Can EEV's HVP70 differential probe be shipped to USA? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2017, 07:54:29 pm
content: I need a diff probe. I like that Dave's version is 70MHz, plus I like supporting his community here.https://www.eevblog.com/product/hvp70/But the price is quoted in AU's and I'm in the States. Anyone order one of these to the States? What was the shipping delay? Does anyone stock Dave's version in the USA?Thanks!

author: kg4arn
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 23, 2017, 07:56:53 pm
content: Amazon has it.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2017, 10:11:30 pm
content: Quote from: kg4arn on August 23, 2017, 07:56:53 pmThanks, just looked that up... 450 USD! Converted from AU, the quoted price is around $370. So I'm paying an $80 premium via Amazon.Is Amazon the only way to get these in the States? I guess I'm willing to spend the money but that's a stiff premium....

author: CustomEngineerer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2017, 10:30:19 pm
content: You can order it directly from Dave's shop. He ships to US. Look at the main thread for the probes, several people reported their shipping experience.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/eevblog-hvp70-differential-probe/

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 05:06:02 am
content: Mine made it to the USA from Dave with no issues at all.

author: JonM
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 05:13:59 am
content: I don't know if this code, "celebrating" the BitCoin hard fork, is still good, but it is worth a try. I got my probe in the first batch and it arrived promptly in the US (VIrginia) without issue. Note that someone discovered that the DHL tracking number works to track the USPS part of the journey once the item enters the US.Re: EEVblog HVP70 Differential Probe« Reply #191 on: July 29, 2017, 06:16:04 PM »Say ThanksReplyQuoteFYI I'm having a 15% sale on the EEVblog store including the HVP70 probe.Use the coupon code hardforkhttps://www.eevblog.com/store/

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 02:15:12 pm
content: Hmm... seems I may be looking at the wrong kind of probe.I need a true differential probe for measuring things like the charge curve on a non-ground-referenced capacitor. This EEV probe and others like it appear to be targeting high voltage applications, hence the proliferation of x100 (!!!) divider networks. I'd actually rather have a x1/x10 probe since I'm working with small analog signals.I've seen the old 1980's era Tek probes with the twin, fixed tips but much prefer the later style with the two short flying leads. I might have to make some shorter leads for higher frequency/higher impedance applications, but that sort of connection setup is what directed me to the EEV style probe in the first place.So... what's the recommendation for an entry-level small signal diff probe?

author: LabSpokane
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 04:07:52 pm
content: The probe has a 1/10 mode for signals up to 70V.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 04:16:05 pm
content: Did you look at MicSig's new differential probe?

author: JonM
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 06:30:08 pm
content: The Micsig probe has only x50 & x500 attenuations, so that is the wrong direction for the OP. There is a thread on the forum about the new Micsig differential probe.Go for the HPV-70 and use the x10 mode, try the hardfork discount code!

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 08:03:06 pm
content: Are there any affordable 200Mhz differential probes for low voltage? I particually want to look at ethernet on UTP

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 08:36:32 pm
content: Not sure about the definition of "affordable" (faster always costs more money!), but there's another vendor of diff probes named "Cal Test" that has a model CT3688 at TEquipment rated for 200MHz. It's a 10:1 probe for just about a kilobuck.More bandwidth than I need and more money than I want to spend, but if you really need 200MHz the price is obviously going to be up there.This Cal Test unit appears to be a relabel of the Sapphire SI-200 as shown here:http://www.sapphire.com.tw/si200ds.htm. Looks like there's a lot of relabeling in the diff probe industry... I'm surprised there's enough demand to justify it, diff probes are somewhat specialized. Even Jim Williams (RIP) of Linear (RIP) said most people don't even know what they are!Pico is another vendor. They have their 10:1 TA045, rated for 200MHz, also right at $1K. Looks like the going rate for bandwidth is $5/MHz. That's even roughly true for Dave's diff probe, 70MHz for ~$350-400 depending on vendor.I'm finding there is a (pardon the pun) differentiation between diff probes meant for low voltage / small signal work, and those meant for high voltage protection/isolation. The latter have huge voltage divider ratios, some as high as 1000:1. That's lovely but I suspect those are less optimal for small signal work that a probe designed with that in mind. That's why I'm looking for one that has 1:1/1:10 options... you know that one will be designed specifically for small signal work.In my case I'm trying to measure differential voltages in the tens of millivolts. I don't really need an extra 10:1 division between me and a signal that small. If the price turns out to be too high, I'm also toying with the idea of just building a custom diff probe, perhaps a discrete instrumentation amp with a front end based on something like the LMC6001. That sucker has 100% tested input current of25 picoampsat room temperature. Its GBW and slew rate are pretty low but if you run a pair as voltage followers and let the downstream device handle differentiation with a gain of 1, you could have a pretty impressive 1:1 diff probe for DC and low AC applications.Still searching....

