EBAY: Many faulty hp/agilent 34401a multimers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: teksturi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2015, 08:38:26 pm
content: Hi. Normally i do not list eBay item because everybody have to find they own deals but just notice that one seller sell 14 faulty 34401a multimeters. To me postage kills the point and I just buy one. There is also make offer if you dear to try. Every meter cost 159$ + postage. Meters are located in Philippines. Hope we get many repair topics to repair sectionHere is the linkhttp://www.ebay.com/sch/Multimeters-/58277/i.html?_udlo=70&_sop=10&_nkw=34401a+multimeter&_udhi=200&_mPrRngCbx=1&_from=R40&_trksid=m194

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2015, 08:44:37 pm
content: Thanks for sharing!I wonder what the deal is with that34401Athat's sold 'as-is'... they haven't even showed any errors!

author: teksturi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2015, 08:49:16 pm
content: Maybe just very good dealThere is actually 15 meters. One is little bit cheaper (99$) but it miss faceplate. But user zucca can still have one for salehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-34401a-window-front-panel-display-34401-49311/msg411737/#msg411737.Zucca live europe now I think.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2015, 09:08:59 pm
content: Neat tinkering object. I wouldn't pay the asking price though since it seems somebody else already went through them and deemed the meters beyond repair. All of them are missing the rear bezel as well for some reason. Maybe they got opened and damaged on purpose before decommisioning?

author: teksturi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 21, 2015, 10:57:26 pm
content: Good points. May be still good deal to buy all off them. If seller agreed for 1000$ or something close for all units it may be winner deal. Unlucky or lucky (depends point) that I have wife. Love to see that kind of repair. Love to do that myself too but but the wife point

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 12:05:29 am
content: Look at TiN's 3458A repair thread. And ask him if he would buy that 3458A again. Then think again about buying those potatoes for budget price.Don't get me wrong, I really like fixing stuff. But there are limits to what is fun and pays off. Repairing drowned and severely neglected DMMs certainly isn't fun for me.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 12:19:08 am
content: It seems to me like these don't have water damage because they look much too clean for that. I'm more worried about the missing rear bezels. I doubt everything from this seller has been in water. That would make his stock run out pretty quick.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 12:22:49 am
content: Same seller has a faulty 15MHz analog scope for $120http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Hitachi-V-152B-Oscilloscope-15MHz-Power-On-No-Display-/252148372910?hash=item3ab536d5ae:g:cx4AAOSwv0tVbaheDream'n

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 12:34:10 am
content: But what other possibilities are there for a company to produces 20+ dead DMMs? It seems to me that most of them have the same stickers on them, so they must originate from the same place.Sure, one possibility is that one company dumped lots of working DMMs into dumpster, but why? And I would also expect most of them to work after beeing dumped and pulled from dumpster. From experience I can tell that higher end HP bench DMMs are really reliable, so it certainly takes lots of effort to kill 20+ meters. And I would guess that even the dumbest engineer would stop after the second or third.Concerning the water damage: Look at the 'No Input reading' one, RS232 port on the rear. Clearly some corrosion going on there.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 12:42:50 am
content: All of them are clearly faulty AND have been interfered with before (no doubt stripped/part swapped for the expensive/unobtanium parts like Caddock resistor arrays, ASICs, etc). Just look at the hell TiN has been through from dealing with this sellers crap. OldSchoolCool wisely got shut of his HP3458A from the same seller.The asking prices are insane. Much like the $20,000+ asked for the rusty 3458As. These really are worth their scrap value alone. You would guess 3 meters to make 1 or 2 good'uns, except you find the rare parts just happen to be the ones missing/swapped in ALL of them.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 12:46:28 am
content: Quote from: MadTux on November 22, 2015, 12:34:10 amYou clearly have never worked in a service shop. When I did you would be amazed at the amount of old skeletons and carcasses kept on shelves to rape for parts (with stickers!). Only when they were stripped of all the good stuff and/or we needed space would they be dumped.Now guess were all that stuff ends up? On a slow boat to a third world country for cheap landfill where it is sorted by children into piles, then efficiently moved up various chains to end up on ebay after all the vultures have taken whats left of what could be the good stuff.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 12:51:51 am
content: No, never worked in a repair shop. But I certainly have experience in raping broken units for parts, as my lab mostly consists of cheap ebay instrumentsBut I wouldn't expect that any company, no matter how large, produces that much scrap that it keeps 20 or more of the same DMMs in stock to rape for parts, while it is still supported by Agilent. Anyone with a working mind would order replacement parts instead of new units.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 01:05:09 am
content: Oh lord! Closer inspection of the "no faceplate" and the service tech has helpfully wrote "defective a/d chip" on the masking tape label.Shudder!I dunno where this Filipino seller gets his HP stuff, but he has form!

