Agilent 34401A Digital Multimeter
Added 2023-03-25 20:45:48 +0000 UTCThe last but certainly not the least of these Agilent test gear sent in by viewer Matt. Enjoy!
Comments
The good thing about gear like this is that it was well-built, and now is "old" enough that you can find pieces still in decent condition for not too much money. You may need to track down accessories / manuals separately, and the equipment might need some cleanup or minor TLC. Over a few years I've managed to put together a basic electronics bench with much better equipment than I could have imagined in high school.
David Bono
2023-03-28 07:50:13 +0000 UTCI picked up an older, HP-branded 34401A for a reasonable price on eBay, and it also had a dim VFD. I got a replacement VFD (also on eBay, from a seller based in China). It looks great after replacing the display. The job is much easier with a vacuum desoldering iron ;).
David Bono
2023-03-28 07:41:22 +0000 UTCThese meters were kind of the gold standard in bench meters for a couple of decades. You'll find lots information and experienced users out there. Mine has April 1, 1993 date stamp inside the cover so it's approaching its 30th birthday! In its previous life, it must have been turned on 24/7 because the display is pretty dim. But since this was such a popular meter, you can buy new VFDs for it on eBay. FYI, that thermocouple probably won't work out of the box with this meter because it doesn't have a thermocouple amplifier built-in like many of the newer handheld meters. You'll need an external amplifier if you want to use a thermocouple with this Agilent meter.
Christopher Isert
2023-03-25 22:18:10 +0000 UTCAs a retired guy reviving my adolescent interest in electronics and ham radio I am finding these videos fascinating! It's like you have treasure boxes! Building my new bench from cheap Chinese gear that does the job and then seeing these videos lets me appreciate just why the "big tech" companies test equipment cost so much money! Incredibly, ruggedly built equipment. It's so much fun to see for someone returning to what was a nerdy teenage refuge. Really cool! Good on ya, Matt!
Ah Clem
2023-03-25 22:02:59 +0000 UTC
