Brand new Agilent 34401A in Europe (France) (all gone now) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 30, 2024, 11:59:06 pm
content: (Not my auction, I just noticed it. Shipping is expensive to US, but for our European members these might be a deal.https://www.ebay.com/itm/256738725639

author: pac1085
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2024, 01:02:17 am
content: I saw that too and want one since its got the oval buttons that match my current one.Too bad on the shipping. I just had a Rhode and Schwarz upl shipped from Belgium to ny and they only charged me 70 euro so this $250 is pretty high.

author: TobyG
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2024, 01:16:03 am
content: They quote 60$ to Germany, which is rather high, unless it's 24 hour expressShould be a third, maybe half.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2024, 07:38:31 am
content: Shipping in France is more expensive than in Germany, but not this expensive indeed.Somehow when I add one to my cart the shipping becomes250$.These meters are only available from the ebay.com site in $, they're not listed on the French, German or Belgian Ebay sites while are other items are offered by the same company. I guess it is a way to circumvent the VAT. As these are offered as 'new' normal VAT applies and according to European law this VAT must be included in the price. In case of sales to a company within the EU the intra-community rules apply, which means that this VAT must then be reduced from the sales price. I guess they don't want to lose another 20%.These meters are offered on their site at 690€ as 'demonstration product in mint condition'. In my opinion this isnot the same as 'new'. In the picture you can see that the packaging is missing the protective plastic sleeve around the instrument itself.There is a listing on leboncoin.fr (French equivalent of kleinanzeigen.de) with the same pictures as the ebay listing for one of these meters at 450€:https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/accessoires_informatique/2910403531The company seems legit when searching for information through the VAT number.I suggest you contact them directly:https://axitest.com

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2024, 11:44:47 am
content: So i contacted this company by mail whether they can make an invoice without vat and adapt the price likewise.No reply as of yet.

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2024, 06:38:00 pm
content: Damned.I bought one.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2024, 07:46:38 pm
content: It is a good price at 400$/€ for a nearly new one.What was the shipping cost for you?

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2024, 08:01:03 pm
content: 60€.For once, Belgium was like the rest of the worldBut you were right…they ain’t (brand) new…but “as good as new”.The seller is allright.He did reply my mail saying he’s on holiday and won’t be able to ship before Friday if that would be a problem.

author: pac1085
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2024, 08:09:31 pm
content: He never replied to my question about the $250 shipping to the USA. So I just ordered a new DMM6500 instead, lol.

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 07:30:56 am
content: They do seem to sell well: 11 pieces were sold in less than 24h.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 10:10:05 am
content: Normally the prices for used testinstruments are higher in the EU than in the US. So it makes relatively little sense to ship from the EU to the US. The price looks good for the EU, but not especially good for the US. The "new" should be read as not use and new old stock. The 34401 are no longer produced for quite some time and can well be 10 years old. So no more HP warranty.

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 10:23:38 am
content: They are (way) better priced than most of the offerings you find on Ebay that are well used.I've been using my Fluke 45 for almost 35 years...still doing what it has to do.Although when repairing radio's, this DMM is annoying because of the high EMI it radiates in this particular FM range.Wondering if this 34401A will have the same issue or not.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 12:10:33 pm
content: Typically, in Europe, a used and well-worn item is offered at this price.Therefore, this represents an exceptional opportunity!

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 01:58:19 pm
content: Quote from: Sorama on January 01, 2025, 10:23:38 amHighly unlikely, the 34401 power supplies use linear regulation, not an SMPS like the 45

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 02:09:57 pm
content: Quote from: AVGresponding on January 01, 2025, 01:58:19 pmWelk, this buy is getting better by the day!

author: bnz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 05:19:42 pm
content: Schipping excludes "Belarus,France, Russian Federation, Ukraine"

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 05:34:58 pm
content: use shipping forwarders ??

