Agilent 66332A-J01 Option Help - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2025, 04:41:19 pm
content: I bought an Agilent 66332A power supply on ebay as not working and repaired the unit. The front sticker as well as all other visible indicators label this supply as an Agilent 66332A 20V 5A. I was surprisedafter repair that the instrument would not enable the 5A output limit, displaying out of range or smth similar. Also it would allow for a maximum output voltage of 33 V. So I was confused and thought someone initialized the instrument with a different model firmware. The digital board is shared between many models and the behavior is selected by a service menu, the firmware is shared.So I reset the the model to the 66332 option.Now the scaling of voltage and current is wrong.After some time and confusion, i found out I probably have the obscure J01special order optionwith 100W 30V 3A, see datasheet:https://www.testequipmenthq.com/datasheets/Agilent-66311D-Datasheet.pdfSo, my question is how to get back to initial behavior? aka 30V 3AAll the other service menu options don't correspond to models with that output characteristic. I tried all....Does somebody know what wizardry sets that obscure option in firmware?

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2025, 10:49:29 am
content: On the board there are two one time programmable roms, one firmware one xilinx fpga rom. But there is a GAL as the only only writeable non-volatile memory on the board, could this contain all the calibration and states? I thought the voltage and current capabilities were in the firmware, but maybe not completely?Im gonna read the content for two different model states and compare. I made my life way more complicated than it had to be

author: Gulftown
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2025, 02:19:35 pm
content: On my HP 6811A there was a hidden menu to reinitialize the NVRAM.When you press 0 and 9 together, while in calibration mode, you can acually set it to initialize to every model of the series.When i got it, the instument had all sorts of error codes, because the nvram battery was empty and the device thought it had three phases and could deliver 80 Amps instead of 3.25.Maybe you have a similar menu somewhere.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2025, 03:47:51 pm
content: The option J01 is mentioned on the sticker under the serial.I did not know there was a service menu to change the model number. In my notes I wrote that the model number can be programmed using GPIB with the 'model' command.Changing the model number requires calibration. I guess that will solve your V and I readout issues.btw: your board looks exactly as mine, no additional or less components.btw2: If not already done, don't forget to replace the RIFA cap on the mains input.

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2025, 08:17:37 pm
content: I will try and see if there are more selections possible using GPIB. In the GPIB commands there is also an option query *OPT? Maybe I can also set it like this. I also found the tiny sticker in the back, thanks

author: TERRA Operative
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2025, 11:56:59 pm
content: This thread might hold some clues, commands were found to enable options on another Agilent instrument.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/reward-$50-for-hpagilent-e4916a-upgradefirmwaresoftware/

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2025, 02:48:48 am
content: ApertureScience,Have a look at this this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hp-6673a-power-supply-removing-option-j08/msg4607125/#msg4607125I removed J08 from a HP6673A power supply.The configuration memory is on the board behind the front panel.I am not optimistic for your unit. You need to check the voltages on the main transformer. You may be able to use the transformer from a 6632A, these are fairly common.Also:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hp-6671a-option-j05-j09-5v-250a-power-supply/msg3258868/#msg3258868Regards,Jay_Diddy_B

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2025, 06:47:25 am
content: Some think the 6632Bis the same device as the 66332A with a different software configuration to enable the finer measurements. I quickly checked the service manual and indeed all components seem to be entirely the same between 66332A and 6632B. (not the 6632A, that is an earlier generation entirely different on the inside)

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2025, 07:45:56 pm
content: I tried some GPIB commands but no luck yet. I am waiting for an adapter to read the GAL and will compare different model selections. Two selections are of interest: 66311b and 66311J1. Maybe some pattern will emerge. Am I correct in the assumption that there is no other writable memory on that PCB? The TI DSP running the show only seems to have persistent boot rom, the other ics are one time programmable.

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2025, 08:57:41 pm
content: Hi,the photograph, in your first post shows that the main transformer has a different part number.The Keysight find-a-part website shows:If you really want to remove J01, you will have to change the transformer. The correct transformer will be lower voltage, higher current.Regards,Jay_Diddy_B

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2025, 09:02:42 pm
content: Hi,Check this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-66332a-dynamic-dc-source-20v5a-repair-and-mods/It shows a transformer with a different part number. The part number could have been changed at some point.Jay_Diddy_B

author: Jay_Diddy_B
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2025, 09:09:21 pm
content: Hi,You also need to look at the service manual and find all the component values that are marked with a '*" like these:These values change depending on the model and option number.These are probably the dark blue resistors in your photograph.Jay_Diddy_B

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2025, 09:39:59 pm
content: Quote from: Jay_Diddy_B on August 15, 2025, 08:57:41 pmHi Jay_Diddy_B,I want to re enable the J1 option in software and not modify the hardware. I think I was not clear on that. In the service menu there is no corresponding option.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2025, 07:22:28 am
content: Quote from: Jay_Diddy_B on August 15, 2025, 09:09:21 pmThe components are indeed different for power supplies in entirely different voltages (20V vs 50V vs 100V). Unfortunately, there is nothing in the manual about the J01 option.The transformer in ApertureScience's power supply is 9100-5185. This number is not referenced in the service manual and I could not find it in the find-a-part.Find-a-part gives one other component for the J01 option: a 7400uF / 63V capacitor.

