Setting up Attenuators

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Tristan
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Setting up Attenuators

Post by Tristan »

Choosing 20:1 attenuator option on my channel automatically sets my range from -100 to 400v.but what if my voltage is reading more than 400v. how can i set up my scope to capture up to 1000vs/1kv with an attenuator. Or do i just choose +/- 1kv range with attenuator installed?

PicoMike
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Re: Setting up Attenuators

Post by PicoMike »

In this case you can choose the x20 probe setting (rather than the 20:1 attenuator), this will provide you with a wider range of inputs.
x20 Probe.jpg
HTH
Mike Valentine
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FioranoCars
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Re: Setting up Attenuators

Post by FioranoCars »

Sorry to ask a daft question ... but can you use 2 or more attenuators in Series?
ie use two 20:1 to achieve 400:1 attenuation?

thanks
Richard
Richard Lukins
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Alan
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Re: Setting up Attenuators

Post by Alan »

Hi Richard,

BNC connectors and possibly the cables are not rated >400V so please do not cascade the attenuators as you risk damage to the scope and possibly yourself!

Direct measurement of high voltages requires differential isolating probes - we go up to 7000V with our TA042 but they are not cheap
http://accessories.picotech.com/active- ... html#TA042

Regards
Alan

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FioranoCars
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Re: Setting up Attenuators

Post by FioranoCars »

Thanks, thought there might be a major issue with that!

I did think the attenuators were safe for ignition wiring etc, using clamp style HT leads, which will surely be in excess of 400v ?

thanks
Richard
Richard Lukins
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Avdr
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Re: Setting up Attenuators

Post by Avdr »

FioranoCars wrote:Thanks, thought there might be a major issue with that!

I did think the attenuators were safe for ignition wiring etc, using clamp style HT leads, which will surely be in excess of 400v ?

thanks
Richard
The HT clamp on leads, convert the impluse they see into a suitable input voltage to the scope. You can see from the scope setup file in pico that probe is scaled y=10000x + c. Which in esscense means whatever the HT clamp inputs to the scope is multiplied by 10 000, so 1v input, is displayed as 10 kV.

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