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 05:40:59 pm
content: Quote from: bnz on January 01, 2025, 05:19:42 pmVAT evasion.... If they sell in France they have to make an invoice detailed with VAT. The price on EBAY must be VAT included. That means they would only get 400$ - 20% (standard vat rate in France).

author: Freddy15
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 05:42:39 pm
content: If anyone want's to know how old they are: On last picture you see the certifacte of calibration and a barely readableDate of Calibration: 31May 2014.You may guess the rest.....MT

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 06:19:17 pm
content: It still is a lot of money for a DMM with very few features. Unless you really need the 6.5 digits (which I doubt in most cases), there are more modern meters with LAN connection, USB storage, capacitance measurement, higher current ranges, continuity beeper, bigger display, etc available in a similar price bracket although these will have a lower number of digits but are far more useful in a modern day lab.

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 06:24:18 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on January 01, 2025, 06:19:17 pmIt does have a continuity beeper, even with selectable threshold (1 Ohm - 1000 Ohm).

author: krish2487
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 06:40:08 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on January 01, 2025, 06:19:17 pmMy thoughts exactly.... I was able to snag a KS 34460A for a little more money than asked in the listing..Granted.. I might have gotten lucky.. but it came with the complete kit.. box... and all..However, I must add, the listing was in the US and I got it delivered to a relative of mine.. and picked it up when I visited them a few months later..

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 07:40:54 pm
content: You'll be able to add a few extra features to these late-model ones:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hp-agilent-34401a-hidden-menu/msg4559242/#msg4559242Agree that there are options out there with a lot of very useful upgrades over the classic 34401A, but they normally go for way more money, especially recently (e.g. DMM6500 costs about 4x this new and price went up at least a third in the last couple years, not sure about KS though you don't get any support/repair/calibration with them as a private buyer). My 34401A gets quite a bit of use alongside my DMM6500, and is even prefered for some stuff (e.g. long term logging when I want to use the DMM6500 for other tasks or don't want a fan running, or a quick non-critical measurement where it boots a lot faster than anything modern).

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 11:17:38 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on January 01, 2025, 06:19:17 pmWhether it is the meter for you or not depends on what you think is important, but I can't agree that it is a lot of money for what it is compared to anything else that would give you high-impedance inputs, better than 50ppm (or even 100ppm) basic accuracy and 4W ohms. Connectivity will not be modern, but with a USB adapter cable the serial port is certainly good enough. The main issue with bench convenience is the nested menus that you need to memorize (or have a printed guide) to use many of the advanced features. These are later models so you'd be able to add in a temperature function and some other odds and ends.

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 05:34:45 pm
content: One better hurry if interested : 36 pieces were sold in less than 3 days.14 are still available.Today I got confirmation from ups that mine is shipped.A bit of a mister Bean scenario: I got myself a present and actually don’t know what I am going to get for real.

author: DaneLaw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 12:34:07 am
content: w0nder how many of that 50pcs stack (40sold) that's been picked up by EEVlog users..Though not for me, 460$ is still quite a chunk and a fluorescent display on a 6½ bench DMM can be a challenge.Its a model that there is a lot of data and info about, been in play since 1992 and it's not like new 6½ bench DMMs are hanging on the trees, even the cheaper Chinese brands on their modern variants.. are up there price-wise... a Hantek 6½ unit is around 600 $ incl. EUVAT & delivery and that unit seems to be a mixed affaire.

author: H.O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 09:19:34 am
content: Yeah, come on guys, hurry up and buy them all so I can forget about it once and for all...please...I really don't need another bench DMM, but then again it's the classic 34401A and I don't have one of those

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 10:08:54 am
content: Quote from: H.O on January 03, 2025, 09:19:34 amadmit it: you are supposed to buy one!(how can you not)