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 09:32:29 am
content: Quote from: MadTux on November 22, 2015, 12:34:10 amIn a moist climate these connectors rust rather quickly. I've owned more HP gear with corroded sub-D and HPIB connectors (mostly the nuts) but the corrosion was definitely not caused by water damage. It is just poor surface treatment of the connector hardware.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 11:21:55 am
content: I have paid less on ebay Germany for broken 34401A meters and they were in better condition. This doers not seem to be a good deal.

author: teksturi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 22, 2015, 11:33:51 am
content: There are other interesting multimeter items like 21pcs Keithelys2015from same seller. Price is under 6000$. So one meter price will be about 300$. They say that every meter works and has been calibrated last year. And they from Nokia so I think they has been calibrated every year.But price is way too high. Cosmetic conditions are not so great. And who want to risk 6000$ dollars. You can find this meters way cheaper from eBay.Quote from: HighVoltage on November 22, 2015, 11:21:55 amI have same though but if you can offer low price from all off them that's the different think. Then you may have spare parts. But hey, I just wanna see someone is going to try the repair

author: teksturi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 02:37:23 pm
content: Prices just go down 20%

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 03:42:03 pm
content: I wouldn't touch those with a barge pole. They are ALL missing the back bezel. And there is a reason for that. The back bezel holds the little sticker with the serial number of the machine.This means one of two things :1) These machines have been decomissioned. The serial number will be wiped from EEProm as well. You can not have these things officially calibrated as they are marked as 'scrap'.2) these machines are really broken beyond repair or beyond economical repair so they have recycled the serials to other machines to 'erase' certain traces...This stinks from a mile away. chances you can fix these are VERY slim.

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 03:51:32 pm
content: Quote from: free_electron on November 23, 2015, 03:42:03 pmAre you sure on that? I see the serial number sticker on 5 of 5 that i have checked so far. The serial number on these is on the back case on a sticker right above the VM Comp and Ext. Trig jacks.That being said, my HP 34401A has a little sticker on the back bezel and no sticker on the back of the case. Interesting if that little one is the serial number for mine, I thought mine was sold without a sticker.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 06:18:41 pm
content: Quote from: teksturi on November 23, 2015, 02:37:23 pmI'm still happy they turned my $50 offer down

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 11:33:51 pm
content: Serial is still there, it's on the back of the aluminium chassis, not on the plastic frame which is missing.http://www.amplifier.cd/Test_Equipment/Hewlett_Packard/HP_meter/images/HP34401A_back.jpgMore probable reason for missing back frame is, as already mentioned, that a few people messed with them before. First guy in some company probably opened and tested them, found that they are beyond economical repair and dumped them. Second guy, perhaps someone in association with the seller, opened them again and stripped all good parts, except CPU board, rubbery keypad and VFD, so they can show a 'working' unit on ebay.One of these guys was lazy and didn't put the back frame back on. Perhaps the same guy that found it handy to have a few replacement VFD filter/cover plates.

author: iampoor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 11:54:46 pm
content: If someone who sells primarily test equipment sells units "as-is" its bad news.....

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2015, 11:59:07 pm
content: They are worth their VFD's - which isn't saying much, because half of them are totally shot, the rest just passable. The ridiculous postal charges make them not even worth scrap. Seller insists on very expensive courier delivery.I seriously doubt there is a "ringing" industry in T&M gear with serial numbers being swapped around. I mean, yes with cars and motorbikes there is the government agencies that hold a chassis number to a registered vehicle - and people often used to sell a logbook or V60 registration document along with a "chassis" which consists of nothing but a piece of metal with a VIN plate on it as a whole vehicle - which thieves then steal a vehicle and swap the plates and numbers around. It was a big problem back in the day, but I don't hear of it now.But on crappy old 34401'slol... Nope! I think someone is pulling our legs.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2015, 12:02:37 am
content: Quote from: iampoor on November 23, 2015, 11:54:46 pmJust see what TiN has had to do with his 3458A from the same seller. New transformer, new voltage reference, repairs to power supply boards, repairs to A/D boards - replacement of A/D board. (Unobtanium parts). Anyone would think someone had took all the good boards and shoved in all the shit ones, even forgetting the VREF totally, and sell it on...

