why is not Oscilloscope Probe Caps color coded? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Martiniko
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 05, 2024, 09:45:06 pm
content: Why is Oscilloscope Probe Caps not color coded?.. Anyone else have several Oscilloscopes? And the caps looks almost identical so your not sure what cap is for what oscilloscope and they all kinda fit but not really.... drives me crazy. Why do they not standardize or atleast mark them or color code them?

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2024, 10:08:49 pm
content: Never heard of coloured tape?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2024, 11:03:54 pm
content: Quote from: Martiniko on April 05, 2024, 09:45:06 pmWhy not? Because there are so many differentclassesof probe, let alone differenttype, let alone different manufacturer.Consider Tektronix, who have made a couple of hundred different types:https://w140.com/tekwiki/wiki/Oscilloscope_probes"Pass me the blanched almond witches hat,notthe antique white witches hat?"

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2024, 02:00:04 am
content: There are always colored rings you slip on.eghttps://digilent.com/shop/p2150-150mhz-bnc-oscilloscope-probe/The cap is not color coded, the probe body is.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2024, 02:19:18 am
content: its a good idea.When I see tape on test leads I want to hurt people. It means they don't care about your test potentially getting messed up when the tape falls off and you do a accidental swaparoo.. don't do this. Bad habit that means your desperate.Heatshrink is acceptable, but it can slide off. Adhesive lined heat shrink is better and is cleanable.A good quality paint job is also an option, but painting plastic durable is kinda hard since its on plastic. You would need to experiment with paints to see what gives a durable layer.Those color bands also like to slide/pop off. I recommend putting clear heat shrink on them, over the indicator ring, if you can (you need a high shrink ratio to get it over the probe sometimes). And a sharp tip scissor to get them off to slide under the heat shrink when you need to change it, so you don't damage the probe trying to cut it off with a knife.Since the colored cap slides off easily, you would also need to color the probe with the ring. If you have color rings and also tips that match, that is great.And you want to label the probe anyway, because you might be using the spring low inductance ground lead sometimes.Take measurements to determine what shrink ratio you need, if you want to do this, and search on digikey for the correct heatshrink.Always amazing when you have such a expenisve scope, expensive probes, then you put electrical tape on it that ends up having a little skin tag, goos it up like a slobbering xenomorph and then falls offColors are worth investing in ! And you cut small heat shrink bands and use the thinner material so its not annoying... but you can't guarantee that the heat shrink might not annoy your fingers if you work with it alot, then paint is your only option.

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2024, 03:32:11 am
content: There's always the hoarder approach: use a different brand probe on each channel?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 06, 2024, 07:59:08 am
content: Quote from: Alex Eisenhut on April 06, 2024, 03:32:11 amPreferably with different length leads and bandwidths

author: bitwelder
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 03:31:12 pm
content: Speaking about oscilloscope probes, has there been any attempt to standardize the color sequence for the channel number?E.g. ch1 blue, ch2 green, ch3 yellow, etc.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 07, 2024, 04:08:36 pm
content: Quote from: bitwelder on April 07, 2024, 03:31:12 pmThe good thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 08, 2024, 09:25:46 am
content: Some are: