HP 3458A - to sell or to keep? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: AneeshKola
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 06:24:45 am
content: Purchased this u-beaut a few weeks ago. Passes self-test and readings make sense too.I got it for AUD 2k (an absolute steal) from a test lab shutting down.I wonder if I should sell it and make quick cash or keep it since you don't get many opportunities to own equipment like this one.It was last calibrated by Keysight in 2017.Looking for some feedback.

author: ap
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 08:37:28 am
content: Why not keep it for the time being, and let it settle-in kind of. You can always make money selling it. Also, if you decide to keep it, you should do a test as per AN18 (Applcation Note 18) which deals with a desease these have, which is A/D drift. It is spread all over the serial numbers. Problem is, if it has that, it may drift outside ACAL correction limits earlier or later (and fail). Also, you should switch it on from time to time, say once a month, so that the internal reference remains stable.

author: Dr. Frank
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 09:58:46 am
content: Quote from: AneeshKola on March 08, 2025, 06:24:45 amIf you keep it, you will soon be infected by the volt-nuts virus and would have to buy more volt-nuttery stuff, or would build some of your own.If you are not an electronics / Metrology / volt-nuts guy, then better sell it for at least for 3-4 times this price, in any condition.Btw.: I would never sell my 3458A as it's the most versatile instrument and a complete calibration lab in a box for electrical units, and in my opinion the best 8.5 digit DMM.Frank

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 03:51:13 pm
content: Less than 1000 UKP..........that's a steal even if U180 is drifty, well done!I've contemplated selling my 3458A on & off as I don't need it for calibrating PDVS2mini's anymore (I sold the rights), but never get as far as advertising it. At the moment I still enjoy having it.Before you do anything, extract the Calram data (via GPIB).Keep us informed as to how you get on testing for drift and any other issues etc.Ian.

author: CalibrationGuy
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 04:58:00 pm
content: I collect equipment, so I'm a bad person to ask. It really depends on your economic situation. If you don't need the money, you should keep it. If you have any pressing matters or projects you want to do, then you should sell it. My vote is keep it.TomG.

author: KrudyZ
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2025, 05:28:49 pm
content: The reality is that almost no-one needs a HP 3458A.Test equipment does not appreciate over time.(Your appreciation of test equipment might, but that's another story.)I very much doubt that you are working on anything that requires such an instrument and 99.99% of the people on this forum would be equally well served with a 6 1/2 or even a 5 1/2 digit meter.So sell it and buy stock it in the next Nvidia from the profits.

author: AneeshKola
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 12:41:14 am
content: Thanks for the input. I will start looking into testing it according to the AP note. Thanks mate!

author: AneeshKola
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 12:43:25 am
content: Quote from: IanJ on March 08, 2025, 03:51:13 pmThanks for the input. Could you please point me towards a helpful guide on how to extract the CAL data?

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 01:18:31 am
content: Quote from: AneeshKola on March 09, 2025, 12:43:25 amSee IanJ's WinGPIB applicationhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/3458a-logging-via-windows-app-revisited/

author: AneeshKola
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 01:31:03 am
content: Ok so I did some digging and turns out that the meter was owned by STMicro (Singapore) until 2007 at least (Found the CAL report).It was then shipped to Australia and was calibrated yearly from 2013 to 2017 (Found all CAL reports).

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2025, 02:46:58 am
content: Quote from: KrudyZ on March 08, 2025, 05:28:49 pmThis is all pretty much true. Id still keep it :⁠-⁠)

author: aronake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 11, 2025, 03:12:35 am
content: Its a rather niche piece of equipment.If you actually want some feedback, it would help if you tell what interest you have in electronics etc.One way forward could be to do general maintenance on it. Backup calibration data (which has been mentioned), clean it and make it look nice, replace electrolytic capacitors and mains filter. Then have it run for some weeks and do the A3 board drift test. If you want to sell it and can show it has a stable A3 board, it is likely to double in value. There are lots of threads here on people who have done these things.Its been the current model for 30 years, and looks quite unlikely there will come a replacement very soon. And 3458As actually are an appreciating asset (or at least kind of covers inflation) so not too much rush to sell it. But also if you do not need it, can as well let it go.

author: GigaJoe
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2025, 02:53:51 am
content: aside of high initial cost of 3458 , second are cost of adjustment, if there no option DIY. so I'm stay away of it.

author: IanJ
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 29, 2025, 09:23:55 am
content: My 3458A is on EBay right now, and has a few years worth of SN18 / CAL?72 drift status on a spreadsheet included.Can’t say I have ever seen any other 3458A on EBay sold with this.Ian