DMM find - HP 3468A

Ron E · 30th September 2012, 01:39 PM

Got myself a new (to me) DMM, an HP 3468A for less than a halfway decent handheld.
Reads to a milliohm and has 5-1/2 digits
True RMS to 100kHz

Interesting to measure a 1/4W resistor and watch the resistance slowly creep up as the test current heats it, or put a finger on it and watch it go up!

My question is: Does anybody know of any common issues with this unit?

mrmodemhead · 1st October 2012, 06:30 PM

IMHO a very nice bench DMM. Be sure to buy or make some Kelvin leads and enjoy the accuracy of 4-wire resistance measurement.

These units maintain calibration constants in memory with a 3V lithium cell. Check yours and replace it before it dies. I haven't had to do this with my HP3478A yet, but I understand from reading that the best way is to connect an alternate voltage source via a diode and solder in a new battery.

macboy · 2nd October 2012, 01:14 PM

Make sure that the 50/60 Hz switch on the back is set to the correct position to help reduce line hum.
If you don't already have the manuals, you can get them from the Agilent web site.

Ron E · 5th October 2012, 02:08 AM

Thanks!

Damon Hill · 5th October 2012, 06:09 AM

Got mine from Boeing Surplus in Kent, WA a few years back for $25, IIRC; seems to work perfectly.

30th September 2012, 01:39 PM	#1
Ron E diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA, MN	DMM find - HP 3468A Got myself a new (to me) DMM, an HP 3468A for less than a halfway decent handheld. Reads to a milliohm and has 5-1/2 digits True RMS to 100kHz Interesting to measure a 1/4W resistor and watch the resistance slowly creep up as the test current heats it, or put a finger on it and watch it go up! My question is: Does anybody know of any common issues with this unit? __________________ Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works. --Carl Sagan Armaments, universal debt, and planned obsolescence--those are the three pillars of Western prosperity. —Aldous Huxley

5th October 2012, 02:08 AM	#4
Ron E diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: USA, MN	Thanks! __________________ Our species needs, and deserves, a citizenry with minds wide awake and a basic understanding of how the world works. --Carl Sagan Armaments, universal debt, and planned obsolescence--those are the three pillars of Western prosperity. —Aldous Huxley

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1st October 2012, 06:30 PM	#2
mrmodemhead diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North Carolina	IMHO a very nice bench DMM. Be sure to buy or make some Kelvin leads and enjoy the accuracy of 4-wire resistance measurement. These units maintain calibration constants in memory with a 3V lithium cell. Check yours and replace it before it dies. I haven't had to do this with my HP3478A yet, but I understand from reading that the best way is to connect an alternate voltage source via a diode and solder in a new battery.

2nd October 2012, 01:14 PM	#3
macboy diyAudio Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada	Make sure that the 50/60 Hz switch on the back is set to the correct position to help reduce line hum. If you don't already have the manuals, you can get them from the Agilent web site.

5th October 2012, 06:09 AM	#5
Damon Hill diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Auburn, WA (somewhere between Seattle and Tacoma) Blog Entries: 1	Got mine from Boeing Surplus in Kent, WA a few years back for $25, IIRC; seems to work perfectly.