Frequency Counter ?? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Ranger14
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 01:38:45 am
content: I got a deal on a Fluke 1900A off ebay for my current project .. But my concern comes as what are the uses after my current project? I was thinking I could use it on my analog scope when trying to build smps ??I don't mean to ask a simply question but I have a very small work space and still a noob to electronics..

author: jeroen79
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 02:19:42 am
content: You would use it whenever a project involves something working at a high frequency that you want to know or tune very precisely.This could be a radio, switching power supply, digital clock, ...

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 02:36:22 am
content: Quote from: Ranger14 on May 23, 2016, 01:38:45 amFluke 1900A - measures from 5 Hz to 80 MHz.Well, that's what it does, so what use(s) does it have after your current project? The same use it has now - to measure from 5 Hz to 80 MHz.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 07:11:02 am
content: You'll use it anytime you need to know the frequency of a signal to a resolution of up to 6 digits. Many digital scopes have a built-in hardware frequency counter of similar resolution. If yours doesn't, then that's what you'd use the 1900 for.That model can also keep a running count of the number of pulses it sees. So, if you ever need to count something like trigger events from a device, especially when they occur very quickly, it's useful for that too.If you don't think you'd ever need to know the frequency of a signal to that level of resolution again, nor have to count electrical pulses, then you don't need the device.

author: csmithdoteu
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 09:58:45 am
content: A frequency counter is very useful. Some ideas:1. Despite it overflowing at 80MHz, you can add a prescaler to these. A divide by 10 prescaler will give you 800MHz and a divide by 100 will give you 8GHz counting capability with an appropriate loss in resolution.2. The 1900A does period so you can measure pulse lengths. This is useful for measuring duty cycle without a fancy new digital scope.3. The 1900A does total counts so you can count events. This is actually really useful for debugging some protocols (expected state transitions), pulse chains and all sorts. I even had one counting reeled components once with a small aperture IR beam break detector.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 10:10:04 am
content: I quit this one, will have a limited use and is to big, for few buck you can get a small and better thing check frequency meter on ebay

author: Ranger14
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 23, 2016, 08:13:49 pm
content: Thank you everyone for the great information and inputQuote from: ebclr on May 23, 2016, 10:10:04 amNormal I would agree but I bought the unit broken for $12 shipped ..The seller claim no power but will have to see if it was worth it ..

author: FlyingHacker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 03:47:58 am
content: I think you will likely much prefer a precision Fluke bench instrument over some piece of Chinese junk loose circuit board off eBay.Keep it around. It will come in quite handy. You just have to remember when it cuts out. There is usually no indication of overflow, IIRC.