Right from the start I felt that my 4423 scope should be able to measure resistance. And I am very excited to see a resistance probe added to my channel options after my last software update ! But much to my dismay I can not make it work properly. I see all the ohms settings in the range selection drop down window and have used what I believe to be the zeroing option too. But my readings are not working properly. Do I need to purchase a special probe ? Please don't tell me that I need the 4425 to use this option.
Thanks in advance for a Pico reply.
Jim Sowa
roadserpent wrote:Right from the start I felt that my 4423 scope should be able to measure resistance. And I am very excited to see a resistance probe added to my channel options after my last software update ! But much to my dismay I can not make it work properly. I see all the ohms settings in the range selection drop down window and have used what I believe to be the zeroing option too. But my readings are not working properly. Do I need to purchase a special probe ? Please don't tell me that I need the 4425 to use this option.
Thanks in advance for a Pico reply.
Jim Sowa
Hi Jim,
We do not currently deploy a resistance probe with the software. Have you created a custom probe?
Can you screenshot the channel options where you are seeing the resistance option?
Well when I go open the channel options window it is listed next to library, but it was not there before I did the update. The first update failed, so I did another and it went through ok. I have not learned how to use anything in the tools window where custom probes are located and I stay away from that. So no custom probes for me yet.
Well when I go open the channel options window it is listed next to library, but it was not there before I did the update. The first update failed, so I did another and it went through ok. I have not learned how to use anything in the tools window where custom probes are located and I stay away from that. So no custom probes for me yet.
Ive never seen that before, what probe did you choose
-->
roadserpent wrote:
Pico scope1.png
Well when I go open the channel options window it is listed next to library, but it was not there before I did the update. The first update failed, so I did another and it went through ok. I have not learned how to use anything in the tools window where custom probes are located and I stay away from that. So no custom probes for me yet.
Ive never seen that before, what probe did you choose
Last edited by Liteace on Thu Jan 29, 2015 6:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Hello Jim and thank you for your post and patience with this one.
I too looked at my version of 6.10.11 software and could see the “resistance” probe within the library section of the channel options menu, however my colleague opposite has the identical software without this probe!
Having spoken to our software engineer I have a possible explanation why this may have occurred.
There is a possibility that at some point in time we may have downloaded a waveform containing a custom probe (in this case “resistance”)
When a waveform is downloaded containing a custom probe, it is automatically loaded into the library section of the channel options menu (See attached image)
“Downloading a waveform” could be in the form of sharing with colleagues, via the forum, or through the waveform library.
I will take a look through my waveforms folder and attempt to identity if this is the case.
At present the only way to measure resistance using PicoScope is using ohms law.
Assuming we know the voltage and current values we can calculate the resistance.
We can then use this principle to create a maths channel or in the case here a custom probe.
Those probes in the loaded section have been there for years. What they are changes from time to time with different builds. We have all learned just not to see them anymore as they have no use. When you get a probe in the loaded section from opening a file that uses a probe you don't have, they vanish when you close (unless you copy them to your library). These other ones do not go away. I have emails concerning these since 2009.
I don't have any other probe listed. But is it possible that software loads these probes from some temp folder where these have been saved previously by opening some file with custom probe.
I have tried to replicate this issue and the following is NOT correct
When a waveform is downloaded containing a custom probe, it is automatically loaded into the library section of the channel options menu
This is a mistake on my behalf and I apologise.
Any waveform that is downloaded containing a custom probe, has the probe stored within the loaded folder of the custom probe menu under channel options.
This custom probe will remain in the loaded folder throughout the existing session/use of PicoScope (Even when other psdata files are opened)
However when PicoScope is closed and reopened the custom probe present in the loaded folder that accompanied the previously downloaded file will have cleared and does NOT move to the custom probe library
Many thanks Tom/Andrew (Autonerdz) for pointing the "Loaded" bug that does exist within the custom probes menu.
Looking at a PC with a new update of PicoScope 6 Automotive 6.10.11, when checking the content of the loaded folder in the channel options menu there are no probes stored (PicoScope connected to PC)
If you then select File-Start up Settings-Save User Default Settings and then close/reopen PicoScope, upon rechecking the loaded folder in the channel options menu “Frequency and Resistance” will appear!
These loaded probes can be moved to the library but will continue to return each time the software is closed and reopened. I will file this as a bug immediately
Coming back to Jims original concern how the resistance probe turned up in the custom probe library after a software update remains a mystery.
Every PC I have checked here with the latest update does not contain a resistance probe in the library folder other than those loaded by the user.
The custom probe library remains unique to the user and should only contain probes that have been physically placed there by the user
Could one possible explanation be the fact that resistance turned up in the loaded folder (as mentioned above) and was moved to the library by other users?
Remember Resistance and frequency probes only seem to appear in the loaded folderwhen Save User Default Settings has been used.
What I have also noticed throughout these tests is, the fact it appears to be more of an issue with heavy users of PicoScope. Those users that use multiple features and put PicoScope “through its paces” will identify this issue as opposed to mild users who may use existing probes infrequently.
Reading this back it looks hard going so thank you for your patience and we will resolve the “loaded probes” issue.