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 11:07:10 am
content: one thing people tend to forget if theses are really new,you will need to age the reference....i had 3 of them used w some problems (x-former and a vfd) aged for years, recapped them, one did get a certification, and was perfect the others where just compared, and where still rock solid, had the rack mountable L4411a but at some point you do miss the front keypadbut man they where fast to settle and get/be readyand grab or build an "duino" gpib interface, or lan to gpib interface we have in some thread and be happy.sure some says they lack this or that, but they don't crash like more recent ones ... cough coughpersonally I would avoid any 3446x 34475 models, some say okay some have problems, but others brand have quirks too. my personal 2 centsa 34410a was a perfect upgrade for my oldies 34401 ... 1x vfd later loll sure the vfd can or could be a problem, but now many have been cloned for many models ...but at theses prices mmmm i'm still doubting, for me a 300-350$ would have been perfect

author: Traceless
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 11:47:06 am
content: I bought one, thanks again a bdunham7 for letting us know. As mentioned by Kleinstein and HighVoltage those are not common here in Germany -hereis a current example of pricing for used 34401A in Germany.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 11:57:30 am
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on January 03, 2025, 11:07:10 amNo. The LM399's in these are selected and pre-aged (or pre-aged, and then selected). One of the best features of the 34401A is the long term stability. Modern 6.5d DMMs may have fancy UI's and marginally better connectivity, but none of them will beat the general performance of a 34401A, and few will even match it.Quote from: coromonadalix on January 03, 2025, 11:07:10 amThat's the price of an slightly-below-average-condition used one, not a NIB

author: DaneLaw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 03:25:16 pm
content: Hurry godammit...Last call as in 2 left, as Im writing this.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 03:39:28 pm
content: Quote from: AVGresponding on January 03, 2025, 11:57:30 amNone of the cheap ones, anyway. I just did a tempco/calibration test of the 10V range on my old v10 (circa 1996) US-made 34401A and it is still well within spec on the original 29 year old calibration. About +0.67ppm/C tempco (noticeable but not terrible) and -2ppm @ 23C, spot-on at 25C. There's plenty of 3458A owners out there that wish they had long-term drift that low.

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 04:15:57 pm
content: Being somewhat seasoned (OK old!!) these were and still are the standard for 6 1/2 digit DMMs. The long term stability isn't speculated or extrapolated, it's proven over multiple decades!!Would be a fun project to see if this long term storage had any adverse effects on performance. Once a good long term burn-in (few months) to push out the humidity suspect they will be great performers for the next few decades!!Great opportunity for the folks in Europe, wish that deal would have shown up here in US!!Best

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 05:22:33 pm
content: And…sold out!50 pieces in less than 4 days.Not bad.

author: H.O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 11:28:39 pm
content: Phew, I managed to resist :-) And now I regret it :-(Congratulations to all forum members who got one, price was cheaper than many banged up units with faint VFD.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2025, 09:15:05 am
content: Quote from: coromonadalix on January 03, 2025, 11:07:10 amNo need, these already have a serial interface

author: rogerggbr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2025, 03:42:22 pm
content: Thanks for the heads up, I got there with 9 left on Friday whilst at work, thought about it, ummed a bit, do I really need one of these? Looked back and there were 7 left, ordered one. Always wanted something like this as a master reference, too good to miss. I reckon worst case is I have to sell it again later, but realistically that is not going to happen. I have a couple of other bench meters but nothing close the performance (on paper) of these. Now I guess I have to admit to having an addiction not a hobby I CAN QUIT ANYTIME I WANT.....

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2025, 12:21:46 pm
content: This morning, the 34401A was delivered.It looks like the dmm has never been used: not any dirt or traces on the rubber feet/bottom and the screen protector still on the display.I still need to understand why the beeper works/behaves differently when in continuity or diode mode.Completely different behaviour then its physically much smaller brother the fluke 45.

author: SHF
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2025, 10:40:35 am
content: got mine delivered 2 days ago, it is really new, calibration is top

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 09, 2025, 11:50:45 am
content: I can see 2 of them in that pictureYou can compare now

author: SHF
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 10:22:33 am
content: Quote from: Swake on January 09, 2025, 11:50:45 am

author: B0B45
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 11:22:48 am
content: Got mine today, too.Guess we got a very good deal in the end.

author: B0B45
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 10, 2025, 09:32:04 pm
content: Guess they renewed? the electrolytic capsedit: not so sure anymore, could be old ones. Maybe someone knows what kind of caps are used in the meter.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2025, 04:32:58 am
content: for the caps seems totally legitfor the blue relay i would do compare specs with the normal coto found in others 34401a

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2025, 08:04:59 am
content: Got a picture of another meter with same caps and same blue relay.Why are they putting capton tape on those capacitors?

