Hi John, I also picked one up, a mixed one, ie old analogue PCB from the 90's and a younger processor board from 2001 (perhaps replaced due to SRAM battery discharge). Cost me about 3k instead of of 8k new, and its working perfectly - but stable environmental temperature conditions are required, thats the weak point of the design. Maybe its an old design, but currently, no other DMM or calibrator can beat it essentially in certain parameters. It has got the best (differential) linearity, over Keithley 2002, Fluke 8508A, Datron 1281, Fluke 57xx and even the Primary Ratio standard 720A! Only the JJ array can test its linearity! OK, the 3458A's internal references are not that stable, but it is not intended as a secondary volt or ohm standard. For that you need additionally something like a 732B and a SR 104, or the quantum standards, respectively. But all others of the above mentioned, newer DMMs are not much better. For DCV, the 3458A obviously has been designed for a very broad temperature range of 0..55°C (military use??), which gives an internal temp of at least up to 80°C in a rack mount. Placing its internal volt and ohm standards in a lower and more stable environment would have been better, but then, it could not have been a DMM-in-one-box. So the internal LTZ1000A reference has to be running on 90°C. If powerered constantly, this gives at least 20 times higher drift rates over time compared to a Fluke 7000A, which is running on 45°C. Other DMM are specified for metrological temp. range and have certainly slightly better drift rates (two times). I have set (pimped) the LTZ to about 55°C for lower drift. The HV divider cannot be corrected for power dissipation effects, so the 1000V range is quite mediocre. I have built my own 100:1 Hammond type divider (~ 752A) to get around 1ppm for 1000V. The ohm ranges obviously is its weakest mode. It relies on an elder hermetically sealed Vishay resistor, with high time and temp. drift, and additionally the resistor is exposed to the strong internal temperature variations. Today, by using a selected VHP202Z resistor, one might improve time drift to <1ppm/year and stability (with respect to temperature) to < 0.2ppm over the complete "metrological" ambient temp range. Additionally, its ohms range resistors are very sensitive to temperature changes. But it is possible by using it in absolutely stable amb. temp. conditions (+/- 0.2K), to make 10kOhm measurements / transfers on sub ppm stability level. Currently, I'm working on external 10k standard resistors; but still in discussion with Vishay. Report will follow. ACV is also umparalleled by other DMMs, due to its (patented?) digitizing algorithms, and this can be further improved by Swerleins Algorithm. So I think, only Flukes AC standard 792A is "better", if using standard electronics. So my advice, get one used 3458A, it's simply a nice and ultra precise box, and build yourself some standards which you would need also if you got a newer DMM. Btw.: A good, absolute calibration is nearly impossible to acquire for us amateurs. Even Fluke and agilent obviously offer 2nd grade calibrations only. Frank

This is a great summary of the venerable 3458a. One of the last great tool to come out of the old HP, before it became Agilent. At 04:00 PM 8/4/2011, Frank Stellmach wrote: >Hi John, > >I also picked one up, a mixed one, ie old analogue PCB from the 90's >and a younger processor board from 2001 (perhaps replaced due to >SRAM battery discharge). Cost me about 3k instead of of 8k new, and >its working perfectly - but stable environmental temperature >conditions are required, thats the weak point of the design. Best Wishes, Marv Gozum Philadelphia

Frank Stellmach <frank.stellmach@freenet.de> writes: Hi Frank, Thanks for such a detailed and interesting reply. "high SNR list" is correct I see. I don't want to clutter the list with individual replies but thanks to all others too, much appreciated. [...] > It has got the best (differential) linearity, over Keithley 2002, > Fluke 8508A, Datron 1281, Fluke 57xx and even the Primary Ratio > standard 720A! Only the JJ array can test its linearity! Linearity is probably more important to me than absolute accuracy, so that is good to know. [...] > Placing its internal volt and ohm standards in a lower and more stable > environment would have been better, but then, it could not have been a > DMM-in-one-box. These days one might consider a thermoelectric cooler? > So the internal LTZ1000A reference has to be running on 90°C. > If powerered constantly, this gives at least 20 times higher drift > rates over time compared to a Fluke 7000A, which is running on 45°C. > Other DMM are specified for metrological temp. range and have > certainly slightly better drift rates (two times). > > I have set (pimped) the LTZ to about 55°C for lower drift. > > The HV divider cannot be corrected for power dissipation effects, so > the 1000V range is quite mediocre. > I have built my own 100:1 Hammond type divider (~ 752A) to get around > 1ppm for 1000V. Nice. (For the benefit of others who - like me - had not heard of it I think it's "hammon" divider, based on my googling). <http://conradhoffman.com/HamonResistor.html> (an interesting site) [...] > So my advice, get one used 3458A, it's simply a nice and ultra precise > box, and build yourself some standards which you would need also if > you got a newer DMM. You all have me convinced, I will do this. > Btw.: A good, absolute calibration is nearly impossible to acquire for > us amateurs. Even Fluke and agilent obviously offer 2nd grade > calibrations only. Take the night shift in a national standards lab I guess :) Thanks, -- John Devereux