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 08:44:04 pm
content: Quote from: IDEngineer on August 24, 2017, 08:36:32 pmIf you knew of Pintek then there's where you find what you want.Specifically DP-60HS:http://www.pintek.com.tw/files/pintek/DP-60HS_SPEC.pdf

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 08:50:27 pm
content: Quote from: tautech on August 24, 2017, 08:44:04 pmAh, there we go. Hadn't seen this one yet (still coming up to speed on the diff probe market). Need to find a price, but that's looking very promising.Thanks for the pointer!

author: JonM
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 11:00:56 pm
content: And, then there is this issue with Pintek:http://www.sapphire.com.tw/notify.pdfOddly, Sapphire spells them as pintech in that document. Maybe to prevent an easy link from the Sapphire web site?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 11:10:35 pm
content: Quote from: JonM on August 24, 2017, 11:00:56 pmDifferent company !!!!http://www.pintech.com.cn/en/

author: CustomEngineerer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 11:13:49 pm
content: Quote from: IDEngineer on August 24, 2017, 08:50:27 pm$306https://www.globalmediapro.com/dp/A2LQM4/Pintek-DP-60HS-Differential-Probe-60MHz-70V/I have ordered from them several times in the past with no issues.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 11:19:04 pm
content: Quote from: CustomEngineerer on August 24, 2017, 11:13:49 pmAny reviews or teardowns of this unit anywhere?

author: JonM
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 11:50:05 pm
content: Oops, I dropped the .com when I manually typed the Pintech URL and so thought that the domain name did not exist. In any case, it's a bit confusing...I think that we know that Sapphire (manufacturer of Dave's HVP-70 and supplier to various mainstream scope companies) is the (or a) premier supplier of differential probes. What is known about Pintek in terms of quality, safety, etc?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2017, 11:55:07 pm
content: Quote from: IDEngineer on August 24, 2017, 11:19:04 pmPintek's DP-25 is a well known and trusted unit, I wouldn't have any reservations about getting Pintek's high sensitivity DP probe.........they've been making this stuff for years and Pintech got a start by copying them.I've dealt a bit with Pintek, they're a good company IMHO.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2017, 12:35:33 am
content: Quote from: tautech on August 24, 2017, 11:55:07 pmThat's very good to hear, thank you.There is another thread here that discusses the DP-60HS:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/pintek-dp-60hs-differential-probe-(low-voltage-high-sensitivity-60-mhz-bw)/msg990308/#msg990308Looks like it was released just a few months ago.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2017, 03:20:03 am
content: Quote from: CustomEngineerer on August 24, 2017, 11:13:49 pmWith $46 in shipping (and I presume insurance), the total to the US is $352. That's $5.87 per MHz. They do seem to hover around that $5/MHz price!

author: CustomEngineerer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2017, 03:53:11 am
content: Literally first link I clicked on because recognized the site. If you looked around you might be able to find cheaper probe (less likely) or cheaper shipping (more likely). Price sounds about right for what the probe is and some of Pintek's other probe prices.

author: IDEngineer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2017, 09:47:43 pm
content: I posted a quickie review of the DP-60HS probe here, then remembered it has its own thread so I've moved the review there. If you're interested, here's the link:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/pintek-dp-60hs-differential-probe-(low-voltage-high-sensitivity-60-mhz-bw)/msg1323478/#msg1323478