Agilent Technologies U3401A User manual

Agilent Technologies
Agilent U3401A
4 1/2 Digit Dual Display
Multimeter
User’s and Service Guide

ii U3401A User’s and Service Guide
Notices
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2009–2012
No part of this manual may be reproduced in
any form or by any means (including elec-
tronic storage and retrieval or translation
into a foreign language) without prior agree-
ment and written consent from Agilent
Technologies, Inc. as governed by United
States and international copyright laws.
Manual Part Number
U3401-90001
Edition
Sixth Edition, December 7, 2012
Printed in Malaysia
Agilent Technologies, Inc.
3501 Stevens Creek Blvd.
Santa Clara, CA 95051 USA
Warranty
The material contained in this docu-
ment is provided “as is,” and is sub-
ject to being changed, without notice,
in future editions. Further, to the max-
imum extent permitted by applicable
law, Agilent disclaims all warranties,
either express or implied, with regard
to this manual and any information
contained herein, including but not
limited to the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a par-
ticular purpose. Agilent shall not be
liable for errors or for incidental or
consequential damages in connec-
tion with the furnishing, use, or per-
formance of this document or of any
information contained herein. Should
Agilent and the user have a separate
written agreement with warranty
terms covering the material in this
document that conflict with these
terms, the warranty terms in the sep-
arate agreement shall control.
Technology Licenses
The hardware and/or software described in
this document are furnished under a license
and may be used or copied only in accor-
dance with the terms of such license.
Restricted Rights Legend
U.S. Government Restricted Rights. Soft-
ware and technical data rights granted to
the federal government include only those
rights customarily provided to end user cus-
tomers. Agilent provides this customary
commercial license in Software and techni-
cal data pursuant to FAR 12.211 (Technical
Data) and 12.212 (Computer Software) and,
for the Department of Defense, DFARS
252.227-7015 (Technical Data - Commercial
Items) and DFARS 227.7202-3 (Rights in
Commercial Computer Software or Com-
puter Software Documentation).
Safety Notices
CAUTION
A CAUTION notice denotes a haz-
ard. It calls attention to an operat-
ing procedure, practice, or the like
that, if not correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in damage
to the product or loss of important
data. Do not proceed beyond a
CAUTION notice until the indicated
conditions are fully understood and
met.
WARNING
A WARNING notice denotes a
hazard. It calls attention to an
operating procedure, practice, or
the like that, if not correctly per-
formed or adhered to, could result
in personal injury or death. Do not
proceed beyond a WARNING
notice until the indicated condi-
tions are fully understood and
met.

U3401A User’s and Service Guide iii
Safety Symbols
The following symbol on the instrument and in the documentation
indicates precautions that must be taken to maintain safe operation of the
instrument.
Direct current (DC) Caution, risk of electric shock
Alternating current (AC) Caution, risk of danger (refer to this
manual for specific Warning or Caution
information)
Both direct and alternating current Out position of a bi-stable push control
Earth (ground) terminal In position of a bi-stable push control
Protective conductor terminal Frame or chassis terminal
IEC Measurement Category II.
Measurement performed on circuits that
are directly connected to the low voltage
installation (up to 300 VAC) under
Category II overvoltage conditions
CAT II
300 V

iv U3401A User’s and Service Guide
Regulatory Markings
The CE mark shows that the product
complies with all the relevant Euro-
pean legal Directives (if accompanied
by a year, it signifies when the design
was proven).
The C-tick mark is a registered
trademark of the Spectrum
management Agency of Australia.
This signifies compliance with the
Australian EMC Framework
regulations under the terms of the
Radio Communications Act of 1992.
This ISM device complies with the
Canadian ICES-001,
Cet appareil ISM est conforme à la
norme NMB-001 du Canada.
This product complies with the WEEE
Directive (2002/96/EC) marking
equipment. The affixed product label
indicates that you must not discard
this electrical/electronic product in
domestic household waste.
The CSA mark is a registered
trademark of the Canadian Standards
Association.
This symbol indicates the time period
during which no hazardous or toxic
substance elements are expected to
leak or deteriorate during normal use.
Forty years is the expected useful life
of the product.

