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| Use of Oscilloscope Probe x100 Vs x1000 |
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| 2X:
Hello, I want to buy one of the below oscilloscope probes in order to measure 230Vac and the output voltage of backlight inverter for driving CCFL lamps (~1000Vrms) but I am little confused when I am looking their specs. I beileived that the difference between x100 Vs x1000 probe is that with x1000 probe can be measured higher voltages in respect with x100 probe, but on the specifications (page 7) of the two below probes the probes rating voltages are same. So, what is the purpose of the x1000 probe? x100 probe R&S®RT-ZH10 1409.7720.02 x1000 probe R&S®RT-ZH11 1409.7737.02 |
| DaneLaw:
Why have you singled out these two x100 & x1000 probes from R&S? Im not familiar with them, just briefly looked them up. they both seem to be 400MHz X100 (ZH10) around 740$ and the X1000 (ZH11) around 1300$ [Farnell, though incl. VAT.] |
| Psi:
There's a few things to consider with high voltages and probes. There is the x10 x100 x1000 etc. Which controls what voltage the scope input will see, and source loading. If your scope input can handle 200V peak to peak then using a x10 probe means you scope wont see 200V until the probe is at 2000v p-p. But obviously you have to take into account spikes on the signal you're measuring, as they will be above your signal voltage. So actually putting 2000V p-p on that x10 probe would be stupid, any spikes would overvolt your scopes 200v max input. So maybe you decide to only use it for measuring 1000V p-p so you have 1000V extra for spikes without damaging your scope. Or you might choose to use a 100x probe just because your signal is very sensitive to external loading. So you use a 100x probe even through the voltage of your circuit is low enough for even a 1x probe. In this case you may not be dealing with high voltages at all, so you don't want a probe with a huge amount of insulation that is big and cumbersome to use. The second thing is the probes size/shape. How safe is it to use it on your circuit. If you're working on tiny 0.5mA high voltage supply then maybe a typical looking small 10x probe would be fine for that at 1000V. On the other hand, if you are measuring 1000V that can supply 100A then using that same probe would be crazy. You will see 10x or 100x probes that are huge with large red plastic insulation and others that look like normal probes. It's not just the voltage the probe and scope can handle, it's the dangers from what you are measuring. Just because a probe says 10x, 100x or 1000x you can't assume it's ok to use that probe to measure high voltage. It maybe ok for the scope (voltage wise), but may not ok for you (safety wise) :) |
| bdunham7:
--- Quote from: 2X on April 03, 2024, 09:12:58 pm ---So, what is the purpose of the x1000 probe? --- End quote --- It's a good question. Both are 50M 7.5pF input and the only difference seems to be the final divider value. They have peak or pulse ratings of 6kV so perhaps if you don't want to deal with the resulting 60V peak with the 100X probe (most scopes can't display that), you'll use the 1000X version instead. |
| Circlotron:
The voltage rise time of the circuit under test is something to watch out for too. I've blown x10 probes that are rated at 400V with a voltage that jumps to 400V in 1uS. Fast rise times can be a probe killer. |
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