Agilent 3458 Multimeter
Data Sheet
Shattering
performance
barriers
of speed
and
accuracy
2
dc Volts
• 5 ranges: 0.1 V to 1000 V
• 8.5 to 4.5 digit resolution
• Up to 100,000 readings/sec
(4.5 digits)
• Maximum sensitivity: 10 nV
• 0.6 ppm 24 hour accuracy
• 8 ppm (4 ppm optional) / year
voltage reference stability
Ohms
• 9 ranges: 10 Ωto 1GΩ
• Two-wire and four-wire Ohms
with offset compensation
• Up to 50,000 readings/sec
(5.5 digits)
• Maximum Sensitivity: 10µΩ
• 2.2 ppm 24 hour accuracy
ac Volts
• 6 ranges: 10 mV to 1000 V
• 1 Hz to 10 MHz bandwidth
• Up to 50 readings/sec with all
readings to specified accuracy
• Choice of sampling or analog
true rms techniques
• 100 ppm best accuracy
dc Current
• 8 ranges: 100 nA to 1 A
• Up to 1,350 readings/sec
(5.5digits)
• Maximum sensitivity: 1pA
• 14 ppm 24 hour accuracy
ac Current
• 5 ranges: 100 µA to 1 A
• 10Hz to 100 kHz bandwidth
• Up to 50 readings/sec
• 500 ppm 24 hour accuracy
Frequency and period
• Voltage or current ranges
• Frequency: 1 Hz to 10 MHz
• Period: 100 ns to 1 sec
• 0.01% accuracy
• ac or dc coupled
Maximum speeds
• 100,000 readings/sec at
4.5 digits (16 bits)
• 50,000 readings/sec at 5.5 digits
• 6,000 readings/sec at 6.5 digits
• 60 readings/sec at 7.5 digits
• 6 readings/sec at 8.5 digits
Measurement set-up speed
• 100,000 readings/sec over
GPIB or with internal memory
• 110 autoranges/sec
• 340 function or range
changes/sec
• Post-processed math from
internal memory
Performance Highlights
3
Display
• Bright, easy-to-read, vacuum
flourescent display
• 16 character alpha-numeric
display to easily read data,
messages, and commands
Standard function/range keys
• Simple to use, for bench measurements of dcV, acV, Ohms, current,
frequency and period
• Select autorange or manual
ranging
Menu command keys
• Immediate access to eight
common commands
• Shifted keys allow simple access
to complete command menu
Numeric/user keys
• Numeric entry for constants and
measurement parameters
• Shifted keys (f0 through f 9) access
up to ten user-defined setups
Volts/Ohms/ratio terminals
• Gold-plated tellurium copper
for minimum thermal emf
• 2-wire or 4-wire Ohms
measurements
• dc/dc or ac/dc ratio inputs
Current measurement terminals
• Easy fuse replacement with
fuse holder built into terminal
Guard terminal and switch
• For maximum common mode
noise rejection
Front-rear terminal switch
• Position selects front or rear
measurement terminals
Access speed and accuracy
through a powerful, convenient front panel
External Output:
• Programmable TTL output pulse with
5
modes for flexible system interface
• Defaults to a voltmeter complete pulse
External trigger input
Rear input terminals
for convenient
system use
GPIB interface connector
4
Finally!
A system multimeter with BOTH
high speed and high accuracy.
The Agilent Technologies 3458A
Multimeter shatters long-standing
performance barriers of speed and
accuracy on the production test
floor, in R&D, and in the calibration lab. The 3458A is simply the
fastest, most flexible, and most
accurate multimeter ever offered
by Agilent Technologies. In your
system or on the bench, the 3458A
saves you time and money with
unprecedented test system
throughput and accuracy, seven
function measurement flexibility,
and low cost of ownership.
Select a reading rate of 100,000
readings per second for maximal
test throughput. Or achieve highest
levels of precision with up to 8.5
digits of measurement resolution
and 0.1 part per million transfer
accuracy. Add to this, programming compatibility through the
Agilent Multimeter Language
(ML) and the 3458A’s simplicity of
operation and you have the ideal
multimeter for your most
demanding applications.
