Solartron (aka Schlumberger) 7081
I've been offered a Solartron 7081 8.5 digit meter, but are having
difficulty finding out much about this. Is there any "official" place where
these can be calibrated? As far as I can see from a search of Companies
House
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02858371
Solartron Instruments Ltd was dissolved in 2013. I don't know if there is
really anybody able to calibrate these things.
Clearly the meter is not in the same league as a 3458A. but I've been
offered it for little more than the cost of a new Keysight U1282A 4.5
digit handheld meter! I've no idea when it was last calibrated, but I
suspect long ago.
Dr. David Kirkby Ph.D CEng MIET
Kirkby Microwave Ltd
drkirkby@kirkbymicrowave.co.uk
http://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/
Tel: 01621-680100 <01621%20680100> / +44 1621-680100 <01621%20680100> (0900
to 2100 UK time)
Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6DT,
UK.
Registered in England and Wales, company number 08914892.
Hi Dave;
The 7081 is a really great meter if working correctly. It is up there with the Wavetek 1281, Fluke 8508, and Keysight 3458A. The only down side is the front panel connector, but I have seen it converted to Banana's. I think you will find it much better then the 3457A even with an upgraded reference.
Cheers;
Thomas Knox
1-303-554-0307
actast@hotmail.com
From: volt-nuts volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com on behalf of Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd) drkirkby@kirkbymicrowave.co.uk
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 4:56 PM
To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement
Subject: [volt-nuts] Solartron (aka Schlumberger) 7081
I've been offered a Solartron 7081 8.5 digit meter, but are having
difficulty finding out much about this. Is there any "official" place where
these can be calibrated? As far as I can see from a search of Companies
House
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02858371
[https://d3rubtivi36dxc.cloudfront.net/images/opengraph-image.jpg]https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02858371
SOLARTRON INSTRUMENTS LIMITED - Overview (free company ...https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02858371
beta.companieshouse.gov.uk
SOLARTRON INSTRUMENTS LIMITED - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers ...
Solartron Instruments Ltd was dissolved in 2013. I don't know if there is
really anybody able to calibrate these things.
Clearly the meter is not in the same league as a 3458A. but I've been
offered it for little more than the cost of a new Keysight U1282A 4.5
digit handheld meter! I've no idea when it was last calibrated, but I
suspect long ago.
Dr. David Kirkby Ph.D CEng MIET
Kirkby Microwave Ltd
drkirkby@kirkbymicrowave.co.uk
http://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/
Low cost Vector Network Analyzer Calibration kitshttp://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/
www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk
How to buy our calibration kits. Can we pay in $(USD) or € (Euros)? Kirkby Microwave 85033 7 GHz SMA Kirkby Microwave 85033 option 001. 7 GHz SMA with reverse ...
Tel: 01621-680100 <01621%20680100> / +44 1621-680100 <01621%20680100> (0900
to 2100 UK time)
Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6DT,
UK.
Registered in England and Wales, company number 08914892.
volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com
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and follow the instructions there.
Hi,
I wouldn't say the 7081 is in the class of a HP 3458A (7081 is much
slower, much more noisy and linearity isn't as great as the HP 3458A).
But, it is definitely better than a 3457A (which is also quite noisy).
Calibration via GPIB is very simple and should be done be most
calibration labs (I've done that a few times).
Best Philipp
2017-09-27 6:17 GMT+02:00 Tom Knox actast@hotmail.com:
Hi Dave;
The 7081 is a really great meter if working correctly. It is up there with the Wavetek 1281, Fluke 8508, and Keysight 3458A. The only down side is the front panel connector, but I have seen it converted to Banana's. I think you will find it much better then the 3457A even with an upgraded reference.
