Used Timers & Counters
22 units in stock — a mix of bench time-interval counters (HP, Fluke) and VXI/VME/IndustryPack counter-timer modules for automated test systems (Racal, Keithley, Acromag). Ships from Pleasant Grove, UT.
ATC Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Acromag Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Acromag / Xembedded / Xycom Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Agilent / Keysight Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Astronics / EADS / Racal Timers & Counters (4 units)
Concurrent Computer Corporation Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Crouzet Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Curtiss-Wright / Pentland Systems Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Flair Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Fluke Timers & Counters (1 unit)
HP / Agilent Timers & Counters (5 units)
Keithley Timers & Counters (2 units)
Keysight / Agilent / HP Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Tektronix Timers & Counters (1 unit)
Bench Time-Interval Counters
The HP 5304A and 5262A are dedicated time-interval instruments, measuring the elapsed time between a start and stop trigger with nanosecond-class resolution — used for propagation delay, pulse-width, and rise/fall-time verification. The HP 5327A and Fluke PM6680B are broader universal timer/counters that add frequency and period measurement alongside time interval. These behave like the timer-mode functions found on a universal frequency counter, just packaged as dedicated instruments in some cases, or as multi-function bench counters in others.
VXI and VME Counter/Timer Modules
Racal (now Astronics/EADS) built a line of VXI counter-timer cards — the 2461 series and 2251A — used inside VXI-based automated test systems for pulse counting, frequency measurement, and time-interval capture under full software control. The Curtiss-Wright/Pentland MPV991 is the VME-bus equivalent. These have no front panel of their own; everything is configured and read back over the bus. If you're sourcing one of these, confirm the mainframe slot type (VXI and VME are not interchangeable) and bus protocol before ordering.
IndustryPack and Board-Level Counter/Timer Modules
Acromag's IP480-6 and AcPC482 are IndustryPack-format counter/timer modules that plug into a carrier board inside an embedded data-acquisition or industrial control system, used for encoder counting, event totalizing, and quadrature decoding rather than RF frequency measurement. Keithley's CTM-10 and CTM-05A are similar board-level counter/timer products for PC-based data acquisition. These are a genuinely different product class from bench frequency counters — sized and interfaced for integration into a larger system rather than standalone bench use.
Industrial Timer Relays — A Different Product Entirely
A handful of listings in this category, like the Crouzet TU2R1 and ATC 365A, are industrial control-panel timer relays, not measurement instruments — they sequence machinery outputs on a delay rather than measuring anything. We list them because they pass through the same surplus and decommissioning channels as our test equipment, but they don't ship with a calibration certificate and aren't measurement-grade. Check the listing description if you specifically need a measurement instrument rather than a control component.
Calibration for Timer/Counter Instruments
For bench time-interval and universal counters, calibration verifies timebase accuracy, trigger-level accuracy, and time-interval linearity against a reference standard, with a certificate showing measured deviation. VXI/VME modules and board-level products are generally functionally verified rather than issued a standalone cal certificate, since they're calibrated as part of the host system in most real deployments. See all calibration services →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a bench timer/counter and a counter/timer module? +
A bench timer/counter (HP 5304A, 5327A, Fluke PM6680B) is a standalone instrument with its own display and front panel, used directly on a bench for time-interval and frequency measurement. A counter/timer module (Acromag IP480-6, Keithley CTM-10, Racal 2461 VXI cards) is a plug-in card with no display of its own — it lives in a VXI mainframe, VME crate, or IndustryPack carrier as part of a larger automated test or data-acquisition system, and is controlled entirely over the bus. Both measure the same underlying quantities; the form factor depends on whether it's used standalone or as a system component.
What does a time interval counter actually measure? +
A time interval counter measures the elapsed time between a start event and a stop event — for example, the delay between a trigger pulse and a response, or the width of a single pulse. The HP 5304A and 5262A time interval units are dedicated to this measurement, while universal counters add time-interval mode alongside frequency and period measurement. Resolution is typically in the nanosecond to sub-nanosecond range on precision instruments, which is what makes them useful for propagation delay, rise/fall time, and pulse-width verification.
Why would an automated test system use a VXI or VME counter/timer card instead of a bench counter? +
In an automated test system, every instrument needs to be addressable and synchronized over a common bus without a human reading a front panel. VXI cards (Racal/Astronics 2461, 2251A) and VME modules (Curtiss-Wright/Pentland MPV991) plug directly into the system chassis, share its timing backplane, and are controlled entirely through software — which is what production ATE, radar test stands, and industrial data-acquisition systems require. A bench counter would need external GPIB control and its own separate enclosure to do the same job.
Are industrial process timers (like the Crouzet or ATC units) the same as counter/timer instruments? +
No — these are a different product class entirely. Industrial timer relays (Crouzet TU2R1, ATC 365A) are control-panel components used to sequence machinery — turning an output on or off after a set delay — not measurement instruments. We stock them because they show up in the same surplus and decommissioning channels as test equipment, but they don't carry a calibration certificate the way a measurement-grade time interval counter does. If you need a measurement instrument rather than a control-panel timer, check the model description before ordering.
What should I check before buying a used VXI or VME counter/timer card? +
Confirm the card is compatible with your mainframe's slot type and bus protocol (VXI vs. VME are not interchangeable), and ask whether the card has been function-tested in a live chassis rather than just visually inspected — a card can look correct and still fail to enumerate on the bus. For Racal/Astronics VXI cards specifically, confirm the logical address jumpering or software addressing matches your system's configuration before installing.
Need a specific bus type or module configuration?
Tell us the mainframe/carrier type, channel count, and resolution you need, and we'll check our incoming stock.
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