secondary ignition pickup

Due to the high voltages involved in secondary ignition systems, it is not possible to make measurements by direct connection, attempting to make a direct connection will almost certainly damage the measuring instrument.

The PP178 is a capacitive pickup which simply connects around the insulation of an ignition circuit component such as a plug wire, this avoids the need for direct connection.

The PP178 comes with a shielded 1.8 m (6 foot) lead. It is suitable for use with conventional ignition systems and most HEI and DIS systems. Our library of Automotive Waveforms contains example waveforms captured using a Pico automotive oscilloscope and the PP178.

Although ideal for use with a Pico automotive oscilloscope, the PP178 pickup can also be used with most other makes of oscilloscope provided they have an waveform invert option.

Price £35.00   (approx $57.75 (US) / €40.95)      Quantity    

How to use the PP178 Secondary Ignition Pickup

Safety precautions before use:

  • Keep the lead away from pulleys and other moving parts
  • Keep the lead away from heat
  • Never let the pickup come in direct connection with primary or secondary voltage (otherwise the PicoScope may be damaged)
  • Always use the ground clip
  • Do not let the metal portion of the pickup contact a ground

Connecting the PP178:

  • Connect the PP178 to the automotive oscilloscope before connecting to the vehicle
  • Connect the ground clip to a good ground on the vehicle
  • Connect to vehicle

    For...

    • Standard Ignition: clip the pickup around the coil wire (or one plug wire at a time)
    • Integrated coil: clip the pickup around the central location on the distributor cap
    • DIS: clip the pickup around one plug wire at a time