6.5 digit multimeter

[BumblebeeBatts]

Alright, so I've been researching 6.5 digit meters for the last couple of days now. I want to thank Martin for the great HP 3457A videos.

That's the way I'm leaning right now. The HP 34401 is also an option. There's also a rather beat up looking Fluke 8840 on Craigslist for $200....

I'm the founder of a company that sells batteries for hybrid vehicles. This is to upgrade the lab and help calibrate our equipment to better precision. Of course, I could spend $1500+, but I'd rather not if I don't have to. Though an 3458A would be pretty sweet, the cheapest one on eBay is $3700.

It doesn't really seem that I'm going to get away with spending less than $500 for a certified calibrated instrument - that is whether I buy something cheap and have it calibrated, or buy a pre-calibrated one.

Any suggestions welcome.

[TechJunkie]

You may want to look at the Agilent (Keysight Technologies) 34461A Truevolt 6.5 digit DMM. It's around $1,000-$1,100 US depending on where you buy it.

Here is a thread which previously discussed this meter with some forum members.

http://mjlorton.com/forum/index.php?topic=690.0

[BumblebeeBatts]

Yeah, I read through that one.

I'm honestly not sure if I need the features of a brand new meter like the 34461A. I probably don't even need the 3457A, but I'm a numbers junkie.

[TechJunkie]

Nothing wrong with that! 

[BumblebeeBatts]

I decided to go for a refurbished, NIST traceable cal'd 3457A on eBay for about $575 shipped. Serial# 3114A14652.

I could have gotten one cheaper, but would have been about the same once I had it calibrated anyway. I don't think I'll regret my purchase.