Oscilloscopes, analysers, multimeters and signal generators sit at the centre of an electronics bench, and they take the abuse of being connected to things that go wrong. Over-voltage, a dropped probe and a spill on the bench are the usual ways they fail, and the damage is mostly at the inputs and the supply rather than the measuring core.
Blue Apple repairs test and measurement equipment in Amsterdam. The test and measurement equipment page lists the brands we work with, what typical repairs cost and how to send us a request.
What usually goes wrong with test and measurement equipment
- Display fault. A screen that is dark, striped or dim on an instrument that otherwise works.
- Power-supply or power-circuit fault. An oscilloscope or a generator that will not start, or restarts, with a failed supply.
- Connector or input-port damage. BNC or banana inputs that are loose, bent or damaged by a yanked probe.
- Blown input protection. An input that no longer reads, or reads wrong, after an over-voltage or a wrong range. This is the classic multimeter fault.
- Control-board fault. An instrument that boots to nothing, or hangs or restarts.
- Calibration drift. Readings that have slowly moved away from the truth. That is a calibration matter rather than a repair.
Brands and models we look at
These are the test and measurement brands we list, and some of the models with their own pages, each with an estimate of what a typical repair costs.
Brands: Keysight Technologies, Tektronix, Rohde & Schwarz, Fluke, Hioki, Chauvin Arnoux, GW Instek, Rigol, Siglent, Anritsu.
Popular models: Fluke 87V multimeter, Fluke 289 logging multimeter, Rigol DS1054Z oscilloscope, Siglent SDS1104X-E oscilloscope, Keysight InfiniiVision DSOX1204G, Tektronix TBS2000B oscilloscope, Rohde & Schwarz RTB2004, Hioki PQ3198.
Repair or replace?
A display, a supply, an input connector or a protection stage costs less than a new instrument and is usually worth repairing, especially for a good oscilloscope. A repair does not replace a calibration: if your work needs traceable calibration, have the instrument calibrated by an accredited laboratory afterwards. We tell you after the diagnosis whether a repair pays.
Looking after your instrument
- Check the range before connecting. A wrong range on a multimeter is the most common way to blow its input.
- Use probes rated for the job. An underrated probe is how inputs get destroyed.
- Do not yank probes by the cable. The BNC connector takes the damage.
How a repair works at Blue Apple
The prices for these devices are estimates until we have seen them. Send a request with the model and what is wrong, and we tell you what a repair is likely to cost and how to get the device to us. The final price is confirmed in writing after the diagnosis, before any work starts. You can use the custom repair form, or call 020 239 11 93.
Common questions
Can you repair a blown multimeter input?
Often, yes. The protection stage is a common repair; we tell you the cost after the diagnosis.
Do you calibrate after the repair?
No. A repair is not a calibration; have it calibrated by an accredited laboratory if you need traceability. See the test and measurement page for the brands.
In short
Displays, supplies, inputs and protection stages are what fail on test equipment, and a repair is not a calibration. See the test and measurement equipment page for the models and repairs, or send us a request. You will find us at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam, and you can call 020 239 11 93 with a question first.
