Multimeter Selection Guide
Fluke 8508A & Agilent 3458/HFL
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
When comparing two products features and specification using sales information
it is often difficult to determine which product will meet the needs of your specific
application. This is mostly because each supplier will define specifications using
alternate methods. This Selection Guide will help you compare the specifications
and features of the Fluke 8508A Reference multimeter with the nearest
equivalent digital multimeter the Agilent 3458/HFL. Both the 8508A and the
special 3458/HFL multimeters are available through the Fluke sales channel.
The following pages summarize & segment the features of each meter into the
following three categories.
• Accuracy
• Functionality & Versatility
• Ease of Use
The 'Comments' column found in the following table provides a brief explanation
against each feature and its relevance to the intended metrology applications.
Further reference information:
1) Agilent 3458A/HFL Technical Data - 1275558 D-ENG-N
2) Fluke 8508A Extended Specifications - 1887212 D-ENG-N rev A
3) 1281Operators Handbook – 850090 issue 6
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DC Current ±(ppm of setting + ppm of range), relative to calibration standards used.
Calibration Interval 365 day, ±1°C of last TCAL
Range
1281
HP3458/HFL
8508A
120.000nA
-
30 + 400
-
1.200000µA
12.000000µA
120.00000µA
199.99999µA
1.2000000mA
1.9999999mA
12.000000mA
19.999999mA
120.00000mA
199.99999mA
1.0500000A
1.9999999A
19.999999A
-
-
-
20 + 40
20 + 10
20 + 8
-
-
-
25 + 2
-
6.5 + 2.0
-
20 + 5
-
25 + 2
-
6.5 + 2.0
-
8.0 + 2.0
-
33 + 4.0
-
170 + 8.0
380 + 20
-
20 + 5
25 + 2
-
-
35 + 5
50 + 5
-
-
110 + 10
150 + 10
-
-
-
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Resistance ±(ppm of setting + ppm of range), relative to calibration standards used.
Calibration Interval 365 day, ±1°C of last TCAL
Range
1281
HP3458/HFL
8508A
1.99999999 Ohm
12.00000 Ohm
-
-
10 + 2.0
-
10 + 5
-
8 + 5
-
19.9999999 Ohm
120.00000 Ohm
12 + 1.0
7.0 + 0.7
-
-
199.999999 Ohm
1.2000000 kOhm
1.99999999 kOhm
12.000000 kOhm
19.9999999 kOhm
120.00000 kOhm
199.999999 kOhm
1.2000000 MOhm
1.99999999 MOhm
12.000000 MOhm
19.9999999 MOhm
120.00000 MOhm
199.999999 MOhm
1.2000000 GOhm
1.99999999 GOhm
8 + 0.3
7.0 + 0.25
-
7.5 + 0.5
-
6 + 0.3
-
7.0 + 0.25
-
7.5 + 0.5
-
6 + 0.3
-
7.0 + 0.25
-
7.5 + 0.5
-
6 + 0.3
-
7.0 + 0.25
-
15 + 2
-
10 + 0.7
-
7.0 + 0.5
-
50 + 10
-
20 + 4.0
-
9.0 + 5.0
-
500 + 10
-
30 + 50
-
200 + 45
-
2000 + 450
-
5000 + 10
-
500 + 500
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AC Current ±(ppm of setting + ppm of range), relative to calibration standards used.
