New Agilent U1233A arrived with expired calibration - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: neggles
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 01:42:25 pm
content: Hi guys,I just received my new Agilent U1233A from Trio Test & Measurement in Sydney (my first piece of 'legitimate' test equipment i.e. not made by a Chinese company) and the calibration certificate shows that it was calibrated way back in May of 2011. I can definitely understand the meter having sat in storage for that long, but obviously this means the calibration is well and truly expired - even with the one-year extension granted by the meter being stored rather than in use for the first year.I was just wondering if anyone knows if Agilent warrant that devices will arrive with their calibration not expired; I haven't been able to find any information on their site or the forums here that would suggest either way, though I may well have failed to search properly (I used all the terms I could think of to use).I don't actually need the meter to be particularly well calibrated, as I'm upgrading from a four-year-old cheap $40 meter which was probably well and truly out of spec (and with abysmal/unstated specs to begin with) - but I did pay a not insignificant amount of money for it and it would be nice if I knew I could trust it, you know? It's probably still within calibration spec anyway, but I have no way to check this as it's the most precise/accurate instrument I own / have access to.So yes, does anyone know if I happen to be entitled to a free calibration or something similar? (I don't mean to be presumptuous, as I know this is one of the lowest-end products Agilent make - I am just curious).Thanks![edit:] I'd like to just take a moment to give my appreciation to the fine folk at Trio Test & Measurement, who were communicative, fast, and very helpful while I was buying this meter. It shipped out and arrived very quickly, and they responded to my questions almost instantaneously. Great company, as I'm sure many of you already know.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 02:07:29 pm
content: I don't see why this would concern Agilent, it's more likely that it sat in storage at the distributor. I would first contact Trio and see if they'll pay for a free calibration, or offer an exchange/discount.I think that there was someone on this forum having a similar issue with an Agilent scope a while ago. I believe the distributor recalibrated his instrument for free. Using Google to search the forum (add "site:eevblog.com") for something like Agilent calibration expired should find it.

author: neggles
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 02:12:56 pm
content: Quote from: alm on October 07, 2013, 02:07:29 pmThinking about it, you're quite right. Heck, Agilent even say the 3-year warranty runs out in July next year as it was shipped from Agilent in July of 2011.I'm just not used to the manufacturer not being the one responsible for this sort of thing, I suppose.Quote from: alm on October 07, 2013, 02:07:29 pmAha! found it.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/brand-new-hp-scope-comes-with-expired-calibration-paper/How I missed that before, I will never know. I'll give Trio an email(and I might try hunting around and seeing if I can find anyone with a recently-calibrated bench meter to test accuracy from)Has anyone else had a similar experience?

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 02:17:55 pm
content: I think you may be able to extend the Agilent warranty by sending them a copy of your invoice, but I don't have the link handy. I'm sure Trio would be able to help.

author: Wytnucls
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 04:46:36 pm
content: It's only a 6000 count meter and very unlikely to be out of stated specifications anyway. Test it against a reliable meter, with at least an order of magnitude higher resolution, for peace of mind. Usually, one has to pay extra for a bona fide calibration certificate to be delivered with the meter.

author: Sylwerdragon
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 06:44:25 pm
content: Well something similar happen to me with new Rigol DS2072...i think calibration will end in 2 months or so....I don't know why this is happening..It is a bit stupid.