HP3458a lot on ebay. Group Buy, anyone? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 01:47:36 am
content: A lot of 10 HP 3458a 8.5 digit DMMsare up for auction. Condition is mixed but, hey, they all power on.Starting bid? just $19,179, or, if with quick action, a buy-it-now price of $24,949!! Free economy shipping from the Phillipines included.Too rich for my blood, but perhaps people want to do a group buy?

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 02:04:00 am
content: they're kind of busted up

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 03:50:36 am
content: You are judging them on superficialities. These things have the heart of a thoroughbred! Think of how rewarding it will be to nurse one back to health, to give them a new lease on life! Why, I'm tempted to mortgage my house for the chance, but my wife would kill me.Seriously though, I'm curious what they'll go for, and whether they'll have to drop the price.

author: mairo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 04:13:44 am
content: I have bought test equipment (System Power Supply) from these guys before. Shipping to Australia was quick and cheap, the unit was as per the description. They seems like a big surplus reseller, this is theirs second ebay shop, I am not sure why they did that ...

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 04:51:32 am
content: Impressive seller -- 51 feedback and 26,269 items for sale. Busy people. I wonder if they are selling off the country.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 05:39:02 am
content: Their prices for everything are ridiculous."Based in Philippines, bestindustrial has been an eBay member since Jul 20, 2011" but still only 52 ratings despite thousands of listings.In their feedback list, what does it mean when prices arestruckout? Perhaps that the seller accepted a lower offer than the list price? Because most items are like that.Try offering them $2000 (or less?) for the 10 multimeters. You might be lucky.

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 06:41:39 am
content: If you check eBay for sold listings, $2000-2500 is what they are actually going for. Even with various faults and defects like these ones.

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 08:55:20 am
content: Quote from: TheAmmoniacal on July 28, 2015, 06:41:39 amYeah, it looked like you had to get to $4000 before it sounded like the units were in working order, which isn't to say they have traceable cals. I guess if you could get piece together 5 working units out of the ten, you'd probably about break even on the BIN price, and you could probably make a profit parting out the rest.I noticed a US seller I've gotten some decent priced gear in good condition fromunloaded three of themdescribed as passing self tests for $1999 each earlier this year. They all went within 90-minutes of being listed too.

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 08:58:11 am
content: Quote from: TheAmmoniacal on July 28, 2015, 06:41:39 amYeah true, but I was considering the 'In Philippines, few will trust them or the shipping, and despite their huge stock they don't seem to sell much, so maybe they'd accept a low offer' factor.Hey, we have a forum member in the Philippines, elex_enthusiastI wonder whether he's heard of them?Pity they are so expensive, he badly needs some better test gear. A scope for instance.Which...http://stores.ebay.com/AUTOMATION-SUREPLUS-2/_i.html?_nkw=oscilloscope&submit=Search&_sid=1070188389They do have plenty of, and some of those prices are not toooo absurd. If they take offers...I PM'd him.

author: mairo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 12:46:56 pm
content: This is theirs other ebay account:http://stores.ebay.com/AUTOMATION-SUREPLUS?_trksid=p2047675.l2563As I said I have bought from them once (~$1000 item) asked 35% lower than the asking price - they accept without stupid counteroffersShipping and packing on my item (~20kg item) were very good - the amount of bobble wrap was just .. endless.The way their service works is also abit strange (but on a nice way for the buyer I guess) - once I won the items and have payed for it(via ebay), they send you a link to theirs website with pictures (same as ebay but sometimes include more pictures as well - my unit had pictures from theirs testing, which for some reason were not shown on ebay) of the unit at which point you have I guess last chance to raise any questions (you can put comments there) and then you click "accept" and your item gets send .. why is so, I don't know, but I don't see it as wrong either.Not related to the seller at all, just when I saw the link I realised that I have bought from this seller before..