Calibration Interval 365 day, ±1°C of last TCAL
Range
Frequency
1281
HP3458/HFL
8508A
120.0000µA
10Hz - 20Hz
20Hz - 45Hz
45Hz - 100Hz
100Hz - 5kHz
1Hz - 10Hz
-
4000 + 200
-
-
-
-
-
1500 + 200
600 + 200
600 + 200
-
-
-
199.9999µA
-
250 + 100
10Hz - 5kHz
10Hz - 10kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
30kHz - 100kHz
10Hz - 20Hz
20Hz - 45Hz
45Hz - 100Hz
100Hz - 5kHz
5kHz - 20kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
50kHz - 100kHz
1Hz - 10Hz
10Hz - 5kHz
10Hz - 10kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
30kHz - 100kHz
10Hz - 20Hz
20Hz - 45Hz
45Hz - 100Hz
100Hz - 5kHz
5kHz - 20kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
50kHz - 100kHz
1Hz - 10Hz
10Hz - 5kHz
10Hz - 10kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
30kHz - 100kHz
10Hz - 20Hz
20Hz - 45Hz
45Hz - 100Hz
100Hz - 5kHz
5kHz - 20kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
50kHz - 100kHz
1Hz - 10Hz
10Hz - 5kHz
10Hz - 10kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
10Hz - 20Hz
20Hz - 45Hz
45Hz - 100Hz
100Hz - 5kHz
5kHz - 20kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
10Hz - 1kHz
10Hz - 2kHz
1kHz - 5kHz
2kHz - 10kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
10Hz - 2kHz
2kHz - 10kHz
200 + 200
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
250 + 100
600 + 100
4000 + 100
1.2000000mA
4000 + 200
1500 + 200
600 + 200
300 + 200
600 + 200
4000 + 400
5500 + 1500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.999999mA
12.00000mA
-
-
-
-
250 + 100
200 + 100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
250 + 100
600 + 100
4000 + 100
-
4000 + 200
1500 + 200
600 + 200
300 + 200
600 + 200
4000 + 400
5500 + 1500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
19.99999mA
120.0000mA
-
-
-
-
250 + 100
200 + 100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
250 + 100
600 + 100
4000 + 100
-
4000 + 200
1500 + 200
600 + 200
300 + 200
600 + 200
4000 + 400
5500 + 1500
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
199.9999mA
1.050000A
-
-
-
-
250 + 100
200 + 100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
250 + 100
600 + 100
4000 + 200
1600 + 200
800 + 200
1000 + 200
3000 + 200
10000 + 400
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.999999A
19.99999A
500 + 200
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
600 + 100
-
700 + 100
3000 + 100
800 + 100
2500 + 100
1500 + 400
-
-
-
-
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AC Voltage ±(ppm of setting + ppm of range), relative to calibration standards used.
Calibration Interval 365 day, ±1°C of last TCAL
Range
Frequency
1281
HP3458/HFL
8508A
12.00000mV
1Hz - 40Hz
-
300 + 300
-
40Hz - 1kHz
-
200 + 110
-
1kHz - 20kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
50kHz - 100kHz
100kHz - 300kHz
1Hz - 40Hz
-
-
-
-
300 + 110
1000 + 110
5000 + 110
40000 + 200
-
-
-
-
120.0000mV
-
70 + 40
-
40Hz - 1kHz
-
70 + 20
-
1kHz - 20kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
50kHz - 100kHz
100kHz - 300kHz
300kHz - 1MHz
1MHz - 2MHz
1Hz - 10Hz
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
140 + 20
300 + 20
800 + 20
3000 + 100
10000 + 100
15000 + 100
-
-
-
-
-
-
199.9999mV
1.2000000V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
120 + 70
120 + 70
100 + 20
100 + 10
100 + 20
300 + 40
700 + 100
10Hz - 40Hz
40Hz - 100Hz
100Hz - 2kHz
2kHz - 10kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
30kHz - 100kHz
1Hz - 40Hz
100 + 20
100 + 20
100 + 20
300 + 40
700 + 100
-
70 + 40
-
40Hz - 1kHz
-
70 + 20
-
1kHz - 20kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
50kHz - 100kHz
100kHz - 300kHz
300kHz - 1MHz
1MHz - 2MHz
1Hz - 10Hz
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
140 + 20
300 + 20
800 + 20
3000 + 100
10000 + 100
15000 + 100
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.999999V
-
100 + 60
10Hz - 40Hz
-
-
100 + 10
40Hz - 100Hz
100Hz - 2kHz
2kHz - 10kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
30kHz - 100kHz
100kHz - 300kHz
300kHz - 1MHz
1Hz - 40Hz
80 + 10
60 + 10
80 + 10
200 + 20
-
-
-
-
-
80 + 10
60 + 10
80 + 10
200 + 20
500 + 100
3000 + 1000
10000 + 10000
500 + 100
3000 + 1000
10000 + 10000
-
-
12.00000V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
70 + 40
70 + 20
140 + 20
300 + 20
800 + 20
3000 + 100
10000 + 100
15000 + 100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
40Hz - 1kHz
1kHz - 20kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
50kHz - 100kHz
100kHz - 300kHz
300kHz - 1MHz
1MHz - 2MHz
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AC Voltage ±(ppm of setting + ppm of range), relative to calibration standards used.