Contents
Test System Throughput /6
Calibration Lab Precision / 7
High Resolution Digitizing /8
Technical Specifications / 9
Specs Overview / 9
Section 1: DCVoltage / 10
Section 2: Resistance / 11
Section 3: DCCurrent / 13
Section 4: ACVoltage / 14
Section 5: ACCurrent / 19
Section 6: Frequency/Period / 20
Section 7: Digitizing / 21
Section 8: System Specs / 23
Section 9: Ratio / 24
Section 10: Math Functions / 24
Section 11: General Specs / 25
Section 12: Ordering Information / 26
Accessories / 26
Other Meters / 27
5
High test system throughput
Calibration lab precision
High resolution digitizing
Faster testing
• Up to 100,000 readings/sec
• Internal test setups >340/sec
• Programmable integration times from
500 ns to 1 sec
Greater test yield
• More accuracy for tighter test margins
• Up to 8.5 digits resolution
Longer up-time
• Two-source (10V,10kΩ) calibration,
including ac
• Self-adjusting, self-verifying autocalibration for all functions and
ranges, including ac
Superb transfer measurements
• 8.5 digits resolution
• 0.1 ppm dc Volts linearity
• 0.1 ppm dc Volts transfer capability
• 0.01 ppm rms internal noise
Extraordinary accuracy
• 0.6 ppm for 24 hours in dc Volts
• 2.2 ppm for 24 hours in Ohms
• 100 ppm mid-band ac Volts
• 8 ppm (4 ppm optional) per year
voltage reference stability
Greater waveform resolution and accuracy
• 16 to 24 bits resolution
• 100,000 to 0.2 samples/sec
• 12 MHz bandwidth
• Timing resolution to 10 ns
• Less than 100 ps time jitter
• Over 75,000 reading internal memory
The 3458A Multimeter for:
6
The Agilent 3458A System Multimeter
heightens test performance in three
phases of your production test: faster
test system start-up, faster test
throughput, and lower cost of ownership through longer system uptime,
designed-in reliability, and fast and
easy calibration.
Faster system start-up
The value of a fast system multimeter
in production test is clear. But it is
also important that the dmm programs
easily to reduce the learning time for
new system applications. The Agilent
Multimeter Language (ML) offers a
standard set of commands for the
multimeteruser that consists of easily
understood, readable commands.
Easier programming and clearer
documentation reduce system
development time.
Faster measurements and setups
Now you can have a system dmm
with both fast and accurate measurements. The 3458A optimizes your
measurements for the right combination of accuracy, resolution, and
speed. The 3458A Multimeter fits
your needs from 4.5 digit dc Volts
measurements at 100,000 per second, to 8.5 digit dc Volts measurements at 6 per second, or anywhere
in between in 100 ns steps.
Even the traditionally slower measurement functions, such as ac Volts, are
quicker with the 3458A. For example,
you can measure true rms acV at up to
50 readings per second with full accuracy for input frequencies greater than
10 kHz.
Besides high reading rates, the
3458A’s design was tuned for the
many function and level changes
required in testing your device. The
3458A can change function and
range, take a measurement, and output the result at 340 per second.
This is at least 5 times faster than
other dmms. In addition, the 3458A
transfers high speed measurement
data over GPIB or into and out of its
75,000 reading memory at 100,000
readings per second.
You can reduce your data transfer
overhead by using the unique nonvolatile Program Memory of the
3458A to store complete measurement
sequences. These test sequences can
be programmed and initiated from the
front panel for stand-alone operation
without a controller.
Finally, the 3458A Multimeter makes
fast and accurate measurements.
Consider the 3458A’s 0.6 ppm24 hour
dc Volts accuracy, 100 ppm acVolts
accuracy and its standard functions of
dcV, acV, dcI, acI, Ohms, frequency and
period. Greater measurement accuracy
from your dmm means higher confidence and higher test yields. More
functions mean greater versatility and
lower-cost test systems.
Longer system up-time
The 3458A Multimeter performs a
complete self-calibration of all functions, including ac, using high stability
internal standards. This self- or autocalibration eliminates measurement
errors due to time drift and temperature changes in your rack or on your
bench for superior accuracy. When
it’s time for periodic calibration to
external standards, simply connect
a precision 10 Vdc source and a
precision 10 kΩ resistor. All ranges
and functions, including ac, are
automatically calibrated using
precision internal ratio transfer
measurements relative to the
external standards.