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 01:17:49 pm
content: That's a interesting find, lots of 3458a are fairly rare, unless they are liquidating agents for a host of various vendors. Alas, 8.5 digits are expensive to maintain and only a select few can repair them properly.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 01:24:47 pm
content: QuoteI guess we should just wait. Individually, they should go for 2000-2500 USD, which is still a little bit out of my comfort zone.Actually i think repair should be quite easy compared to a newer type, as it has hundred of pages of service manual down to the component level.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 01:49:33 pm
content: QuoteDoesn't sound good, wheren't the Philipines hit by a typhoon and extreme flooding last year.I can imagine that some electronics factory was hit, insurance paid for it and these guys emptied the dumpstersNobody with a right mind will torture these expensive beauties in such a way on purpose that knobs break off and displays are shattered, that is abuse or nature playing a part.

author: TheAmmoniacal
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 02:08:56 pm
content: Yep, I personally wouldn't throw much more than $300 on one in that condition. That way I could potentially go even by auctioning off parts of a repair was not possible. I've seen the voltage reference boards alone going for $150-200.

author: saturation
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 02:10:45 pm
content: Many of the voltnutters here can confirm but FYI:Typical as-is 3458a, nonworking sell price $1500-3000. Median about $2000.Parts, expensive, if you buy 2 nonworking DMM and cannabalize one, its less certain to still work to factory spec than letting Keysight do it.Repair to factory new by Keysight, board swaps, $3000. Insure what you give Keysight has no missing boards or parts. Reason is they swap boards, and repair the damaged ones. Make sure you have the original and not substituted voltage reference board.$1600, gold 'JJ' calibration, 4ppm or less. Standard calibration $600.If owner does self repair or any other 3rd party repair not to Keysight standards, even if owner thinks it works to spec, they will not calibrate it. So, you are at Keysight's mercy if you want a cal from them.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 02:38:05 pm
content: I am still looking for a good 3458A but these are not really attractive from the looks and description.

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 06:04:53 pm
content: Looking the photos over closely, most of the damage looks about what I'd expect from instruments that have been used in an industrial setting over decades (all have HP branding). How many times have these been unracked and racked by untrained labor? How many countries have they travelled to in search of cheap factory labor? HPs enclosures are very robust. I'm sure they've done a great job of protecting the insides from physical abuse. (I'm not saying that there aren't plenty of people in the Philippines who would treat these instruments with respect, just that they aren't the ones who have been charged with schlepping these particular units around)On the otherhand, it appears that about half of these have signs of unsupervised encounters with water, though perhaps just sitting on their back standoffs in an inch or so of water. Based on mario's comments, it sounds like the seller goes to lengths to make sure the buyers know what they are getting, so I'd guess that the boards aren't corroded. Still...No bids yet. Not really surprising. This isn't a lot an unsophisticated buyer is going to be interested in. I imagine anyone willing to pay $20K for these is going to be bidding in the last minute. On the other hand, the price may still be too high. Saturation, do you think Keysight would refurb a water damaged unit for $3K?Quote from: HighVoltage on July 28, 2015, 02:38:05 pmSeems like you best bet is to find the ebay sellers who are in a volume business and price things to sell, then watch them like a hawk. The seller of the three units that went for ~$2000 (linked in one of my earlier posts) is one such seller. None of their TE listings is older than a month, meanwhile they've sold a couple hundred pieces in the same period. Auctions are typically short, and the BIN prices, at least for the stuff I've been interested in, are generally quite low -- low enough that they get snapped up within a couple hours.

author: Dr. Frank
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 07:39:07 pm
content: Hi,these Pictures are really disgusting..All instruments are HP brand, and the highest Serial No is ...A24074, and many have <= ..A6000.(Mine with about ..A25800 is 2001 vintage)Therefore, all instruments are from early to late 1990ties, and need further care for the CAL RAM.Very probably, the calibration is lost on many of these.The price and the risk for this pile of shit is much, much too high!Frank

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 07:55:06 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on July 28, 2015, 01:49:33 pmThey sell power supplies where the cables were cut from both ends. They also have some VESA rackmount stuff with very specific price, which varies for different cards. Lots of stuff mentioned Nokia, not for mobile phones. Like Nokia 75-08935-02 750893502 Module Cards.I guess Microsoft closed shop.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 10:44:53 pm
content: Quote from: Dr. Frank on July 28, 2015, 07:39:07 pmI did not want to say it such a harsh way, but I was thinking the same!

