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Ok to use BNC breakout wire as oscilloscope input for aux trigger
Infraviolet:
My scope (Tektronix TBS1052) came with two Tektronix branded probes for the two signal inputs, but I'm planning some projects where I need to observe two waveforms at once relative to a third clocking waveform. I've used oscilloscopes a lot away from home and there are always stacks of spare probes lying around to put a third one on the auxillary input and thereby read the clocking waveform.
But spare scope probes cost £30 minimum, £40 minimum for the same sort as I already have, BNC breakout leads (terminating in two clips, banana plugs or dupont leads) are <£4.
Is it ok to use one for signals on an auxillary trigger input where you don't need great accuracy? It would only be for probing 5V and 12V circuits, so I assume the attenuation and anything else built in to probes to protect oscilloscopes from spike voltages aren't relevant here? I'm sure it would have nasty capacitances compared to a proper probe, but so long as that would only distort the measured signal on the BNC lead, and not affect (like causing ringing) measurements made on the real probes, is there any reason not to just use a BNC breakout lead in place of a proper probe?
Thanks
bdunham7:
--- Quote from: Infraviolet on June 07, 2023, 05:01:49 am ---is there any reason not to just use a BNC breakout lead in place of a proper probe?
--- End quote ---
You can do it and I have, but you have to understand and accept the consequences. Your BW will be limited and there might even be circuit loading issues as you get near that limit. However, depending on the exact leads and how you have them laid out, it probably isn't any worse than a 1/10X probe set to 1X.
tautech:
There are limitations of an external trigger input, especially of the voltages it can withstand. RTFM.
wasedadoc:
You have not mentioned what frequency the clock signal is but those less than £10 probes at Aliexpress are easily good enough for triggers at several tens of MHz.
Pilatus:
Not knowing your pertinent circuit details... Cheap probes, as already mentioned above.
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