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2025, 09:29:42 am
content: Quote from: Swake on January 11, 2025, 08:04:59 amMeder Electronic are one of the suppliers for 0490-1914. The specs will be the same as the COTO ones.The tape is most likely to help with HV isolation of the cans, rather than thermal issues.

author: pe1oxp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2025, 09:57:46 am
content: Received it also few day ago. Looks like new and working fine. Haven't compared it yet against other meters and standards.Only complain is that they removed the Certificate of Calibration from the box and the internal carton box with accessories contains the shipping list of another 34401A (other serial number).Unfortunately no response on questions i asked the seller.

author: rogerggbr
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2025, 12:32:40 pm
content: Mine arrived yesterday into UK complete with all documents. Other UK importers from Europe (like me) need to remember that VAT will be payable along with "brokerage charges" depending on the specific carrier (in this case UPS). Not complaining at all, but I had sort of forgotten that as I don't do it regularly, in my case an extra £82

author: ps
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2025, 08:11:14 pm
content: Quote from: B0B45 on January 10, 2025, 09:32:04 pmYes, the capacitors have been replaced. The new ones are Nippon Chemicon KMG series, the original ones were KME. So this is the same quality. The seller wrapped them into Kapton tape for additional leakage protection.The blue Meder relay is normal for the MY- and SG-made devices. It is narrower and does not touch the surge arresters.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 11, 2025, 09:49:31 pm
content: I disagree, these caps have not been replaced. HP/Agilent did use different types. They applied the kapton tape in the factory. Here a picture of a similar case:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/34401a-repair-(had-a-hole-drilled-through-it)/msg2786692/#msg2786692

author: B0B45
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2025, 01:30:38 am
content: Quote from: Swake on January 11, 2025, 09:49:31 pmIf I look at the solder joints, they look like factory not like a replacement. If the caps were replaced, I'm pretty sure you can see it, by checking the solder joints.

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2025, 09:41:25 am
content: You used to be able to get the cal certs/data from the KS website with serial number lookup (got one for my meter a couple years back). Doesn't seem to work any more though, not sure if it's deliberate or just broken. Maybe worth pinging KS if the seller doesn't respond.Anyway enjoy the meters (and don't forget there's extra features to enable in these ones), seems like it was a great deal in the end.

author: pe1oxp
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2025, 10:15:38 am
content: Quote from: Hydron on January 12, 2025, 09:41:25 amI know, for few years ago I was able to get most certificates of my gear at the KS website.They probably don't respond to messages from private persons anymore.I also tried to register my multimeter in my KS asset list, but it is already registered at another user.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2025, 11:07:24 am
content: Quote from: ps on January 11, 2025, 08:11:14 pmThis makes no sense. Electrolytic caps leak at the bottom, through the rubber/plastic bung that the leads feed through. The pictures show the caps with Kapton tape around the top of the can, and down to the base, but not across the base. In any case, it just wouldn't work.As I already stated, this will be for additional HV protection. It's a bit "belt and braces", but given the known issues with the clearances between the GDT's and the relay, it's a cheap and easy precaution to just tape them up prior to putting them in the board.

author: ps
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 12, 2025, 09:27:24 pm
content: Quote from: B0B45 on January 12, 2025, 01:30:38 amYes, soldering was done manually. There is more solder than on the other positions that were wave soldered. More than we learned to use - it is a ball shape and not a meniscus shape.

author: B0B45
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2025, 07:11:27 pm
content: QuoteOk, can't say this for mine, here the solder looks super clean, there was no change of caps. So I will do it myself.

author: Swake
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2025, 08:55:11 pm
content: Why on earth would you change those caps?

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2025, 10:12:45 pm
content: Quote from: Swake on January 17, 2025, 08:55:11 pmMonkey see, monkey do...