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 28, 2015, 10:53:08 pm
content: Some info about history can be foundhttp://www.gellerlabs.com/HP%203458A%20DMM.htmBased on serial numbers provided by seller almost all units are pretty old. Only three are more recent (10 years old - Unit 2,5,6)2823A-10035 (Unit 1)2823A-24074 (Unit 2)2823A-17642 (Unit 3)2823A-17769 (Unit 4)2823A-20854 (Unit 5)2823A-22807 (Unit 6)2823A-07839 (Unit 7)2823A-06040 (Unit2823A-13345 (Unit 9)2823A-06051 (Unit 10)2823A-01746 (Unit 11)2823A-08192 (Unit 12)

author: acbern
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2015, 09:03:27 am
content: To the guys here from Germany: I saw this too, but by coincidence, ebay US showed it on the right side as a recommended add. But when i want t open their shop, no products shown, happens to me often for items on ebay US but listed from outside US (mostly Asia). Any ideas/recommendations?And: Generally agree, price way too high given qty and condition.

author: mr.os
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2015, 09:12:42 am
content: In Germany you have to change your language settings to English (US) and use ebay.com. I use Firefoy for normal browsing with German settings and IE for ebay.com which is set to English.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2015, 09:31:59 am
content: Quote from: acbern on July 29, 2015, 09:03:27 amEbay.DE will not show all items, even if you click on "worldwide"By now, many worldwide ebay seller exclude "Germany" from there sell to list, because of our trouble with the German customs.That is why I also have a full US based ebay.com user name and most of the time I find stuff, that will not show up at all on ebay.deAnd many times, when I find an item on ebay.com and copy that item number in to ebay.de, it tells me right away, no shipping to Germany.So therefore I suspect that all these items are "suppressed" for us in Germany.

author: acbern
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2015, 12:22:39 pm
content: Many thanks, changed browser settings to english and it seems to work.

author: schopi68
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2015, 02:14:17 pm
content: Quote from: eas on July 28, 2015, 06:04:53 pmi would expect corroded boards. The pictures facing the backside are showing a lot of rust around the terminals. Even the Side pictures do not look linke only an inch of water on the back. To my opinion these devices has been unprotected outside in the rain for several weeks.

author: plesa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2015, 03:59:53 pm
content: I suppose theee meters from auction can be only used as voucher for full repair by autorized Agilent/Keysight ( 2823USD). But I'm not sure if this repair cost will also cover these.Some people mentioned that it is repair without questions, but in this case meters seems to be in realy bad shape.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 29, 2015, 08:12:00 pm
content: QuotePhilippines is very humid so it is likely they were just in a warehouse, which is like being outside in the rain in most countries.

author: schopi68
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 30, 2015, 02:27:02 pm
content: Quote from: ez24 on July 29, 2015, 08:12:00 pmHave a look on the picture with the handles. As the typical HP coating is not suspectible to rust i would assume there were rain-drops falling to the ground or other types of dirty water that made these brown splash-marks.

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 06, 2015, 08:32:27 pm
content: The auction ended with 0 bids. Not a surprise.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 12:04:53 am
content: Quote from: eas on August 06, 2015, 08:32:27 pmQuelle surprise!Looking at this guys other auctions, the vast majority are for worthless tat not worthy of a pound shop, yet for ridiculous sums indeed...I had to laugh at the old VHS E180 blank tapes, even the ancient copy of Novell Netware 4 going for ridiculous prices + $40 shipping, butAn ancient HP tape drive utterly useless warranty card!$15.20 + $40.00 post WTF?Something fishy here - and not just the stink of flood water and salt corrosion in those old HP3458A's

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2015, 11:16:58 am
content: Check his completed listings. As an example, here's a fan that went for $59:eBay auction: #251980660329I am saying nothing about this vendor, but if I were trying to launder money (and internationally to boot), selling tat on Ebay for exorbitant prices might be hard to beat.

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 12:24:01 am
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on August 07, 2015, 11:16:58 amWe only know what the Buy It Now price was $59, and that one of them sold for a Best Offer price. Which is enough to know that it definitely didn't sell for $59, it sold for something less.Looking through their recently sold items, most of the prices seem plausible and it is clear that a number of best offers were accepted at well below the listed price.Keep in mind too, whatever is going on, one of the forum members bought something from their other ebay account and had a good experience.That doesn't mean that they aren't laundering money on some items, or some more involved and absurd scheme (you would not believe the shit that people cook up).

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 01:50:22 am
content: QuoteIf something doesn''t sell for the BIN but goes for a lower offer, we don't know what that lower price is, but doesn't the BIN price get a line through it? [Checks...] Ah, I see the problem: the link was from a completed listing, but following it now goes to a live listing. For reference, the listing as I saw it originally is attached...You can see that the previous item didn't go for the headline price, so it has a line through it. The fan did go for the stated $59 though.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 04:02:20 am
content: Quote from: dunkemhigh on August 08, 2015, 01:50:22 amNo, there were two of the fans available, and one sold on an accepted offer. The one left is still available for BIN.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 04:17:33 am
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on July 28, 2015, 02:38:05 pmA 3458A that doesn't have a tracable calibration history is essentially worthless.Almost an order of magnitude too expensive.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 04:19:35 am
content: They have been relisted:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-10pcs-HP-Agilent-3458A-8-1-2-Digit-Multimeter-As-Is-/252050319793?