The 3458A’s reliability is a product
of Agilent’s “10X” program of defect
reduction. Through extensive environmental, abuse, and stress testing
during the design stages of product
development, has reduced the number of defects and early failures in
its instruments by a factor of ten
over the past ten years. Our confidence in the 3458A’s reliability is
reflected in the low cost of the
option for two additional years of
return-to-repair. This option (W30),
when combined with the standard
one-year warranty, will give you
three years of worry-free operation.
For High Test SystemThroughput
• Faster system start-up
Multimeter Language (ML) compatible
• Faster measurements and setups
100,000 readings/sec in 4.5 digits
50,000 readings/sec in 5.5 digits
340 function or range changes/sec
• Longer system up-time
Multimeter Language (ML) compatible
7
In the calibration lab, you’ll find the
3458A’s 8.5digits to have extraordinary linearity, low internal noise, and
excellent short term stability. The linearity of the 3458A’s Multislope A to D
converter has been characterized with
state-of-the-art precision. Using
Josephsen Junction Array intrinsic
standards, linearity has been measured within ±0.05 ppm of 10Volts. The
3458A’s transfer accuracy for 10 Volts
dc is 0.1 ppm over 1 hour ±0.5°C.
Internal noise has been reduced to less
than 0.01 ppm rms yielding 8.5 digits
of usable resolution. So, the right
choice for your calibration standard
dmm is the 3458A.
dcV stability
The long term accuracy of the 3458A
is a remarkable 8 ppm per year—more
accurate than many system dmms are
after only a day. Option 002 gives you
a higher stability voltage reference
specified to 4ppm/year for the ultimate
performance.
Reduced-error resistance
The 3458A doesn’t stop with accurate
dcV. Similar measurement accuracy is
achieved for resistance, acV, and current. You can measure resistance from
10 µΩ to 1 GΩ with midrange accuracy
of 2.2 ppm.
Finally, the 3458A, like its dmm predecessors, offers offset-compensated
Ohms on the 10 Ω to 100 kΩ ranges to
eliminate the errors introduced by
small series voltage offsets. Usable for
both two- and four-wire ohms, the
3458A supplies a current through the
unknown resistance, measures the
voltage drop, sets the current to zero,
and measures the voltage drop again.
The result is reduced error for resistance measurements.
Precision acV
The 3458A introduces new heights
of true rms ac volts performance
with a choice of traditional analog or
a new sampling technique for higher
accuracy. For calibration sources
and periodic waveforms from 1Hz to
10MHz, the 3458A’s precision sampling technique offers extraordinary
accuracy. With 100 ppm absolute
accuracy for 45 Hz to 1 kHz or 170
ppm absolute accuracy to 20 kHz,
the 3458A will enhance your measurement capabilities. Accuracy is
maintained for up to 2 years with
only a single 10 Volt dc precision
standard. No ac standards are
necessary. For higher speed and
less accuracy, the analog true rms
ac technique has a midband absolute
measurement accuracy of 300 ppm
using the same simple calibration
procedure. With a bandwidth of
10 Hz to 2 MHz and reading rates
to 50/second, is an excellent choice
for high throughput computer-aided
testing.
Easy calibration
The 3458A gives you low cost of
ownership with a simple, two-source
electronic calibration. With its superior
linearity, the 3458A is fully calibrated,
including ac, from a precision 10Vdc
source and a precision 10kΩresistor.
All ranges and functions are automatically calibrated using precise internal
ratio transfer measurements relative
to these external standards. In addition, the 3458A’s internal voltage
standard and resistance standard are
calibrated. Now you can perform a
self-verifying, self- or auto-calibration
relative to the 3458A’s low drift internal standards at any time with the
ACAL command. So, if your dmm’s
environment changes, auto-calibration
optimizes your measurement accuracy.
Calibration security
Unlike other dmms, the 3458A goes
to great lengths to assure calibration
security. First, a password security
code “locks” calibration values and
the self-calibration function. Next, you
can easily store and recall a secured
message for noting items, such as
calibration date and due date. Plus,
the 3458A automatically increments
a calibration counter each time you
“unlock” the dmm — another safeguard against calibration tampering.
If you have a unique situation or
desire ultimate security, use the internal dmm hardwired switch to force
removal of the instrument covers to
perform calibration.
For Calibration Lab Precision
• 8.5 digits resolution
• 0.1 ppm dcV linearity
• 100 ppm acV absolute accuracy
• 4 ppm/year optional stability
8
For High Resolution Digitizing
• 16 bits at 100,000 samples/sec
• Effective rates to 100 Msamples/sec
• Signal bandwidth of 12 MHz
• 10 ns timing with <100ps jitter
Easily acquire waveforms
Simple, application-oriented commands in the Agilent Multimeter
Language (ML) make the task of
waveform digitizing as easy as measuring dcV. Simply specify the sweep
rate and number of samples.
