buying a new scope - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: davy peleman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 11:59:21 am
content: a year ago a started electronics and i bought a velleman hps50 scope. it's a portable scope with a max of 100volts. now as i progress i need something to measure mains ripple and also has 2 channels. i don't want to spend to much like say 300 euros. are there any good scopes in that price range. we don't have alot of electro shops out here and the one in my city has a uni-t scope that goes for around 280 euros. it's a UTD2025CL; in the description on there website there is no marking of a maximum voltage measurement. does anybody knows more about this scope or can somebody give me a good alternative? thanks in advance

author: zhtoor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 02:01:38 pm
content: hello,probably the best value in your price range:-https://toolboom.com/en/super-phosphor-oscilloscope-siglent-sds1202x-e/regards.-zia

author: davy peleman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 02:42:04 pm
content: i checked the manual but did't come across maximum ratings. but since it has x100 and x1000 function can i be sure it can measure mains???

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 02:49:12 pm
content: Quote from: davy peleman on February 03, 2018, 02:42:04 pmAny scope can measure mains voltage, but its rare to find a scope with inputs that can take mains voltage. The reason is you use x10 or x100 (occasionally even x1000) probes to measure high voltages, so the scope never sees them.The real issue with measuring the mains is isolation. Only very specialised scopes have isolated inputs. You generally need to provide isolation outside the scope, so you may need active isolating probes.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 03:05:10 pm
content: It does sound like what you need to buy is an isolating probe rather than a new scope.I use a Pico TA041, which has 10:1 and 100:1 attenuation settings, and is rated to 1000V rms.

author: davy peleman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 04:54:17 pm
content: ok but my portable scope only has a x10 function and max rating of 100 volts. so with a x100 or x1000 probe i should just x10 or x100 the measured voltage right. also if i power the uni-t scope with an isolation transformer would that eliminate the danger of connecting the scopes earth to the mains hot connection???

author: Magnificent Bastard
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 05:22:17 pm
content: Good Lord, he's going to kill himself!!!! NO !!! -- If you connect your 'scope to an isolation transformer, then connect the ground side of your 'scope probe to something "hot", then the entire enclosure of the 'scope becomes dangerously "hot". I will see you at your funeral...-MB

author: abraxa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2018, 05:36:54 pm
content: Quote from: davy peleman on February 03, 2018, 04:54:17 pmDanger for the scope, sure. Danger for your health, no. Any metallic part that was previously connected to earth (and thus, safe) is now "hot" and can kill you when touched, including the ground leads of the probes.