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 06:51:50 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 08, 2015, 04:19:35 amI don't think they will get even one bid at $ 14kIf they would be smart, they clkean them and show them work and sell each one seperate.

author: acbern
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 07:11:13 am
content: These are really in bad shape, and no clue what the isolation failure means on several of the units. That may mean board replacement as it may be pretty hard to track down. Anyway, lots of work with very doubtfull outcome and potentially very bad surprises.

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 08:03:14 am
content: If they would be listed for a couple of hundred $ which i personally feel is max their worth a few members might have a try and get it restored or salvage for nice parts. This is the downside of the net, he googles this meter and thinks he won the jackpot based the price upon decent calibrated meters, hopeless.

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 11:17:55 am
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 08, 2015, 04:19:35 amon that ebay page, there are a list of each item, took a look at one of them, lot of rust inside..

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 11:46:49 am
content: Quote from: Kjelt on August 08, 2015, 08:03:14 amMe too.You could part out the reference board and sell those separate, but there aren't too many takers.Maybe get a few working and sell them "as is"It's a crap shoot though.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 08, 2015, 09:36:53 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on August 08, 2015, 11:46:49 amshipping would probably make it a meh deal at best.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2015, 02:49:56 pm
content: What I don't understand is how they ended up in that condition. You have money for at least 10 3458A but yet you don't have money to rent/buy a floodproof lab or hire some guys to rescue your equipment before it gets flooded. Hiring workers or renting real estate on the Philippines is cheap.Since it was probably a freshwater flooding (seawater damage looks far worse), you could even salvage them after flooding, since the residual-current circuit breaker probably saved them from electrolytic damage. So disassemble them completely, clean all parts in e.g a dishwasher, flush it with deionized water and dry them well before even thinking about applying power. Calibration is broken, but you still end with an instrument that is usable/sellable after a recalibration later on.But if you wait with cleaning until it's completely corroded and turn it on for 'testing', causing additional electrolytic damage on the PCB/components, the instruments are truly done. I wouldn't even pay 1000$ for them, because I guess all PCBs are corroded which is a death sentence for precision analog instruments.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2015, 03:39:34 pm
content: Just a little bit of corrosion and breakage

author: elex_enthusiast
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2015, 03:52:53 pm
content: Sucks! Their pricing is so horrible.. I made an offer of half the price of this (http://www.ebay.com/itm/GW-GOS-645B-GOS645B-Oscilloscope-40MHz-/251998399377?hash=item3aac466b91) but is I expected they declined my offer. Descent test gears is so hopeless to get here for.. Just got lucky to have a friend who offered his old scope, and have fixed for me.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2015, 04:11:50 pm
content: QuoteIn a disaster, this stuff would be just a spec amongst many things needing to be dealt with, and since they don't breath or sue, they would fly under the radar of the people with the means to deal with them. The guys actually using the stuff wouldn't have paid for them, and there are more important things to worry about (personalised mugs, for instance).

author: Kjelt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 09, 2015, 05:32:04 pm
content: Quote from: MadTux on August 09, 2015, 03:39:34 pmWell that was that, this is beyond repair and certainly not worth much $.I wonder what HP would say if you offer such a corroded device for calibration

author: Deathwish
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 09, 2015, 06:04:21 pm
content: The seller is aware of this thread, I got a reply that they would sell to one of the offers if they did not get a bin at the end of the auction.

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 10, 2015, 11:58:54 pm
content: Quote from: Kjelt on August 09, 2015, 05:32:04 pmHP would say "huh? It does have our old logo on it, but it doesn't have a video connector, what kind of computer is that?"Keysight, on the other hand? Perhaps "We stand by our products, and anyone with the good judgement to buy them." No? Maybe "Sure, We'll fix it for the standard fee, surely you'd like to prepay for 5 years of repair and calibration service?" Or maybe they are so foolish that they don't know a potential recurring revenue stream and when it walks up to them.

author: TiN
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 04:27:05 am
content: Seller now selling other units in 1 piece lots. So there are more busted rusty 3458A's likeeBay auction: #http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Agilent-3458A-8-1-2-Digit-Multimeter-As-Is-/400994806001?hash=item5d5d2728f1for sale. Same location in Phillipines, same kind'a damages, no key caps now, same warehouse location based on description.Starting bid 550$USD for one aboveI got offer accepted onthis one, will see how it goes when unit arrive.