Integration or track-and-hold paths
The 3458A gives you the choice of
two configurations for high speed
measurements: a 150 kHz bandwidth
integrating path with a variable
aperture from 500ns to 1 second or
a 12 MHz bandwidth path with a
fixed 2 ns aperture and 16-bit trackand-hold. Use the integration path
for lower noise, but use the trackand-hold path to precisely capture
the voltage at a single point on a
waveform.
Direct sampling function
The 3458A has two sampling functions for digitizing wave-forms:
direct sampling and sequential or
sub-sampling. With direct sampling,
the 3458A samples through the
12 MHz path followed by the 2ns
track-and-hold providing 16bits of
resolution. The maximum sample
rate is 50,000 samples/second or
20 µs between samples. Samples can
be internally paced by a 0.01% accurate timebase with time increments
in 100 ns steps. Data transfers directly
to your computer at full speed or into
the dmm’s internal reading memory.
Waveform reconstruction consists of
simply plotting the digitized voltage
readings versus the sampling interval
of the timebase.
Sequential sampling function
Sequential or sub-sampling uses the
same measurement path as direct
sampling; however sequential sampling requires a periodic input
signal. The 3458A will synchronize
to a trigger point on the waveform
set by a level threshold or external
trigger. Once synchronized, the dmm
automatically acquires the waveform
through digitizing successive periods
with time increment steps as small
as 10 ns, effectively digitizing at
rates up to 100 Msamples/second.
All you specify is the effective timebase and the number of samples
desired, the 3458A automatically
optimizes its sampling to acquire the
waveform in the least amount of
time. Then, for your ease of use, the
3458A automatically re-orders the
data in internal memory to reconstruct the waveform.
9
3458A Technical Specifications
Section 1: DC Voltage
10
DC Voltage continued
Section 2: Resistance
11
12
Resistance continued
13
Section 3: DC Current
14
Section 4: AC Voltage
Synchronous Sub-sampled Mode (ACV Function, SETACV SYNC)
General Information
15
AC Voltage continued
16
AC Voltage continued
Analog Mode
(ACV Function, SETACV ANA)
17
AC Voltage continued
Random Sampled Mode
(ACV Function, SETACV RNDM)
18
AC Voltage continued
19
Section 5: AC Current
20
AC Current continued
Section 6: Frequency/Period
21
Section 7: Digitizing
Standard DC Volts Digitizing
(DCV Function)
22
Digitizing continued
Direct and Sub-sampled Digitizing
(DSDC, DSAC, SSDC and SSAC Functions)
23
Section 8: System Specifications
24
Section 9: Ratio
Section 10: Math Functions
25
Operating Environment
0° C to 55 ° C
Operating Humidity Range
Up to 95% RH at 40 ° C
Physical Characteristics
88.9 mm H x 425.5 mm W x 502.9 mm D
Net Weight: 12 kg (26.5 lbs)
Shipping Weight: 14.8 kg (32.5 lbs)
IEEE-4888 Interface
Complies with the following:
IEEE-488.1 Interface Standard
IEEE-728 Codes/Formats Standard
HPML (Multimeter Language)
Storage Temperature
-40° C to +75° C
Warm-Up Time
4 hours to published specifications
Power Requirements
100/120 V, 220/240 V ±10%
48-66 Hz, 360-420 Hz automatically sensed
< 30 W, < 80 VA (peak)
Fused: 1.5 @ 115 V or 0.5 A @ 230 V
Field Installation Kits Part Number
3458A-001 Extended Reading Memory 03458-87901
3458A-002 High Stability Reference 03458-80002
Extra Keyboard Overlays (5 each) 03458-84303
Available Documentation Part Number
Product Note 3458-1: Optimizing Throughput and Reading Rate 5953-7058
Product Note 3458-2: High Resolution Digitizing with the 3458A 5953-7059
Product Note 3458-3: Electronic Calibration of the 3458A 5953-7060
Extra Manual Set 03458-90100
Designed in accordance with
Safety: IEC 348, UL 1244, CSA
7n: Classified
under MIL-T-28800D as Type III,
Class 5, Style E, and Color R.
