Often requested video: The importance of 10X scope probe compensation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 08, 2015, 09:38:55 pm
content: This topic has been covered in a few different videos, but is requested so often by my channel subscribers that I put a dedicated video together. It reviews and demonstrates why properly compensating your 10x probes to *your* scope is so important, and why a probe with a much higher BW than your scope might not be suitable (and can lead to a poorer frequency response than a lower BW probe).

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2015, 04:10:16 am
content: Alan , again, very well done and imo this video contains a very valuable tips & knowledge especially for those newbie that is looking to buy an used scope or non factory standard probe.Sounds trivial, but as usual the devil is always in the details, scope's input capacitance MUST BE within probe's capacitance adjustable range, or your measurement result is just a garbage.Thank you very much Sir.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2015, 06:18:30 am
content: Nice video. Explains nicely why i got 60MHz propes for 60 MHz analog scope...

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2015, 08:56:23 am
content: I have a set of 300 MHz probes and these come with compensation adjustments on the probe and the plug. First I need to feed a 1 KHz square wave into the scope and adjust the probe end, I then switch to a 1 MHz square wave and adjust the element in the plug.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 09, 2015, 09:07:48 am
content: Great video. Appreciate this information.Last week I used a probe from my Owon DSO on one of my 10MHz Tek scopes. Could not set it. After watching your video I thought about this probe so went out in the shop to try again. Only to find out the probe is bad.Guess it is a good candidate to tear apart.

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2015, 12:30:46 am
content: Quote from: Radio Tech on July 09, 2015, 09:07:48 amI'm glad you found this video helpful.

author: mathias
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 08:46:16 am
content: Hi Alan,Very instructive video, as always! Great job!

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 10:14:27 am
content: What a great video!I did not expect the capacitive divider to take over the resistive divider at such low frequency. (I should have grabbed a calculator before). Always something really great in your "back to basics" videos.Thank you!

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 12:13:55 pm
content: I'm a great fan of the ground bayonets on your probe; they are easy to use and ensure minimal ringing on signals with fast edges.I even 3D printed a similar adaptor that wil fit onto many probes; seehttps://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/2015/04/23/scope-probe-accessory-improves-signal-fidelity/for details and results

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 02:44:07 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on July 11, 2015, 12:13:55 pmREALLY nice job on the homemade ground adapter - bravo!

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 02:45:02 pm
content: Quote from: HighVoltage on July 11, 2015, 10:14:27 amYes, surprising, isn't it? Just a few kHz...

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2015, 03:08:06 pm
content: Quote from: w2aew on July 11, 2015, 02:44:07 pmThanks.I've wondered about either letting people order the plastic bit via Shapeways or just publishing the CAD file. The latter would enable anybody to tweak it to fit their probe. I'm certainly not going to get into manufacturing the phosphor bronze sheet!The plastic bits cost less than €3.50, so two cost less than the shipping.