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 05:41:18 am
content: Quote from: TiN on September 14, 2015, 04:27:05 amThe ebay link did not work (said listing removed). Are you into cold fusion? I remember someone doing weird (super advanced) experiments awhile ago. I was going to suggest you make a Josephson junction. Maybe a JJ Kickstarter? From my guess the one China cost over a million. There might be a market for a $100k JJ.Are you into "standards" for Taiwan? I used to live in Taipei and I sure do not miss it.

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 05:44:41 am
content: I saw the listing you ended up buying.I went through the supporting photos for the last listing of them as a lot and took notes. There were four that didn't look like they'd received excessive water exposure.Interestingly, neither the unit you bought, nor the one currently listed was among those in the original lot.

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 07:18:17 am
content: Has anyone seen the chroma loads they are selling? A bit off topic of 3458 I know, but it looks like they were pulled from a dumpster. It made me wonder if the 3458's suffered the same fate.Seriously though, US$1750 for 8 chroma load modules that are all missing knobs, have very coloured front panels, most of the terminal blocks are melted too.I think they had a bunch of 60501 load modules the other day too and they were quite expensive considering the condition in the photos.I would be interested to hear how you get on with your meter that they accepted the offer on. Are you going to send it to keysight for fixing and cal, or are you going to repair it yourself? I know keysight have a standard repair price, but surely there would be a limit that can be pushed.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 08:31:55 am
content: I think it was this one:http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Agilent-3458A-8-1-2-Digit-Multimeter-As-Is-/391257414354?hash=item5b18c25ad2&nma=true&si=9quH%252BrSYJeQ2%252F5L%252FvUgqIpIx9dY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557I watched it too but the looks of the inside really turned me off.It seems that it will require a lot of hours of restauration.

author: TiN
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 10:10:16 am
content: Quote from: PTR_1275 on September 14, 2015, 07:18:17 amIt will be DIY repair project. Sending it for official repair/cal makes no much sense, considering service cost (which is 2.5k last time I heard?) and availability of used cal'd units for ~4k from other sellers.This would be extreme project how cheap 3458A can possibly be.(yes, i know, it would likely end-up waste of countless hours and money in end result).

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 10:26:13 am
content: I didn't pay attention to the username, I have seen the other work you have done and I am sure it will be repaired very well. I'm even more keen to see your repair on this. Any reason you chose to venture away from keithley, or was it too good to pass up?

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 10:47:14 am
content: Quote from: PTR_1275 on September 14, 2015, 10:26:13 amTiN aka Mr Keithley venture away? surely not. The 3458A can be used to cal the 2001's and 2002's

author: TiN
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 12:17:59 pm
content: Given unit's condition, oppsite cal direction is more likely

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 12:49:34 pm
content: Good luck with that one, personally my limit would have been in the 150-250$ range, since flooded and corroded stuff usually results in the most horrible repairs imaginable. Have no problem with dropped/bend/smashed/abused equipment, because that is usually fixable with a hammer, vice, cannibalized parts and some epoxy in reasonable time.But equipment with corroded PCBs or something where a battery has exploded (a HP 8657A had that on CPU board) is usually really beyond economical repair for me. You start somewhere, think you found the fault, replace the part and realize afterwards that is was probably fine and the fault was caused by leakage, a bad contact on some connector/relay/switch (wiggle sensitive) or that some PCB trace/via/solder joint/component lead corroded to open.No fun fixing that stuff, especially on the analog side of the 3458A.Maybe you can borrow a working 3458A somewhere, since having a working unit to compare signals with usually helps enormously in these cases

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 01:54:33 pm
content: I will agree with you on the corrosion, but stripping everything down, chips out of sockets, all switches, etc. Ultrasonic cleaning, deoxit, rust treatments. It may not be too bad. Even PCB repair (like from the leaked capacitors or battery) isn't the end. Of course then you get to the unobtanium parts and the undocumented voodoo magic which is used in a 3458A.Clearly it is far too much skilled labour, never mind parts, to make it commercially worthwhile. But I don't think that's the motivation. Spare time is free anyway.I for one am looking forward to TiNs resurrection of this from the dead.