Cheers;
Thomas Knox
1-303-554-0307
actast@hotmail.com
From: volt-nuts volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com on behalf of Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd) drkirkby@kirkbymicrowave.co.uk
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 4:56 PM
To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement
Subject: [volt-nuts] Solartron (aka Schlumberger) 7081
I've been offered a Solartron 7081 8.5 digit meter, but are having
difficulty finding out much about this. Is there any "official" place where
these can be calibrated? As far as I can see from a search of Companies
House
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02858371
[https://d3rubtivi36dxc.cloudfront.net/images/opengraph-image.jpg]https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02858371
SOLARTRON INSTRUMENTS LIMITED - Overview (free company ...https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02858371
beta.companieshouse.gov.uk
SOLARTRON INSTRUMENTS LIMITED - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers ...
Solartron Instruments Ltd was dissolved in 2013. I don't know if there is
really anybody able to calibrate these things.
Clearly the meter is not in the same league as a 3458A. but I've been
offered it for little more than the cost of a new Keysight U1282A 4.5
digit handheld meter! I've no idea when it was last calibrated, but I
suspect long ago.
Dr. David Kirkby Ph.D CEng MIET
Kirkby Microwave Ltd
drkirkby@kirkbymicrowave.co.uk
http://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/
Low cost Vector Network Analyzer Calibration kitshttp://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/
www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk
How to buy our calibration kits. Can we pay in $(USD) or € (Euros)? Kirkby Microwave 85033 7 GHz SMA Kirkby Microwave 85033 option 001. 7 GHz SMA with reverse ...
Tel: 01621-680100 <01621%20680100> / +44 1621-680100 <01621%20680100> (0900
to 2100 UK time)
Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6DT,
UK.
Registered in England and Wales, company number 08914892.
volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com
To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts
volt-nuts Info Page - American Febo Enterpriseshttps://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/volt-nuts
www.febo.com
volt-nuts is a low volume, high SNR list for the discussion of precise voltage measurement and related topics. To see the collection of prior postings to the list ...
and follow the instructions there.
volt-nuts mailing list -- volt-nuts@febo.com
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and follow the instructions there.
I assume you've seen my website: http://perdrix.co.uk/Solartron7081/index.htm? The last corporate owner of the Solartron brand was Ametek, and their branch in Farnborough did calibrate them up to at least the late "noughties". I don't know if they still do. The full service manual and factory calibration instructions are on my website.
Sadly the Commodore PET software to control the calibration process was never released (AFAIK)?
They are easy to calibrate if you have a good calibrator (I have a 4808 which is now fully working). I live in Kenilworth so not too far from you.
Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: volt-nuts [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On Behalf Of Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd)
Sent: 26 September 2017 23:57
To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement
Subject: [volt-nuts] Solartron (aka Schlumberger) 7081
I've been offered a Solartron 7081 8.5 digit meter, but are having difficulty finding out much about this. Is there any "official" place where these can be calibrated? As far as I can see from a search of Companies House
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/02858371
Solartron Instruments Ltd was dissolved in 2013. I don't know if there is really anybody able to calibrate these things.
Clearly the meter is not in the same league as a 3458A. but I've been offered it for little more than the cost of a new Keysight U1282A 4.5 digit handheld meter! I've no idea when it was last calibrated, but I suspect long ago.
Dr. David Kirkby Ph.D CEng MIET
Kirkby Microwave Ltd
drkirkby@kirkbymicrowave.co.uk
http://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/
Tel: 01621-680100 <01621%20680100> / +44 1621-680100 <01621%20680100> (0900 to 2100 UK time)
Registered office: Stokes Hall Lodge, Burnham Rd, Althorne, Essex, CM3 6DT, UK.
Registered in England and Wales, company number 08914892.
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.
On 27 September 2017 at 11:09, David C. Partridge <
david.partridge@perdrix.co.uk> wrote:
I assume you've seen my website: <http://perdrix.co.uk/
Solartron7081/index.htm>?
Yes I had. I believe your site has more about the meter than the sum total
of the rest! I was surprised how little information there is about the
meter available.
I downloaded the user manual, but not the service manual. I will give this
some more consideration. I can get the instrument for 600 Euros + shipping
from Germany, so its not a fortune, but the issue of calibration is
concerning me a bit, as is the fact that a few people have sent me emails
to say they are noisy and slow.
