HP 3478A - Value? Quirks? Opinion?
Looking for opinions on the HP 3478A multimeter. I see them listed in
the 100-200 U.S. dollar range for items in good shape, and right now a
calibrated one for $170. I like to stick to HP/Tek/Fluke so I can
easily find broken units for a good price to get parts from and manuals
are easier to get.
For my purposes (hobby and experimenting) it has more than enough digits
and speed. I like the high resistance on the low DC volt ranges. It's
not my only meter. I have two Flukes from the 80's and a basic
Tektronix plug-in.
What is the minimum I can get away with to prove/calibrate the DC volt
range?
Thanks in advance.
Hi Darrell:
I used the 3478 some decades ago when it was a current instrument and
was very disappointed in that the resolution was in some cases one or
two digits better than the accuracy. Check the specs for the
measurement you plan to make.
Have Fun,
Brooke Clarke
http://www.PRC68.com
Darrell wrote:
Looking for opinions on the HP 3478A multimeter. I see them listed in
the 100-200 U.S. dollar range for items in good shape, and right now a
calibrated one for $170. I like to stick to HP/Tek/Fluke so I can
easily find broken units for a good price to get parts from and
manuals are easier to get.
For my purposes (hobby and experimenting) it has more than enough
digits and speed. I like the high resistance on the low DC volt
ranges. It's not my only meter. I have two Flukes from the 80's and
a basic Tektronix plug-in.
What is the minimum I can get away with to prove/calibrate the DC volt
range?
Thanks in advance.
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Darrell wrote:
and right now a calibrated one for $170
Be very, very careful about "calibrated" equipment you find
on-line. Ebay is full of sellers who sell "calibrated" equipment
that hasn't been tested, much less adjusted, in three decades. Some
"calibrated" equipment I've bought has been nonfunctional. Now, I
ask the seller what lab calibrated the equipment, and on what
date. Rarely will sellers answer such a question. In one case, the
seller responded and when I called the lab, they had no record of the item.
So, unless the seller is prepared to show you a calibration
certificate from a known and respected calibration lab, I'd suggest
ignoring any such claim when you value the item.
Best regards,
Charles
The HP 3478A is a very good multimeter. Mine had not been calibrated in 5 years when I sent it to the cal lab earlier this year and it passed everything with flying colors.
Only drawback: the display has poor contrast. I wish there were an effective backlighting.
It is my most used bench meter, at home and at work, even though I really like the HP3456A too.
Didier KO4BB
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message-----
From: Darrell darrell@shaw.ca
Sender: volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com
Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2010 10:21:40
To: volt-nuts@febo.com
Reply-To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement volt-nuts@febo.com
Subject: [volt-nuts] HP 3478A - Value? Quirks? Opinion?
Looking for opinions on the HP 3478A multimeter. I see them listed in
the 100-200 U.S. dollar range for items in good shape, and right now a
calibrated one for $170. I like to stick to HP/Tek/Fluke so I can
easily find broken units for a good price to get parts from and manuals
are easier to get.
For my purposes (hobby and experimenting) it has more than enough digits
and speed. I like the high resistance on the low DC volt ranges. It's
not my only meter. I have two Flukes from the 80's and a basic
Tektronix plug-in.
What is the minimum I can get away with to prove/calibrate the DC volt
range?
Thanks in advance.
volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts
and follow the instructions there.
It's a nice meter, but the major quirk is it can only handle
300V.
-Chuck Harris
shalimr9@gmail.com wrote:
The HP 3478A is a very good multimeter. Mine had not been calibrated in 5 years when I sent it to the cal lab earlier
this year and it passed everything with flying colors.
Only drawback: the display has poor contrast. I wish there were an effective backlighting.
It is my most used bench meter, at home and at work, even though I really like the HP3456A too.
Didier KO4BB
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
-----Original Message----- From: Darrelldarrell@shaw.ca Sender: volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com Date: Fri, 31 Dec 2010
10:21:40 To:volt-nuts@febo.com Reply-To: Discussion of precise voltage measurementvolt-nuts@febo.com Subject:
[volt-nuts] HP 3478A - Value? Quirks? Opinion?
Looking for opinions on the HP 3478A multimeter. I see them listed in the 100-200 U.S. dollar range for items in
good shape, and right now a calibrated one for $170. I like to stick to HP/Tek/Fluke so I can easily find broken
units for a good price to get parts from and manuals are easier to get.
For my purposes (hobby and experimenting) it has more than enough digits and speed. I like the high resistance on
the low DC volt ranges. It's not my only meter. I have two Flukes from the 80's and a basic Tektronix plug-in.
What is the minimum I can get away with to prove/calibrate the DC volt range?
Thanks in advance.
_______________________________________________ volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to
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Its a very good work meter, but if you're looking for accuracy the
345x series: i.e., 345/5/6/7 series often cost as much and a factor
of 10x more accurate. The 3456a is a bang for buck, when
available. I managed to cobble 4 together finding as is deals through 2010.
At 01:21 PM 12/31/2010, Darrell wrote:
Looking for opinions on the HP 3478A multimeter. I see them listed
in the 100-200 U.S. dollar range for items in good shape, and right
now a calibrated one for $170. I like to stick to HP/Tek/Fluke so I
can easily find broken units for a good price to get parts from and
manuals are easier to get.
For my purposes (hobby and experimenting) it has more than enough
digits and speed. I like the high resistance on the low DC volt
ranges. It's not my only meter. I have two Flukes from the 80's
and a basic Tektronix plug-in.
What is the minimum I can get away with to prove/calibrate the DC volt range?
Thanks in advance.
volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts
and follow the instructions there.
Best Wishes,
Marv Gozum
Philadelphia