Warranty Period
One year
Input Terminals
Gold-plated Tellurium Copper
Included with 3458A
Test Lead Set (34118B)
Power Cord
Operating Manual (P/N 03458-90004)
Calibration Manual (P/N 03458-90016)
Assembly Level Repair Manual (P/N 03458-90010)
Quick Reference Guide (P/N 03458-90005)
Section 11: General Specifications
Agilent 3458A Multimeter
(with GPIB, 20 k bytes reading memory, and 8 ppm stability)
3458A-001 Extended Reading Memory
(Expands total to 148 k bytes)
3458A-002 High Stability (4 ppm/year) Reference
3458A-A6J ANSI Z540 Compliant Calibration
3458A-907 Front Handles Kit (P/N 5062-3988)
3458A-908 Rack Mount Kit (P/N 5062-3974)
3458A-909 Rack Mount Kit with Handles (P/N 5062-3975)
3458A-ABD German Manual
3458A-ABF French Manual
3458A-ABJ Japanese Manual
3458A-ABZ Italian Manual
Accessories
10833A GPIB Cable (1m)
10833B GPIB Cable (2m)
10833C GPIB Cable (4m)
10833D GPIB Cable (0.5m)
11053A Low thermal test lead pair,
spade lug to spade lug, 0.9 m
11174A Low thermal test lead pair,
spade lug to banana, 0.9 m
11058A Low thermal test lead pair,
banana to banana, 0.9 m
11059A Kelvin Probe Set (4-wires, 1 m)
11062A Kelvin Clip Set (2 each)
26
Top: Low thermal test leads
Bottom: Kelvin probe and clip set
Section 12: Ordering Information
27
Agilent offers a full line of afford-
able, high performance DMMs
from the 6.5 digit 34401A to the
8.5 digit 3458A. Please consult
your T&M catalog or contact the
nearest Agilent Technologies sales
office for more information.
The new standard in
price/performance
If you are looking for an affordable,
high performance DMM, look no further. The 34401A brings you all the
performance you expect from Agilent
Technologies, but at a price that will
surprise you.
Uncompromised performance
The 34401A combines a powerful
measurement engine with an
advanced feature set. The results are
impressive: 6.5 digits of resolution,
1,000 readings per second, 11 measurement functions, standard GPIB and
RS-232, built-in limit test, and room
for 512 readings in volatile memory.
The 34401A is at home either on your
bench or in your test system.
Affordable workhorse
By leveraging 3458A measurement
technology, replacing piles of discrete
chips with custom ICs, and by designing for manufacturability, we have
eliminated costs without sacrificing
reliability. The 34401A has a proven
track record, with tens of thousands of
units in the field today and an actual
MTBFof over 150,000 hours. With
numbers like that, chances are you’ll
retire before it does.
More High Performance Multimeters to Meet Your Needs
34401A Multimeter
28
•7.5 digits of resolution
•100 pV/100 nΩ of sensitivity
•8nVpp noise
•Built-in two channel
dcV scanner
•ITS-90 temperature,
including SPRTs
Take the uncertainty out of your
low-level measurements
When every nanovolt counts, look to
the 34420A for its low-noise, accuracy,
and reliability. Low-noise input
amplifiers and a highly tuned input
protection scheme bring reading noise
down to 8nVpp—half that of other
nanovolt meters in its class. Now
add 100 pV/100 nΩ of sensitivity,
2 ppm basic 24-hr dcV accuracy, and
7.5 digits of resolution, and you’ve got
accurate, repeatable measurements
you can rely on month after month.
More measurements
for your money
Most existing nanovoltmeters measure
only nanovolts. However, the 34420A
provides a more complete solution for
meeting your low-level needs. We’ve
added a high precision current source
to enable resistance measurements
from 100 nΩ to 1 MΩ, all without the
hassle and expense of an external
supply. We’ve also included ITS-90
conversion routines so you can read
thermocouples, thermistors, and
RTDs—even SPRTs— directly in
degrees. And if that isn’t enough, a
built-in two channel scanner allows
automated dcV ratio and difference
measurements. Better still, the
34420A offers all this functionality for
less than what you are used to paying
for nanovolt-only products.
34420A Nanovolt/Micro-ohm meter.
Nanovolt performance at a Microvolt price...
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© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 1996, 2000, 2005
Printed in the U.S.A. April 15, 2005
5965-4971E
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