I wanted to make some low-resistance measurements the other week, and was
considering getting an Agilent 34420A. I'm wondering if that might be a
better investment.
Of course, it would be nice to have a 3458A and a 34420A, but that is out
of the question due to the cost.
The last corporate owner of the Solartron brand was Ametek, and their
branch in Farnborough did calibrate them up to at least the late
"noughties". I don't know if they still do. The full service manual and
factory calibration instructions are on my website.
Someone else sent me a private email, and gave me there name too, so I have
sent an email to them.
Sadly the Commodore PET software to control the calibration process was
never released (AFAIK)?
They are easy to calibrate if you have a good calibrator (I have a 4808
which is now fully working). I live in Kenilworth so not too far from you.
Dave
I can't drive as I'm epileptic, so so you are not quite as easy to get to
as you might first appear. I guess it can be shipped easy enough.
Dave
On 27 September 2017 at 11:09, David C. Partridge <
david.partridge@perdrix.co.uk> wrote:
I assume you've seen my website: <http://perdrix.co.uk/
Solartron7081/index.htm>? The last corporate owner of the Solartron
brand was Ametek, and their branch in Farnborough did calibrate them up to
at least the late "noughties". I don't know if they still do. The full
service manual and factory calibration instructions are on my website.
FWIW, I received an email from Ametek saying:
"Support on this product has now ceased – but please find attached, copy of
the original brochure / operating manual which may be of use. The company
in the UK which would do a good job is CALMET at Kingston"
Calmet Laboratory Services are a UKAS accredited calibration laboratory.
I've not looked at what their uncertainties are.
I stuck copies of the documents sent to me by Ametek at
http://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/manuals/Solartron/
The MD5 checksums are
drkirkby@hawk:~/km.new/manuals/Solartron$ digest -a md5 *
(7071_7081_brochure.zip) = 26db83139e8a765f1083c972a1a507a7
(7081_Operating_Manual_Part_1.pdf) = 2a396d8653815cf450c215a28513b3c3
(7081_Operating_Manual_Part_2.pdf) = d861d8dc3c4db187e61d27b8fde35eb2
Dave
Those appear to be the same scan of the user manual that is hosted at www.ko4bb.com and on my website.
Good to see their recommendation of CALMET.
Dave
-----Original Message-----
From: volt-nuts [mailto:volt-nuts-bounces@febo.com] On Behalf Of Dr. David Kirkby (Kirkby Microwave Ltd)
Sent: 03 October 2017 22:07
To: Discussion of precise voltage measurement
Subject: Re: [volt-nuts] Solartron (aka Schlumberger) 7081
On 27 September 2017 at 11:09, David C. Partridge < david.partridge@perdrix.co.uk> wrote:
I assume you've seen my website: <http://perdrix.co.uk/
Solartron7081/index.htm>? The last corporate owner of the Solartron
brand was Ametek, and their branch in Farnborough did calibrate them up to
at least the late "noughties". I don't know if they still do. The full
service manual and factory calibration instructions are on my website.
FWIW, I received an email from Ametek saying:
"Support on this product has now ceased – but please find attached, copy of the original brochure / operating manual which may be of use. The company in the UK which would do a good job is CALMET at Kingston"
Calmet Laboratory Services are a UKAS accredited calibration laboratory.
I've not looked at what their uncertainties are.
I stuck copies of the documents sent to me by Ametek at
http://www.kirkbymicrowave.co.uk/manuals/Solartron/
The MD5 checksums are
drkirkby@hawk:~/km.new/manuals/Solartron$ digest -a md5 *
(7071_7081_brochure.zip) = 26db83139e8a765f1083c972a1a507a7
(7081_Operating_Manual_Part_1.pdf) = 2a396d8653815cf450c215a28513b3c3
(7081_Operating_Manual_Part_2.pdf) = d861d8dc3c4db187e61d27b8fde35eb2
Dave
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