author: iampoor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2015, 12:15:19 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on November 24, 2015, 12:02:37 amYep, I followed that "ordeal"....I honestly cant believe he persevered. I think I would have thrown it out a window.Whenever I look at something "as-is" on Ebay, I would never consider purchasing it if the seller appears to know what they are talking about. Only 1 bad experience so far.Im sure this seller would list the parts individually if there was anything of value.....they seem pretty scummy to me.

author: FireFlower
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 26, 2015, 04:10:24 am
content: Yeah, those look very bad, might be from Nokia South-Korea factory from 2014 auction and most equipment that came from there after auction was horrendous, I still see nightmares opening those machines to clean up so we could use them... Actually the work still continues, lots of moisture damage and large machines had not been serviced long time

author: TiN
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2015, 06:29:55 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on November 24, 2015, 12:02:37 amWell, to be 100% fair, I got what I asked for that price point, really. I'm not seeing how anyone could get properly working 3458 for less then 3K$ in any way, unless someone just give it as a generous gift. Many of those "good" 3458 up for sale now are there for months, and still might have number of hidden issues, like drift of ADC or some intermittent issues. I just chosen the hard way. Would I do again knowing all what I do now? Yes, I think so, it's crazy project to do.P.S. Not saying those 34401a worth it, though. Completely different class of device, with plenty of better/cheaper alternative around.

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 09:57:10 pm
content: I took a punt on the as-is one mentioned above, and put in a low offer.It has just arrived this morning and it actually does work and show reasonable values - so far anyway!The display is pretty dim, and only just readable in the menus. However it is OK in my environment when actually measuring values.I had a quick play in the menu without knowing what I was doing:- Tests pass, there are no errors and calibration message shows a date in 1993.Cal count is 146 if I am reading it right, which seems pretty high.Inside it looks as you would expect for an old instrument. No water damage at least.Shipping was expensive (cost more than the meter), but it was DHL and so arrived very quickly.Total cost was $150 USD including delivery to New Zealand.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 30, 2015, 11:33:04 pm
content: The weird dots on the display put me off that one. Are they still there?

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2015, 12:06:49 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on November 30, 2015, 11:33:04 pmI'm not in front of it now, but yep I think they are.The display isn't as bright as it looked in the picture on ebay either, but I think that is just the effect of the camera.Interestingly I see this one also has the dots:http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Agilent-34401A-Multimeter-RAM-R-W-Fail/252179101047?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D34293%26meid%3D128cb9612c0f457aa5d3fa04ae98cb32%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D252179076182

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2015, 12:39:22 am
content: Perhaps a trick to wring the last possible life out of a worn VFD is to overdrive it, in which case the very rarely (if ever) used segments like those top part of a colon : symbol dots will be lit up. The bottom dots not so much as they will have been in use as decimal points.This onehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/252179072641looks like they went overboard on the over volt/current hackI guess you got the best of an awful bunch, just need a new VFD.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2015, 01:00:23 am
content: those dots are caused by leaky VFD drivers. they are TI parts. obsolete and replaced by pericom . i have posted the xref before on the forum.these are 32 bit high voltage shift registers in plcc44 package. replace em and the problem is solved.Note : if you have a really old 34401 then the VFD is driven by a upd75xxx custom cpu with integrated drivers . That one is unobtainium....and the fronts are not interchangeable... a newer 8051 based frontpanel does not work in a machine that needs the upd75xxx based one.

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2015, 01:03:08 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on December 01, 2015, 01:00:23 amThanks for the info. I'll check it out tonight and see. This one is pretty old so could well be the latter.

author: hendorog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 01, 2015, 01:06:33 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on December 01, 2015, 12:39:22 amYep - at least its working better than my ex Navy Fluke 8600A (Nicad version) - that thing blew a big cap covering everything in crap and melting the case!

