Electronics > Beginners

Probing usb powered circuit. Should I be scared?

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Moriambar:
Hi there.

I've just been gifted my first oscilloscope, so I'm not an expert on anything in that respect.

I have to troubleshoot a circuit which is powered through an arduino nano connected via usb to my mac. I was trying to use the ground pin as a reference for the probe, but then I saw this: https://youtu.be/xaELqAo4kkQ

and now I'm scared... Should I remove the power from my laptop before probing and use just the batteries? Or is it safe to use the gnd of the arduino as a ref?

Thanks

Kremmen:
OK to use the Arduino GND since the circuit is galvanically isolated from mains.

Moriambar:

--- Quote from: Kremmen on October 18, 2018, 01:35:55 pm ---OK to use the Arduino GND since the circuit is galvanically isolated from mains.

--- End quote ---

Oh ok, thanks. I did not know that the usbs/arduino are galvanically isolated.

Cheers

glarsson:
You don't know if the USB supply is isolated.

A small phone charger style USB power supply most likely is, but a USB connector on a stationary PC connected to a grounded power outlet probably isn't.

Don't assume, meassures first.

Moriambar:

--- Quote from: glarsson on October 18, 2018, 01:46:10 pm ---You don't know if the USB supply is isolated.

A small phone charger style USB power supply most likely is, but a USB connector on a stationary PC connected to a grounded power outlet probably isn't.

Don't assume, meassures first.

--- End quote ---

Ok, I'll measure it!

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