometimes the pass-fail tast and is very userful.

author: JuiceKing
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 07:08:39 am
content: Quote from: sanka on February 12, 2013, 08:09:56 pmMine was just shy of $200 including shipping. Great meter, no regrets.

author: sanka
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 03:43:04 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 18, 2013, 05:49:58 amExcellent! I see calibration stickers on it for the past 2-3 years. Looks like it has been in use at an Analog Devices lab until recently. So it was probably kept calibrated from birth. Nice find, Dave!Did you get the cal certs too? It will be interesting to see if and how it drifted over the years.

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 06:21:47 pm
content: Welcome to the HP3457A ClubI purchased mine for a similar amount ShippedOnly 300V max (AC or DC) but is a bench instrument. It has also a 7 1/2 digit mode using GPIB

author: Spawn
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 07:29:45 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 18, 2013, 05:49:58 amI am quoting you for this one DaveQuote from: EEVblog on March 09, 2012, 04:41:07 amFor that price I would love to buy couple of those, but can't get lucky on this side of the world, I never see one for sale

author: DaveW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 08:15:19 pm
content: Hmm, is it in bad taste to mention that Kodak Harrow gave several of these out for free a year or so back! It's a great meter, nothing like reading several volts to 10uV accuracy. This video runs through a few of the everyday features,

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 08:45:36 pm
content: Quote from: sanka on February 18, 2013, 03:43:04 pmNo cal certs unfortunately.Yes, seems to have been owned and calibrated by Analog Devices.Nice find indeed. Was just lucky enough to search at the right time and for it to have a very low Buy It Now price (was $199, discounted to US$159), with very cheap shipping to Oz by DHL to boot. I've looking at one of these for years, they are not easy to get in oz at a good price.Dave.

author: lewis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 09:07:31 pm
content: I paid £150 (that's pounds) for mine about 4 years ago. I've never sent it for calibration, but checked it against a brand spanking new recently cal'd 34411A I had on demo a couple of weeks ago and it's bang on onallranges. I'd like to check it against a 3458A one day for kicks.In answer to the OP's question, I'd snap his hand off for 200 bucks, go for it!

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2013, 09:11:55 pm
content: I'm so envious.

author: poodyp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 12:16:30 am
content: Quote from: donald on February 14, 2013, 05:52:34 amThere're three pluginsThe 44491A can do eight 2 wire or four 4 wire measurement, and two current measurements. 33 channels per second.The 44492A has 10 channels and reed relays, can do 300 channels per second, no current or kelvin resistance.Then there's the 44497A high voltage assembly, which basically has a 1000:1 attenuator and extra rear terminals.I've been looking for a 44491A but it's hard to justify spending almost what I paid for my 3457...

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 06:15:03 am
content: 10 channel?You need 20 hands, nice!

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 08:02:36 am
content: Spoiler teardown photos from today's video:http://www.flickr.com/photos/eevblog/sets/72157632803534496/Dave.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 08:13:01 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 19, 2013, 08:02:36 amSo is this model using a backup battery to keep & preserve the cal data ?One of above Dave's photoshoot at the battery ->http://www.flickr.com/photos/eevblog/8487395855/#in/set-72157632803534496/

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 08:23:30 am
content: Quote from: BravoV on February 19, 2013, 08:13:01 amYep.Dave.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 08:31:54 am
content: Dave, how old is that meter ? If its more than 10 years and assuming that battery is the original 1st one came out with the meter, any plan to replace it ?If you are, just a thought, it will be a good material for a video blog considering there are many old HP benctop owners outthere that are facing the same problem. For sure there two owners (includes me) that are going to replace it sooner or later, discussed here ->https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/quick-question-about-hp-3468a/What interest me is the preparation required and also the delicate process like not to allow the cmos ram to get disconnected from the power, static electricity concern and etc, beleive it will be an interesting video alone.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 09:11:22 am
content: Quote from: BravoV on February 19, 2013, 08:31:54 amNo. It measures good, and no sign of leakage.You would need a floating soldering iron, as the battery is on the earth referenced side.Dave.

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 11:57:09 am
content: No need to hurry with uploading the video. Give the rest of us a chance to pick one of these up for cheap.But seriously, whenever you review some piece of equipment, the prices on eBay just skyrocket. For example those rubidium frequency standards.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 12:35:03 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 19, 2013, 09:11:22 amCouldn't you just temporarily parallel in a second battery or power supply with a current-limiting resistor, then replace the main battery, all with the unit unplugged?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 12:52:42 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on February 19, 2013, 12:35:03 pmYes, you could diode-OR another battery in place.I would go to the trouble and solder it though, not just relying on crocodile clips or whatever, just in case.I also presume there is some way to extract backup (and set) the cal values using GPIB commands perhaps?Dave.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 01:40:48 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 19, 2013, 12:52:42 pmThat would be logical, but at least in my limited experience, there seems to be a large amount of test equipment from that era that has a computer connection and a sophisticated front panel interface, and still no way to back up or restore cal constants...My Tektronix scope can even read out all the cal data from the front panel right onto the CRT, butstillif you were to record them, you would have no way to write them back into memory.

author: lewis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 08:15:15 pm
content: By the way, service manual and operating manual for the 3457 available here:http://www.schematicsunlimited.com/?z=HP_agilent

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 08:28:15 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on February 19, 2013, 09:11:22 amCheck the expiration date. These batteries have an extremely flat discharge curve, I think someone posted a graph in the recent HP 3468A topic. No way to tell until it's essentially empty, and it might require access to a good cal lab.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 08:29:31 pm
content: Quote from: lewis on February 19, 2013, 08:15:15 pmthaks really nice site!

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 08:33:59 pm
content: I disagree. It appears to be just a mirror ofKO4BB's site, attempting to get advertising money by just copying his collection.

author: ddavidebor
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 08:49:41 pm
content: they look pretty different

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 09:40:01 pm
content: Quote from: alm on February 19, 2013, 08:28:15 pmI saw that ridiculously flat graph, and I suspect it's not realistic.Dave.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 09:54:13 pm
content: Hereis a datasheet for what is most likely a similar battery (haven't checked the 3457A manual to verify). The 1/2 AA 23°C curve looks quite similar to the one posted in that thread, although slightly less abrupt. I would still not be very comfortable estimating remaining battery life from its output voltage. Especially if a new battery costs $5 and a new calibration might cost $150.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 19, 2013, 10:04:30 pm
content: Quote from: alm on February 19, 2013, 09:54:13 pmEven if it is that exact chemistry and type, the measured 3.06V still puts it above 50% capacity remaining for 20deg C and 10uA current draw.Dave.