U3401A User’s and Service Guide v
General Safety Information
The following general safety precautions must be observed during all
phases of operation, service, and repair of this instrument. Failure to
comply with these precautions or with specific warnings elsewhere in this
manual violates safety standards of design, manufacture, and intended
use of the instrument. Agilent Technologies assumes no liability for the
customer’s failure to comply with these requirements.

vi U3401A User’s and Service Guide
WARNING
• Do not defeat power cord safety ground feature. Plug in to a grounded (earthed)
outlet.
• Do not use multimeter in any manner that is not specified by the manufacturer.
• Double-check the multimeter’s operation by measuring a known voltage.
• For current measurement, turn off circuit power before connecting the
multimeter to the circuit. Always place the multimeter in series with the circuit.
• When connecting probes, always connect the common test probe first. When
disconnecting probes, always disconnect the live test probe first.
• Do not measure more than the rated voltage (as marked on the multimeter)
between terminals, or between terminal and earth ground.
• Do not use repaired fuses or short-circuited fuse-holders. For continued
protection against fire, replace the line fuses only with fuses of the same voltage
and current rating and recommended type.
• Do not service or perform adjustments alone. Under certain conditions,
hazardous voltages may exist, even with the multimeter switched off. To avoid
dangerous electric shock, service personnel must not attempt internal service or
adjustment unless another person, capable of rendering resuscitation or first aid,
is present.
• Do not substitute parts or modify multimeter to avoid the danger of introducing
additional hazards. Return the product to Agilent Technologies Sales and Service
Office for service and repair to ensure the safety features are maintained.
• Do not operate damaged equipment as the safety protection features built into
this multimeter may have been impaired, either through physical damage,
excessive moisture, or any other reason. Remove power and do not use the
product until safe operation can be verified by service-trained personnel. If
necessary, return the product to Agilent Technologies Sales and Service Office for
service and repair to ensure the safety features are maintained.
CAUTION
• Turn off circuit power and discharge all high-voltage capacitors in the circuit before
you perform resistance, continuity, diodes, or capacitance tests.
• Use the correct terminals, functions, and range for your instruments.
• Do not measure voltage when current measurement is selected.
• Use the multimeter with the cables provided.
• Repair or service that is not covered in this manual should only be performed by
qualified personnels.

U3401A User’s and Service Guide vii
Environmental Conditions
This multimeter is designed for indoor use only. The table below shows
the general environmental requirements for the multimeter.
Environmental Conditions Requirements
Operating temperature Full accuracy from 0 °C to 50°C (Operating)
Operating humidity Full accuracy up to 80 % R.H. (Relative humidity)
for temperature up to 28°C
Storage temperature –20 °C to 60 °C (Non-operating)
Altitude Operating up to 2,000 metres (6,562 feet)
Pollution degree Pollution Degree 2
NOTE
The Agilent U3401A dual display complies with the following EMC
requirements:
• IEC 61010-1:2001/EN61010-1:2001 (2nd Edition)
• Canada: CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1-04
• USA: ANSI/UL 61010-1:2004
• IEC 61326-1:2005/EN61326-1:2006
• Canada: ICES/NMB-001: Issue 4, June 2006
• Australia/New Zealand: AS/NZS CISPR11:2004

viii U3401A User’s and Service Guide
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive
2002/96/EC
This instruction complies with the WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC) marking
requirement. This affixed product label indicates that you must not discard
this electrical/electronic product in domestic household waste.
Product Category:
With reference to the equipment types in the WEEE directive Annex 1, this
instrument is classified as a “Monitoring and Control Instrument” product.
The affixed product label is shown as below:
Do not dispose in domestic household waste
To return this unwanted instrument, contact your nearest Agilent office, or
visit
www.agilent.com/environment/product
for more information.

U3401A User’s and Service Guide ix
Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
The Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this instrument is available on the
Website. You can search the DoC by its product model or description.
http://regulations.corporate.agilent.com/DoC/search.htm
NOTE
If you are unable to search for the respective DoC, please contact your
local Agilent representative.

x U3401A User’s and Service Guide
In This Guide ...
1 Getting Started
This chapter provides an introduction to the U3401A digital multimeter and
a tutorial showing how to use the front panel in order to make
masurements.
2Operations and Features
This chapter explains the various functions and features available to the
U3402A digital multimeter.
3Application Tutorial
This chapter describes the advanced features and the possible
applications for effective operation of the multimeter.
4Performance Test
This chapter contains the performance test procedures and calibration
procedures. The performance tests procedures allow you to verify that the
multimeter is operating within its published specifications.
5Disassembly and Repair
This chapter will help you troubleshoot a faulty multimeter. It describes
how to disassemble the multimeter, how to obtain repair services, and
lists the replaceable parts.
6Specifications and Characteristics
This chapter describes the multimeter’s specifications and operating
characteristics.