HP 34401A vs Fluke 8808A

[jacksradio]

Hoping to gather some information on the above two meters.  I am looking to purchase one or the other and thought I would ask if there is any real differences besides one being 6 1/2 digits and the other 5 1/2 digits.  I am not looking to measure down to the nano volt level, just want a reliable and accurate meter that is easy to repair if need be for mainly hobby and personal repair work.  Please share any thoughts or real world experiences.

Thanks
Jack

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If your main need is to measure nanovolts ... neither one is the right thing for the job. There are other meters that are focused on that sort of thing.

Bob

[HighVoltage]

I have no experience with the 8808A but plenty of experience with the 34401A

You can get the 34401A for reasonable low cost on ebay and it is repairable if it should break.
The best thing about this meter is its reliability.
And usually they never break.
I have many of them in use in the lab and on a production line and I am extremely satisfied with them.

 

[uncle_bob]

Hi

To the extent that either meter has a weak point, it's the display. The 34401A *will* get pretty dim if run for years and years. We have a lot of examples of that running around the plant. There isn't as big a population of 8808's so I don't have a statistically valid sample in that case. I would simply bet that the same display technology has the same issues. Earlier Fluke meters did ...

Bob

[TiN]

I'd go for 34401A + software control. Front panel operation is clunky .

[jacksradio]

no one has anything to say about a Fluke 8808A???

[uncle_bob]

no one has anything to say about a Fluke 8808A???

Hi

The 34401 has been a go to item for about two decades now. Pretty much every shop on the planet has at least one if not a few dozen of them. The 8808 never made it into the same league popularity wise. That's not to say it is a bad meter. The volume and age of the 34401 make them a staple on the used market at pretty good prices. That makes them tough to compete with.

If you are going for a brand new meter, HP has several newer DVM's at pretty much the same price ...

Bob