Calibration Interval 365 day, ±1°C of last TCAL
Range
Frequency
1281
HP3458/HFL
8508A
19.99999V
1Hz - 10Hz
-
-
100 + 60
10Hz - 40Hz
-
-
100 + 10
40Hz - 100Hz
100Hz - 2kHz
2kHz - 10kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
30kHz - 100kHz
100kHz - 300kHz
300kHz - 1MHz
1Hz - 40Hz
80 + 10
60 + 10
80 + 10
200 + 20
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
80 + 10
60 + 10
80 + 10
200 + 20
500 + 100
3000 + 1000
10000 + 10000
500 + 100
3000 + 1000
10000 + 10000
120.0000V
199.9999V
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
200 + 40
200 + 20
200 + 20
350 + 20
1200 + 20
4000 + 100
15000 + 100
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
40Hz - 1kHz
1kHz - 20kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
50kHz - 100kHz
100kHz - 300kHz
300kHz - 1MHz
1Hz - 10Hz
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
100 + 60
100 + 10
80 + 10
60 + 10
80 + 10
200 + 20
500 + 100
3000 + 1000
10000 + 10000
100 + 70
100 + 20
-
10Hz - 40Hz
-
40Hz - 100Hz
100Hz - 2kHz
2kHz - 10kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
30kHz - 100kHz
100kHz - 300kHz
300kHz - 1MHz
1Hz - 10Hz
80 + 10
60 + 10
80 + 10
200 + 20
500 + 100
3000 + 1000
10000 + 10000
-
1050.000V
-
-
-
400 + 40
400 + 40
400 + 20
-
600 + 20
-
1200 + 20
-
3000 + 20
10Hz - 40Hz
40Hz - 1kHz
40Hz - 10kHz
1kHz - 20kHz
10kHz - 30kHz
20kHz - 50kHz
30kHz - 100kHz
50kHz - 100kHz
80 + 10
80 + 20
-
200 + 40
-
500 + 200
-
-
200 + 20
-
500 + 100
-
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Fluke 8508A
3458/HFL
8508A vs 3458/HFL
Functional & Versatility
Parameters
Comments
8508A maintains >10Gohm input impedance
to 20Vdc. This compares with 12V on
3458/HFL. The 8508A 1050Vrms
measurement is often used to calibrate
calibrators at 1000 Vrms output.
120mV, 1.2V, 12V, 120V,
1050Vdc (ac = 700Vrms)
Full Scale (dc & ac Voltage)
200mV, 2V, 20V, 200V, 1050Vrms
3458A/HFL has lower current ranges with a
sensitivity of 1pA compared with 10pA on
the 8508A – the 3458/HFL datasheet does
state that lower ranges have ‘typical’
uncertainty only. 8508A states typical above
10kHz and 2GOhm for resistance.
200uA, 2mA, 20mA, 200mA, 2A & 100nA, 1uA, 120uA, 1.2mA,
Full Scale (dc & ac current)
20A
12mA, 120mA, 1.05A
A 20Amp range on the 8508A improves
calibration of Multi-product calibrators. This
reduces the need for additional external
shunts.
A DMM with 10 MOhm input impedance is
generally not useful for precision ac
measurement above 1MHz. A 50 Ohm
termination at these frequencies is more
desirable.
The 8508A high frequency Current
uncertainty will help maintain good TURs
when calibrating Multi-Product calibrators.
AC Voltage - 1MHz (1%)
AC Voltage - 10MHz (15%)
AC Current - 100kHz (0.7%
Typical)
AC Measurement
(Bandwidth)
AC Voltage - 1MHz (2%)
AC Current - 100kHz (0.4%)
8508A has a wide resistance measurement
range. 8508A measurement resolution of
10nΩ this compares with 10uΩ on
3458/HFL
2Ω, 20Ω, 200Ω, 2kΩ, 20kΩ,
200kΩ, 2MΩ, 20MΩ, 200MΩ,
2GΩ, 20GΩ (eleven ranges)
12Ω, 120Ω, 1.2kΩ, 12kΩ,
120kΩ, 1.2MΩ, 12MΩ,
120MΩ, 1.2GΩ (nine ranges)
Full Scale (Resistance)
Errors due to self-heating within the resistor
under test are minimized when the
multimeter low excitation current is
maintained. Use in conjunction with RTD or
low resistance measurements.
Selectable excitation current -
10mA & 1mA
Fixed excitation current -
10mA
200 Ohm Resistance Range.
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8508A vs 3458/HFL
Functional & Versatility
Parameters
Comments
Reduces errors when performing high
resistance measurement (feature available
8508A - 20MΩ to 20GΩ range only)
High Resistance
Measurement (compliance
voltage)
Test Voltage or Full Scale
stimulus @ 1.2GΩ = 5V
Test Voltage or Full Scale
stimulus = 200V
Current reversal reduces errors caused by
thermal emfs as does switched current but
reversal technique has the added benefit of
reducing errors due to self heating
Tru-Ohms or Offset
Compensated Resistance
technique.