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2015, 09:58:27 am
content: The 34401A even sells well for 351 euros as a used one, when marked as "Keithley" on ebay GermanyLOLKeithley-34401A-Digital-Multimeter-6-Digithttp://www.ebay.de/itm/281870590929

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 12:26:44 am
content: Some not so cheap, truely f*cked 3456As, anyone?!?http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=&_ssn=bestindustrial&hash=item3ab5af1d53%3Ag%3Am6cAAOSwwbdWOZZd&item=252156255571&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2046732.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.X3456a.TRS0&_nkw=3456a&_sacat=0

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 12:52:04 am
content: I would easily grab the cheapest one, but shipping kills it. Plus who knows the fate of the insides.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 01:13:28 am
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on December 07, 2015, 09:58:27 amIt's odd that it went for such a high price... Unless the buyer is going to rely on the listing being wrong/fraudulent and playing that card. I hope not, despite it being guaranteed by ebay policy to work against the seller and award the scam artist.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 01:28:17 am
content: Quote from: Macbeth on December 08, 2015, 01:13:28 amProbably because HP/Agilent/Keysight/Whatever changed names so often, people are searching for 34401A only, instead for HP 34401A, Agilent 34401A etc separately. Thereby only correct number is needed. Keithley keyword also helps.Quote from: Vgkid on December 08, 2015, 12:52:04 amReally??? 3456As in unknown, but nearly 100% fixable condition usually go for as low as $60-90 on US ebay. Here, the truely broken one costs 80$ and you have to pay expensive shipping to get an instrument that is basicallly ruined with water/corrosion crap inside.

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 01:49:25 am
content: I should have said that I would pay that much if it was not sold by that seller(and located stateside). The Analog Devices cal sticker from 2011 does pique my interest.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 03:31:25 am
content: 34401 should go for about 300$ in pristine condition.Agilent has put these things on life support. they are discontinued ( or soon to be )

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 08:16:45 am
content: About a year ago, they still sold for much higher prices in the USNow it seems they sell for more in Europe

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2015, 09:08:11 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on December 08, 2015, 03:31:25 amPerhaps, but they seem to be going for more than that lately.QuoteDec 1, 2016.

author: Pannenkoek_met_een_lampje
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2018, 06:42:55 am
content: Quote from: free_electron on December 01, 2015, 01:00:23 amBought a 34401A on Ebay and it seems to have this hardware fault. The driver IC is between the screen and PCB so I can not see the text on them. Is there a way to determine what is in there without taking it apart? there are some texts on the screen module like 0795 which looks like a data code to me. the text 34401-66502 and there is also a sticker with a bar-code and the code 5CF0052. I am afraid I can see a 42 pin trough hole dill part ... does this mean it is unrepairable?

author: Inverted18650
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2018, 06:31:14 pm
content: Hey mate, this thread was last updated in 2015. Not sure anyone will come back, maybe start a fresh thread.(no not..haha, glad I was wrong).

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2018, 07:36:31 pm
content: Is your 34401A really old with only red 4mm input color rings?Then it is most likely the very old type.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2018, 09:16:54 pm
content: HP brand are they the ones with unfindable and unreplacables vfd chipsif you get the model keysight or agilent with red and black input plugs you may get lucky to have a repairable one

author: corn11
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2018, 03:32:17 pm
content: Not necessarily, only the early ones have the old front panel board with the NEC µC. Those front panel boards have another part number 34401-66502. If you look in the backdating section of the service manual you can (probably) identify the DMMs with the old FP by the serial number.Otherwise the red rings on the negative jacks as HighVoltage mentioned are probably also a good indicator.According to the service note 06 it also seems like that you can replace the old panels with the NEC µC (34401-66502) by the new ones (34401-66512) if you update the firmware:http://literature.cdn.keysight.com/litweb/pdf/34401A-06.pdf

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2018, 05:56:04 pm
content: Quote from: iampoor on November 23, 2015, 11:54:46 pmA-men to that! That's why I NEVER buy anything "as-is" from Tucker or other major equipment dealers. You can be SURE that the units have been stripped of anything usable before the carcass gets dumped on E-Greed.

author: Zucca
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 06, 2018, 03:11:02 pm
content: Quote from: teksturi on November 21, 2015, 08:49:16 pmIt was sold long time ago, sorry.