HP 53131A Non-USA Serial Number Cross Reference

[David D]

I just purchased an HP 53131A counter that was made in the Korean HP facility. I'm looking for the correct manuals for it online, but everything I have found references the USA serial numbers. The prefix on mine is KR9120. How do I determine what year/build of a Korean built unit?

[alm]

I just purchased an HP 53131A counter that was made in the Korean HP facility. I'm looking for the correct manuals for it online, but everything I have found references the USA serial numbers. The prefix on mine is KR9120. How do I determine what year/build of a Korean built unit?

If the manuals reference PCB revisions, then check the markings on the PCBs. Otherwise semiconductor date codes should give you a hint of when it was manufactured. As far as I'm aware, different production regions use independent serial number sequences, so unless someone compiled a list of serial numbers for this particular units, or you find a manual for your Korean serial number, I think you'll have to do your own research. You could also look at the backdating section. For example the assembly level repair manual says that for serial number ranges 3705A-3710A to 3711 the motherboard was updated from 53132-60001 to 53132-60014. So if you find motherboard -60001, you're unit will likely correspond to US serial ranges 3705A-3710A.

[luis garcia]

David, where are you looking for the manuals?

[David D]

If the manuals reference PCB revisions, then check the markings on the PCBs. Otherwise semiconductor date codes should give you a hint of when it was manufactured. As far as I'm aware, different production regions use independent serial number sequences, so unless someone compiled a list of serial numbers for this particular units, or you find a manual for your Korean serial number, I think you'll have to do your own research. You could also look at the backdating section. For example the assembly level repair manual says that for serial number ranges 3705A-3710A to 3711 the motherboard was updated from 53132-60001 to 53132-60014. So if you find motherboard -60001, you're unit will likely correspond to US serial ranges 3705A-3710A.

Good idea! Thank you for that!

David, where are you looking for the manuals?

I've looked at several sites, including Keysight/Agilent.

[David D]

Opened it up and it's got a 53131-68004 motherboard. The motherboard actually says "Made in USA of Domestic and Foreign components. Since this says "Made in Korea" and has a Korean s/n, I guess it was just assembled in Korea, or some replaced the motherboard at some point? The firmware rev is 3703.