Current Probe -- Siglent CP5030 thoughts? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Thebrakshow
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 22, 2019, 08:34:33 pm
content: I am in the market for a current probe. Main use will be for buck/boost switcher validation for my day job. While we have all the necessary (and far too expensive) tools at work, I like the flexibility to work from home while doing board bring up and documentation. Since the current probe will most likely be the most expensive tool in my garage I wanted to ask for some advise.Should I even consider a Siglent current probe? At work I'm currently using a Lecroy CP030. The over all specs of the CP5030 (siglent) seem to be similar to the CP030 (lecroy) although i cant really find a very detailed siglent datasheet... It also doesn't appear that anyone has done anything that resembles a review of the siglent probe. Honestly this should be a dead give away to run but I figured i'd askOn the other hand, I've been searching ebay for a TCPA300 + TCP312 but most seems to be shipped from China? Then there is the issue of calibration/ random issues. It would be pretty frustrating going down a rabbit hole because the used test equipment isn't up to par. $2k+ is past my gambling limit hahaAre there any other current probes you'd recommend with simliar specs to Lecroy'sCP030? I currently have a SDS1204X-E scope BTW.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2019, 09:27:13 pm
content: There's a bit more info in the user manual:https://siglentna.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CP5000_4000_Current_Probe_Instruction_Manual.pdfIs DC capability a must have requirement because if you limit your selection to just AC probes the cost is much less.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 22, 2019, 09:48:24 pm
content: Borrow the tools from work?

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 12:01:44 am
content: If you're open to a DIY approach some probes such as TCP2020 or 1147A only need power supplied to them, so they are easily adapted to other interfaces.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 07:14:56 pm
content: Quote from: Thebrakshow on October 22, 2019, 08:34:33 pmHunting back through old threads, this one maybe has some info of use.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/suggestions-for-dc-current-probes/Hioki is a well known brandhttps://www.hioki.com/en/products/list/?category=17However when you can find them the passive Tek P6021 with termination is a good current probe but it's only AC.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 07:34:25 pm
content: Ebay and Aliexpress have dozens of very cheap probes. I have this CP-05A (besides the connect-in-between CP2100 current probe I produce myself).https://www.aliexpress.com/item/737664409.html

author: Hydron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 09:47:00 pm
content: Hikoi probably make the Siglent probe - as far as I know all the high bandwidth AC/DC probes are either OEM'd from Hikoi or are Tektronix made/branded (who invented them and brought out the P6042 in the late 60s).Other than the introduction of the larger style of probe (late 70s) and better probe "amplifiers" I don't believe a lot has changed in the last 50 (!!) years, so getting the previous version of the TCPA300+probe, i.e. an AM503/503A/503B + suitable probe, is an option and should be significantly cheaper, though still pricey for a tested working setup complete with TM500 series power supply chassis. A bit of a dig around the w401.com Tek wiki is enlightening btw.Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a middle price/performance ground between the $$$ options (Tek/Hikoi) and the cheap open-loop hall sensor type options, other than maybe an iprober 520 (unique instrument, more suited to qualitative than quantitative measurements - see Dave's review).As others have said, AC only probes are an option where DC measurement isn't required (and the DC current is low enough not to saturate the probe) - look for "Pearson Wide Band Current Monitor" or similar as well as the P6021 type already mentioned, but again you'll have to get lucky to get one cheap!For moderately high frequency, low sensitivity (i.e. high current) applications building a DIY CT is easy - trick is to cascade two in series to massively reduce the number of windings (and thus parasitics) on each, which allows for a simple lumped burden rather than the crazy distributed ones that Pearsons etc use.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2019, 11:28:28 pm
content: Quote from: Hydron on October 23, 2019, 09:47:00 pmDon't think so as Hikoi have nothing in their range that matches the Siglent current probe. It might be a Pintech one but still it's not a close match. Not even the Pintek ones (yes another brand) are close but there's even another current probe OEM that escapes my memory ATM.

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2019, 06:42:15 am
content: It's Hioki ..LeCroy CP030, Siglent CP5030 are Hioki CT6710...

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 04, 2019, 08:30:24 pm
content: QuoteSiglentRohde&SchwarzRigolKeysightLecroyIt´s all the same....Nobody except tektronix seems to build their own probes.And they all got the "cheap" probes in their Portfolio (up to 1200 bucks), which are "high precision" ones with an accuracy up to +/- 15%...Why are the useful probes so expensive.....I buy a rigol or something else scope for 1000 bucks - And then I buy a proper probe for 6000 ?!Or spending about another 1000 bucks for a 15% deviation crap ?What´s the reason, what makes proper probes so expensive ?