Siglent CP6030/SCP5030 Current Probe - A very, very short Review - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2024, 07:04:24 pm
content: Hi,As the title says, just a very short review of the current clamp.I bought it to see if it could replace our old Tektronix systems (A6302/AM503B) because the Teks take up a lot of space.Until now, however, there were no current clamps that could compete with the Tek - can the Siglent do it?The CP6030 costs €2080 excluding tax.As with all other scope manufacturers (with the exception of Tektronix) that offer current clamps, this current clamp is not really from Siglent.In another thread, a member pointed out that the "original" came from Cybertek:http://www.cybertek.cn/info/989This Cybertekt is not only found at Siglent, Rigol and R&S also offer it under their own names.The current clamp comes in a now unavoidable small, sturdy case, the workmanship of the clamp is very good, everything makes a high-quality impression.A power supply unit with various plug attachments is included.Today I had a short time to measure it before it is sent for external calibration (we can't use it before then).The noise level is excellently low, well below 1mA, I was surprised - or not, because it has a high output level of 1V/A in the low range.Then I connected it to my shielded adapter and connected the Bodnar pulser.The current is low and the frequency is high, does that work well? It went well.Rise time is around 6ns, you can easily see the waveform, is identical to what the Tek outputs, except for the overshoots which are probably due to the high impedance (1Mohm is required for operation).Then I used the Bodeplot, we have 6 siglent SDS2104Xplus at work, plus an SDG1062X via USB.What can I say, the linearity is very good, better than the Teks we have at work and better than all the other "Tek clones" I have tested before.All in all, a very impressive performance, especially for the money.So everything perfect? Not really.The CP6030 has no manual offset correction (but the automatic one works very well), and the head is also quite sensitive to magnetic fields, as well as the overshoots mentioned above.In practice, however, this hardly matters, so I can say that there really is an alternative to the good old Tektronix system.Very good.Conclusion:+Very low noise+Very good linearity, easily under 0.3dB+Basic accuracy of 1%+Very small amplifier/supply unit+Degaussing function+Price/performance-No manual DC offset correction option-Sensitivity to magnetic fields-Overshoot at high frequencies, due to impedancePictures:Case interior view, view of supply unit, noise level, risetime, bodeplot with 1dB resolution, bodeplot with 0.5dB resolution, both with amplitude and phaseMartinEDIT: Title changed (SCP5030 added)

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2024, 02:54:53 am
content: Thanks for the review!Quote from: Martin72 on February 23, 2024, 07:04:24 pmThat's indeed much better than I expected based on the range, though sounds like it might still be a bit higher than the Tek with its dedicated ranges. At least the version with external amplifier (AM503/AM503A/AM503B/AM5030). The TCP202 version is probably worse, though I haven't used it. Also the demands on the scope's noise floor will be higher if you need to go down to the sub-mA level.How does the size of the probe head compare? Is it similar to the Micsig?1 MOhm output impedance with what looks like a plain 50 Ohm BNC cable is an odd design in my opinion. The amplifiers Tek made to output into 1 MOhm were generally designed to fit directly on the scope input to minimize the unterminated stub length (like the Type 134 AC current probe amplifier) or very low bandwidth (AM502/ADA400A).

author: TopQuark
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2024, 08:44:31 am
content: Quote from: Martin72 on February 23, 2024, 07:04:24 pmhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/zlg-zcp30-50mhz-x1x10-acdc-current-probe/I got two of these last year under another brandname (ZCP30). I think it is basically the same cybertek probe given the similar spec and test results, though the ZCP30 does have manual offset adjustment function. The probes are indeed great for the price...Except that Micsig recently slashed their 50MHz current probe to 3471 RMB (482 USD) in China. Sure it is 1V/2A for the sensitive range, VS 1V/1A of the Cybertek probe, but I could get two Migsig for less than what I paid for the ZCP30.Quote from: Martin72 on February 23, 2024, 07:04:24 pmNot 100% certain, but I believe these days Hioki makes the current probes for Tek. Hioki seems to be the leader, they even have a 120MHz probe with 0.1V/A, 1V/A and10V/Aranges.https://www.hioki.com/us-en/products/current-probes/wide-band/id_6732

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2024, 02:59:18 pm
content: Hi TopQuark,QuoteI'm not surprised.....I wonder where you can get the cybertek or your ZCP30 from, because I think you still pay something for the name.2080 plus VAT is too much for me privately, even if the probe makes an excellent impression.As I said, at first I thought the Siglent came from Hioki, but with all the visual similarities it's hard to get through...