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 03:12:12 pm
content: So, I read the GAL for the different settings in the service menu and they all show ones. I think they are read protected since lattice allows to set security bits to allow readback by a programming device. Or my TL866II just doesnt work. Back to the drawing board

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 04:54:54 pm
content: Quote from: ApertureScience on August 15, 2025, 07:45:56 pmCould you query this using GPIB and report back what it says please?:TEST:INSTR:INFO:DATA?I suspect it is going to answer: 66332A,GB42110349,000,000The second number being your serial number. The third and forth numbers being options. 000 if not installed.If the above works we'll have to find how to write the J01 option. This is a possibility::TEST:INSTR:INFO:DATA 66332A,GB42110349,J01,000

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 06:49:43 pm
content: Hello Swake,I tried that command, but unfortunately it times out...Code:-> *IDN?<- HEWLETT-PACKARD,66332A,0,A.01.03-> *OPT?<- 0-> :TEST:INSTR:INFO:DATA?! VI_ERROR_TMO: A timeout occurredVisa ErrorCode: 0xBFFF0015 (-1073807339)<-I also tried giving arguments to the IDN and OPT query but same behavior

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 04:52:05 pm
content: I will also try to get a hold of another ic programmer to rule out the tl866II as an error source.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 05:00:50 pm
content: Have a look at this page:https://www.nicolas.tv/blog/6632b-to-66332a-modInteresting readIt is mentioned that fw 1.03 is attached on this message here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-66332a-dynamic-dc-source-20v5a-repair-and-mods/msg951602/#msg951602

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 06:33:19 pm
content: What other power supplies can you choose in the service menu?

author: bateau020
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2025, 09:42:05 pm
content: If it is a standard 1.03, the list will likely beCode:6611J566312J966312J866311J166311B66308663326631266311That will representCode:HP6611CHP66312J9HP66312J8HP66311J1HP66311BHP66308AHP66332AHP66312AHP66311ASo not much help there.When looking in the ROM, I do see some strange things, as in the section of the SCPI commands, I see:* AMB IENT TEMP ERATURE* TUNN EL* POKE* PEEK* NOP* EEPR OM* EEIN IT* ADDR ESS* DIAG NOSTICThere might be some hidden stuff in there.Just maybe a calibration might be enough, as it allows you to enter values, but I doubt it.I have the impression that as long asCode:VOLT MAXVOLT?returns 20 something, you're still on the standard version.

author: vaualbus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2025, 12:02:45 am
content: Take a look at what I did to fix my unit (not really the same, but if we suppose FW is shared at some level this commands could work)https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/hp-66309d-issues

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2025, 09:04:00 am
content: Quote from: bateau020 on August 19, 2025, 09:42:05 pmHow did you extract those strings from the ROM? The strings command on my linux machine only lists garbage.

author: bateau020
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2025, 09:08:21 am
content: The texts are 1 character every 4 bytes (char NULL NULL NULL), so the extraction was a bit non standard. Attached is the dump I did. Whenever characters follow one another directly, I print them on the same line. Otherwise, they print on separate lines.

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2025, 10:03:49 am
content: Awesome! I extracted every line with more than three characters for convenience.

author: bateau020
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2025, 10:08:35 am
content: Yes, thought of that, but then you miss constructions likeCode:P2P1FLOAT(meaning: FLOat)NORMAL(meaning: NORMal)DCAll valid strings.There is no 'SN' though.Anyway, tried a couple, no idea how to exploit the extra strings we see.

author: ApertureScience
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2025, 03:39:50 pm
content: Hello bateau020,I also tried various combinations but no luck yet. The POKE and PEEK commands seem likely candidates. I will try to get my GPIB to work on linux to brute force something like String:DIAG and maybe one will not cause an error.The weird char*nothing*nothing*nothing structure is probably because of the 32bit cpu/DSP, so 1 byte char and then just nothing after. Thank you for trying!

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2025, 04:44:40 pm
content: This might help: someone uses peek/poke to read the ram in the HP3457A DMM:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/metrology/dumping-cal-ram-of-a-hp3457a/