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Author Topic: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope  (Read 4121 times)

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Offline FezderTopic starter

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Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« on: April 22, 2013, 05:20:39 pm »
Well, i figured maybe i should i ask this out, i did search answers in/out forum, but no good so far.....but here goes.
Matter i simple really, what is best way to measure components in circuit, i know, just plug probe in place (sort of), but i talk about IC pins, especially SMD chips, they are so narrow to probe, well at least ground lead that is. Do you people use any cind of custom hacks, or are purpose-made SMD ''clips'' the best way in these measurements? throught-hole components are not problem, except IC's due the risk of shorting close pins together and creating more damage in circuit.....
i hope you understanded my problem, and please, be understanding :D. 
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Offline free_electron

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2013, 05:38:27 pm »
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Offline jahonen

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2013, 05:41:02 pm »
If I need an attachment for ground clip, then I'll just solder a piece of stripped wire somewhere near the point to be measured. Much better than destroyed board due to loose ground clip. But of course it is always better to use completely different probe, preferably active or Z0 probe.

Regards,
Janne
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Offline FezderTopic starter

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2013, 06:01:06 pm »
ah, thanks for replies. i just recently, well actually year ago or so,  ground pin really got loose. i was ''lucky'' thought, it shorted 50v/6800uf cap, dont know how it happened but it really freaked me out :D.
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Offline PA0PBZ

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2013, 06:06:23 pm »
Quote from: Fezder on April 22, 2013, 05:20:39 pm
throught-hole components are not problem, except IC's due the risk of shorting close pins together and creating more damage in circuit.....

If you are afraid to damage DIP IC's there is always this:

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Offline FezderTopic starter

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2013, 06:14:03 pm »
Quote from: PA0PBZ on April 22, 2013, 06:06:23 pm
Quote from: Fezder on April 22, 2013, 05:20:39 pm
throught-hole components are not problem, except IC's due the risk of shorting close pins together and creating more damage in circuit.....

If you are afraid to damage DIP IC's there is always this:



oh yes, i saw those at school, i thought they were only for dismantling purposes, not for measuring, hmm...
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Online nctnico

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2013, 11:20:57 pm »
Back in the old days I used to have a clip-on gadget from HP which showed the logic levels on chips like this one:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-Vintage-10528A-Logic-Clip-/200916371926

I think I still have it somewhere.

On topic: to ground my probe and other equipment to a circuit I solder a piece of used solder wick somewhere to the board. Yes I manage to recycle used solder wick!
« Last Edit: April 22, 2013, 11:23:50 pm by nctnico »
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Offline digsys

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2013, 01:15:41 am »
Ah yes, it's a problem spawned by ICs etc becoming smaller and smaller, and more tightly packed. There's been many times that
I've slipped on a tiny / awkward pin, and there really is NO perfect solution (after the fact). But -
IF you can have input to the design layout, make sure pins that you "may" need to probe are tied to components or free pads.
Sometimes I'll place a 2mm DIL strip 1-2 row, just to have a bulk access point. IF it's not your PCB, then either solder fine wire
"tags" or use a tiny, very sharp pin, wired to your probe (if it's not a HF point). Don't worry, HEAPS of techs have this problem :-)
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Offline ben_r_

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2013, 03:42:49 am »
Good info here, glad I read this thread. Thanks for all the links free_electron!
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Offline ddavidebor

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Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2013, 05:20:40 am »
Another little trick is to paint the smd, so your probe stay much stable and if it move don't short the other pin.

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Offline FezderTopic starter

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #10 on: April 23, 2013, 02:54:41 pm »
well good that i'm not the only one with this problem, now i just cant find anywhere place selling those spring-type clips sold locally/internationally.....any help regarding this is also appreciated!

and about that logic clip, i saw that one on school today. and got 16 pin clip for free, but i really could use other sizes too, like dil-8 and dil-40
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Offline ddavidebor

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Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #11 on: April 23, 2013, 03:32:11 pm »
Diy?!
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Offline FezderTopic starter

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2013, 03:37:52 pm »
Quote from: ddavidebor on April 23, 2013, 03:32:11 pm
Diy?!

WELL, here's language i like, i like DIY very much :D. at least when i cant afford other (which is very often....)
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Offline Wuerstchenhund

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2013, 05:43:50 pm »
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Offline FezderTopic starter

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Re: Little ''problem'' with oscilloscope
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2013, 05:51:23 pm »
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