Show us your probes! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 05:03:48 pm
content: Following on fromthispost (and joe's excellent video) I decided to start a new thread:What's the most expensive oscilloscope probe you own? How much did it cost when new (and why)?(...would you probe a monkey with it?)

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 05:07:09 pm
content: Because it's rare.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 05:15:49 pm
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on May 07, 2016, 05:07:09 pmIs that a current probe? Specs? Retail price...?

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 05:22:14 pm
content: Nice! Looks like my 1960's Tektronix P6042. Forget the 1mA 5KHz the UNI-T UT210A has. These were rated DC - 50MHz and with some creative mods, 100MHz is no problem!Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on May 07, 2016, 05:07:09 pm

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 05:25:37 pm
content: Towards the bottom, you can see some of my more recent attempts.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/fifty-ohm-probes/15/

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 05:27:31 pm
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on May 07, 2016, 05:07:09 pmOne of these?http://www.ebay.com/itm/331375063885

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 05:29:36 pm
content: I am guessing this:http://www.ebay.com/itm/TEKTRONIX-CURRENT-PROBE-P6042-USED-/191279706074?hash=item2c8928afda:g:tj0AAOSwEK9T5SdnQuote from: Fungus on May 07, 2016, 05:27:31 pm

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 05:47:04 pm
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on May 07, 2016, 05:29:36 pmThat's connected to a box, not really a "probe". Is it allowed under the rules?

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 06:02:34 pm
content: Besides some high voltage probes, thisN2893A Agilentcurrent probe is probably the most expensive probe I haveI was lucky and bought it used in broken state for little money and repaired it:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilentkeysight-n2893a-current-probe-%28teardown-and-repair%29/msg761902/#msg761902

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 06:06:37 pm
content: It's your thread, you get to choose the rules. IMO, both probes shown need the box to work. In the case of the P6042, the probe does not plug into the box.Here are a few of my home made probes.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 06:07:04 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on May 07, 2016, 06:02:34 pm$3640 ?http://www.transcat.com/keysight-technologies-n2893a-n2893a

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 06:09:10 pm
content: Quote from: joeqsmith on May 07, 2016, 06:06:37 pmSo far it's turning into a "show us yourcurrentprobes" thread, which wasn't quite what I had in mind.Oh, well. Too late to change it now.We can still have two categories though: Voltage probes and current probes.

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 06:33:19 pm
content: Ok, I can play both, voltage & currentFortunately none were paid full price by me. P6243 & A6302 (I have 2 of the current probes) on ebay. The P6246 was new (bought at the company I was consulting for at the time) and I scored it for $0 as a 'gift' when they shut down...cheers,george.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 06:34:36 pm
content: I posted this earlier: two P6860 logic analyser probes costing over $5500 each new (and they are still being sold by Tektronix!):I paid much less ofcourse

author: hs3
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 06:57:19 pm
content: Nice sharp spring loaded tip that stays in place where you put it. Sharp enough that I have managed to get blood on things when I have accidentally cut myself with it.I see I forgot to mention what probe it is. These are N2873A Passive Probe, 10:1, 500 MHzKeysight asks $370 for it.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 07:00:33 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on May 07, 2016, 06:07:04 pmYeshttp://www.datatec.de/lshop,showdetail,2004g,d,,osci.stromzo,n2893a,41,40Tshowrub--osci.stromzo,.htmEuro 3709 in Germany + 19% VAT = Euro 4413

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 07:01:04 pm
content: Quote from: georges80 on May 07, 2016, 06:33:19 pmP6243 is$1130new, 1.0 GHz bandwidth.(Do I have to doallthe work?)The P6246 is a bit more like it -$3620(Even the cheap one cost about as much as all my gear put together.)

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 07:06:17 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on May 07, 2016, 06:09:10 pmIn regards to voltage probes:Also, I have 10 of the Tektronix High Voltage Probes P6015AEach cost about 2.451,40 € in Germany

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 08:51:06 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on May 07, 2016, 07:06:17 pmAlways wanted just one of these ^^^What do you use for the dielectric, HV?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 09:14:22 pm
content: Better post these:A pair of P6021, one with the standard termination the other with a Type 134 amplifier.Last list I saw on these was ~$3000 ea.Got both off eBay years ago.One had a broken coax just outside the strain relief and the Tek BNC was replaced with an "off the shelf" replacement as the Tek BNC was unserviceable IIRC.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 09:53:02 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on May 07, 2016, 08:51:06 pmThe original P6015 used freon R12 for dielectric around the resistor but I only have one left of those probes and it is still full.And I still have a fresh can of R12, never opened.The newer model P6015Ais filled with a clear silicone gel and you never need to replace the dielectric.But the drawback is, that you can not open it for repair. I destroyed a probe once when I attempted the repair.At least they could use a soft silicone gel.But this way, they probably sell more probes.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 09:55:21 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on May 07, 2016, 05:47:04 pmScope probes connect to a box as well.

author: hs3
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 10:12:40 pm
content: In the active probe category I could contribute the LeCroy AP034 here.http://eu.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Teledyne-LeCroy/AP034/

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2016, 11:12:21 pm
content: Man I hate Firefox. Anyone else notice that it likes to jiggle the screen up and down as it renders the page? Then you click on a link and you end up clicking on the one below because the fine engineers at Firefox timed the jiggling exquisitely to the human reading/decision loop...Anyhow, I posted this to the wrong thread:800MHz tube-based active probe. These used to be pretty cheap, in the 20-30$ range. Now they're expensive, I guess *someone* bought all the P6032s he could at some point in time.PS: They all stink to high heaven from decaying plastics and the cable is quite stiff. Collector's item only, although it works very well if you can accept the size and limited dynamic range.

author: TiN
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2016, 11:19:54 am
content: 1. P6810 for TEK TLA7xx4Have some P6860's too.2. Pair of P7380 (differential 8GHz TekConnect)3. Not a probe, TektronixTCA-1MEG Adapter.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 08, 2016, 02:30:50 pm
content: Last year one of the UK T&M lease/rent companies was having a clearout and I managed to pick up a few probe bargains. As well as four Agilent 1.5GHz lo-z probes (2 x N2874A and 2 x N2876A) with all accessories for £50 ea ($72).The real bargains though were an Agilent 1.5GHz 1130A with single ended browser (again £50) and an Agilent 3.5GHz 1131A with differential browser (£180, $260).

author: TerraHertz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2016, 06:21:54 am
content: This HP N1020A TDR probe fortunately didn't cost me anything. We were using it for checking trace impedance on prototype boards, with a HP 54121T. Now it's mine.Edit to add: and three other oldies. One of which is quite rare.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2016, 10:28:10 am
content: This 12kV probe was cheap because it was incomplete: the rear part of the handle was missing. Since that was unimportant from safety and functional perspectives, I replaced it with a 3D printed equivalent. Fortunately the screw section worked perfectly first time.The white section is the 3D printed part.