Ok, i'm about to buy my first scope. Haven't used one since high school.Could I'm bit concerned about blowing up my first scope do to inexperience with scopes. I have read things about the probe ground wire can cause damage if connected to the wrong part of a circuit or something. I would never try reading ac off the wall. So how can I accidentally damage my scope by probing?
Hi,
for example:
You probe a Amplifier. For this you insert a signal with a function Generator via RCA.
Then you want to look at the ripple of the Power-Supply while the Amplifier is working.... well, ground wire to the pos rail and BAM.
If you ground your circuit somehow, you have to be careful what to do with the Scope-GND-Wire.
Hi,
for example:
You probe a Amplifier. For this you insert a signal with a function Generator via RCA.
Then you want to look at the ripple of the Power-Supply while the Amplifier is working.... well, ground wire to the pos rail and BAM.
If you ground your circuit somehow, you have to be careful what to do with the Scope-GND-Wire.
So long as you always connect the ground of the probe to the negative side if the circuit you should be fine correct?
Wasn't there some crazy bloke from Austria or something that made a video about how not to blow up your scope?
Thanks I missed that one. I am still undecided as to which one of these scopes to order.
Owon SDS5032E
Siglent SDS1072CML
Siglent’s SDS1102CML
HANTEK DSO5102B
I guess I'm leaning towards the Rigol, but the Siglent, and Hantek both look good as well. If the Owon wasn't so slow, that would probably be my choice. Any input would be great! Plan to order in the next few days.
If you haven't already watched the video above from Dave, watch it.
It's a good idea to have an isolation transformer for the device under test, especially when working with high voltages, but don't be fooled into thinking that one will make everything okay. You really need to be awake when working with scopes because its very easy to attach your ground clip to the wrong part and boom. If you are working with power supplies, specifically the primary side, then you need to look at the alternative methods for keeping yourself and the scope safe. Placing your ground clip on the primary side (hot) ground will fry your scope and maybe also you. The two options commonly used are differential probes and floating the scope, but many folks here with advise you not to float it for safety reasons. Differential probes are wickedly expensive however.
Two more options. Find a scope with isolated inputs (channels) these are usually expensive bench scopes or handheld scopes, or, find a bench scope with a battery like some of the Owon ones. Note: Owen specifically advise use of the earthed mains plug even when on battery, because you are effectively floating the scope otherwise.
Much reading you must do young skywalker.
Out of interest, me and my colleague have always floated scopes (I am not endorsing it mind) but once in our new workshop he forgot to remove the scopes earth but told me he had. Next time I probed the smps primary side there was a bang, the rcd tripped and I thought, shucks, that's the scope fried. Luckily, it was fine and I just needed to reset the rcd. Scopes been calibrated since with no problem, but it is a great tektronixs scope of ten years, doubt the Rigol or any modern DSO would stand the same.
Thanks I missed that one. I am still undecided as to which one of these scopes to order.
Owon SDS5032E
Siglent SDS1072CML
Siglent’s SDS1102CML
HANTEK DSO5102B
I guess I'm leaning towards the Rigol, but the Siglent, and Hantek both look good as well. If the Owon wasn't so slow, that would probably be my choice. Any input would be great! Plan to order in the next few days.
Get yourself a cheap old scope, learn how to fry (and repair) it and buy one of these once you've grown out of being a padawan...
So long as you always connect the ground of the probe to the negative side if the circuit you should be fine correct?
No, it's all about where you "earth"-ground-reference your circuit.
If you want to, you can ground-reference the 16kV acceleration Voltage of a Tube. You should not touch anything after that, but in theory you can do it
(if your measurement-EQ can isolate it)
If you have one floating circuit, you can do whatever you want (nearly), but if you have another connection besides the scope, you have to watch what you're doing.
A good reason to spend a few bucks on an isolation transformer for the DUT!