Current Reversal
Switched Current
Not Available
PRT calibration coefficients are stored (max
100 probes) within the 8508As internal
memory.
Store RTD temperature
coefficients
Supports a wide variety of PRT &
SPRT sensors
8508A - Precision without the need for
internal drift corrections. ACAL will overwrite
last stored value and cannot be retrieved.
This might be important for users that
require ‘as found data’.
Required every 24hrs or ±1º C
of last ACAL
ACAL
Not Required
Auto-zero must be enabled on 3458A/HFL if
environment exceeds ±1°C of last Input
zero. Zero/nulling meters before
measurement is accepted metrology
practice.
A-zero should be enabled to
maintain specification
Auto-zero (A-zero)
Range zero is enabled by operator
8508A is less intrusive when compared with
conventional meters when measuring low
magnitude current sources. The 8508A
input impedance on the 200uA range is 60
Ohm. This low impedance mimics
technology normally found in Electrometers
and picoampmeters. This compares with 5k
– 10k Ohm on other DMMs.
Low impedance low Current
measurement technology
Yes
No
Digitize sub sampled techniques are useful
when measuring low frequency <1Hz input
signals.
ACV measurement
technique
Analog, Synchronous and
Random sampled ac
Analog True rms
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4-wire sense measurement support
improved accuracy when calibrating
calibrators with 4 wire sense output.
Selectable 2 and 4-wire
measurement.
ACV & DCV 4 wire input.
Unavailable
IEEE control of GUARD terminal helps fully
automate calibration without need for
manual switching.
Remote switched GUARD
Terminal
IEEE controlled
Manual Switch
High Speed - 150 readings/sec @ High Speed - 100,000
High read rates are useful for some ATE
applications where accuracy is not of high
priority.
Read rate
5.5 digit resolution
reading/sec @ 4.5 digit
resolution
Both techniques have their merits. 8508A
and associated calibration technique
Artifact Calibration & Individual provides full results traceability. ‘As found’
Individual Function and Range
calibration.
Calibration technique
Function and Range
calibration.
data is difficult to determine using 3458/HFL
‘artifact’ calibration.
Artifact calibration provides a low cost
solution for adjustment.
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8508A vs 3458/HFL
Ease of Use Parameters
Comments
Rear input switched remotely
using IEEE 488 commands
Instrument simultaneously
displays Frequency as well as
the AC voltage & current.
The 3458/HFL must be switched manually
using a front panel button.
Yes
Yes
No
Requires further commands or key presses
to determine frequency.
Selectable
8508A can accept and compare dc to dc, ac
to ac, dc to ac, Resistance to Resistance &
Temperature to Temperature. Auto-ranging
allows inputs of different magnitude to be
connected and compared. Feature supports
the replacement of Kelvin Varley dividers,
resistance bridge and ac/dc transfer
standards
Two channel Ratio reference
measurement
Yes, but limited to 12Vdc on
the Reference input
Yes (8508A/01 only)
Able to load SPRT/PRT
calibration linearization
coefficients and display
temperature and resistance
simultaneously.
8508As displays resistance and temperature
simultaneously.
Yes (up to100)
No
When measuring Resistance in Ratio mode
not only is the current the same but it is
reversed to help reduce thermal offsets.
Constant energization current on
Resistance Ratio function.
No (the 3458/HFL does not
measure resistance ratio)
Yes
GPIB Remote interface
IEEE-488.2
IEEE-488.1
8508A components are selected for
minimum drift over time and temperature.
Self-cal or ACAL function
Not Required
Required to meet specification Therefore does not require frequent internal
calibration when conditions exceed TCAL
specification.
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8508A Options and Accessories:
Model
8508A
Description
8.5 digit Reference Multimeter
8508A/01
8.5 digit Reference Multimeter with Rear Input Ratio measurement
Accessories
8508A-SPRT
8508A-PRT
8508A-LEAD
Y8508
Standard Platinum Resistance Thermometer
Platinum Resistance Thermometer
Comprehensive Measurement Lead Kit
Rack Mount Kit
Y8508S
Rack Mount Kit Slides
8508A-7000K
1883673
Calibration kit comprising 1GOhm Standard and connecting leads.
UKAS Accredited Certification
1256990
NVLAP Accredited Certification
Model
Description
3458/HFL/E
Special Lab DMM, English
3458/HFLM/E
3458/HFL/E/AC
3458/HFLM/E/120/AC
Special Lab DMM, English, with -001 Extended Memory Option
Special Lab DMM, English, + Accredited Calibration
Special Lab DMM, English, with -001 Extended Memory Option + Accredited Calibration
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Notes:
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