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 24, 2024, 09:11:02 pm
content: Quote from: alm on February 24, 2024, 02:54:53 amI would say yes, here some pics of my selfmade "probe adapter" for "hf" current measurings - While the tek probe fits easily with space, the siglent probe fits "exactly" with nearly no space around.

author: TopQuark
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2024, 02:00:09 am
content: Quote from: Martin72 on February 24, 2024, 02:59:18 pmThe ZCP30 is sold by a Chinese company called ZLG.https://www.zlg.cn/data/upload/software/Osc/ZCP30.pdfThey are actually pretty legit and have been developing and selling their own scopes for more than a decade. They recently announced a 1GHz 12 bit scope with some interesting features.https://www.zlg.cn/osc/osc/product/id/344.htmlI don't think they are interested in selling to international customers at all, same goes for Cybertek. You can get the ZCP30 from a couple of chinese online retail stores, but other than that I don't think they sell it outside of china. The ZCP30 probe still sells for roughly the same price I mentioned in my post, around 1200 USD.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2024, 07:32:49 pm
content: Quote from: Martin72 on February 24, 2024, 02:59:18 pmHere pics from two excellent high current probes, Lecroy CP500 and Siglent CP5500.The lecroy is made in japan, the siglent made in china.They look like twins.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2025, 08:42:36 pm
content: Hi,Today, my new current clamp arrived...Basically, it is a CP6030 with the bus interface for the larger scope series from Siglent.Accordingly, I expect little to no difference from the 6030, which can be used with any scope.I will soon find out...The biggest visual difference is, of course, the absence of the “control box” and the power supply, which makes the current probe even narrower and easier to handle.This means that all functions must be performed on the scope.More on this soon.Martin

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2025, 09:05:55 pm
content: Nice they are Martin being an AC/DC current probe with autodetect and degaussing make them a joy to use.Visited a customer recently and he asked I bring my CP5030A along as he had some fast current edges he needed to confirm and even above the rated current handing he could program his project for a single pulse.......50A confirmedEdit to addUsed on the same scope as yours Martin......well a 350 MHz variant.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2025, 09:21:38 pm
content: Such current pulses can be generated relatively easily with an electrolytic capacitor and a “switch.”Our choke tester can generate pulses up to 200A and is powered by a power supply with a maximum current capacity of 0.45A.Also nice:The current probe comes with a small calibration protocol with current measured values.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2025, 05:39:52 pm
content: Before this day off comes to an end, I quickly tried out the Current Probe.The SDS3104X HD recognizes it immediately and without any problems, and the settings are even easier than with the SCP6030 thanks to the on-screen menu.I quickly measured a rectangular current from the deskew fixture, then noise at 20 MHz, 200 MHz bandwidth.Everything looks good so far, further tests will follow.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2025, 09:21:36 pm
content: Quote from: Martin72 on June 09, 2025, 05:39:52 pmThat's the killer feature IMO, Amps scale and axis measurements in A/mA auto-engaged.QuoteDF2001A Deskew fixture one turn output is listed as 147 mA which we can approximately see on your current scale but you have a RMS measurement engaged.As a sanity check to know all is set correctly a P-P measurement can be more useful.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 09, 2025, 09:35:26 pm
content: Rob, I don't really know what you want from me right now.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2025, 08:29:08 pm
content: So, here it is again for Rob, the P-P value...

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2025, 08:45:00 pm
content: Quote from: Martin72 on June 10, 2025, 08:29:08 pmYup, this is where the DF2001A Deskew fixture has been of value before I had such flashy autosense current probes....knowing you have input attenuation correct so to be able to make accurate measurements......I wrote input settings tables for my old Tek P6021/6022 current probes which both have 2 sensitivity settings.....Now with a much better SCP5030A I should really sell these old Tek classics.....

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2025, 08:51:17 pm
content: Yes, I'm thinking the same thing about my “Tek System,” but I want to do a few more comparative measurements first, and I still have something else I need two current probes for, and I won't be getting a second SCP5030A until next year.(I haven't forgotten my plan to go through Siglent's power analyzer function, on the contrary.I have almost everything I need to build a “demo box” and then document the individual functions.And for the efficiency function, I would need another current probe, which could be the Tek.)

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2025, 08:58:38 pm
content: Quote from: Martin72 on June 10, 2025, 08:51:17 pmYet if you get a 6 or 8 ch SDS5000X HD you'll need a 3rd current probe for 3ph Power Analysis ....

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 10, 2025, 09:05:30 pm
content: That's true, but thankfully I don't have any applications at home where I need to measure three phases simultaneously.At work, on the other hand...