H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

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  • Jusanthrbob
    New Member
    • Jul 2015
    • 2
    • USA

    #1

    H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

    Is there a site or an instruction book on how to use an oscilloscope? I need help .... I am trying to teach myself electronic profession. I have background in multiple areas and one being electrical wiring and schematic reading.
  • mockingbird
    Badcaps Legend
    • Dec 2008
    • 5484

    #2
    Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

    I recommend mjlorton's YouTube channel for beginners.
    "We have offered them (the Arabs) a sensible way for so many years. But no, they wanted to fight. Fine! We gave them technology, the latest, the kind even Vietnam didn't have. They had double superiority in tanks and aircraft, triple in artillery, and in air defense and anti-tank weapons they had absolute supremacy. And what? Once again they were beaten. Once again they scrammed [sic]. Once again they screamed for us to come save them. Sadat woke me up in the middle of the night twice over the phone, 'Save me!' He demanded to send Soviet troops, and immediately! No! We are not going to fight for them."

    -Leonid Brezhnev (On the Yom Kippur War)

    Comment

    • SteveNielsen
      Retired Tech
      • Jun 2012
      • 2327
      • USA

      #3
      Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

      Did you get a manual with it?

      Comment

      • keeney123
        Lauren
        • Sep 2014
        • 2536
        • United States

        #4
        Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

        It is not very difficult you will pick it up in no time. It is just like using a graph for voltage and time, but this graph is variable according to how you set it. Just remember 1/time = Frequency. Once you under stand those principles the X-Y and triggering will come next. Good Luck.

        Comment

        • Chriso
          Member
          • Jul 2010
          • 30

          #5
          Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

          Originally posted by mockingbird
          I recommend mjlorton's YouTube channel for beginners.
          A couple of others

          W2AEW

          EEVblog

          Comment

          • stj
            Great Sage 齊天大聖
            • Dec 2009
            • 30917
            • Albion

            #6
            Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

            http://www.ionpool.net/arcade/tech/s...les/scope.html

            Comment

            • budm
              Badcaps Legend
              • Feb 2010
              • 40746
              • USA

              #7
              Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

              BTW, also look up about using scope in the primary side of the circuit.
              Never stop learning
              Basic LCD TV and Monitor troubleshooting guides.
              http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthr...956#post305956

              Voltage Regulator (LDO) testing:
              http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthr...999#post300999

              Inverter testing using old CFL:
              http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthr...er+testing+cfl

              Tear down pictures : Hit the ">" Show Albums and stories" on the left side
              http://s807.photobucket.com/user/budm/library/

              TV Factory reset codes listing:
              http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=24809

              Comment

              • stj
                Great Sage 齊天大聖
                • Dec 2009
                • 30917
                • Albion

                #8
                Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                what scope is it btw, a modern digital lcd one, or a classic crt based one?

                Comment

                • Agent24
                  I see dead caps
                  • Oct 2007
                  • 4913
                  • New Zealand

                  #9
                  Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                  Originally posted by budm
                  BTW, also look up about using scope in the primary side of the circuit.
                  Agreed!

                  You need an isolation transformer or differential probe set etc otherwise the sparks can fly...
                  "Tantalum for the brave, Solid Aluminium for the wise, Wet Electrolytic for the adventurous"
                  -David VanHorn

                  Comment

                  • SaleB
                    Member
                    • Oct 2012
                    • 19
                    • SER

                    #10
                    Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                    I am in a similar situation as the OP. I have used analog Hameg scopes in school 15yrs ago. I have a general understanding and can use a scope in controlled environment. On semi-regular basis I have also used automotive scopes on cars, so voltage vs time, current vs time and some basic triggers are not new to me.

                    I am more concerned about the "rules", the do's and dont's of using a scope. I tried to find some kind of a list on the web, but I could not.

                    I know that a ground loop is a big no,no, but I do not really know when can it happen. I know, in theory, when a path thorough a scope presents lower resistance then the part on the board the scope can be fried. Does it concern only the primary side of AC powered devices or are also some other situations where a ground loop occurs? What's the situation with an AC powered DC device?

                    I have a new Rigol 4ch 70Mhz digital scope, it is in the box for at least seven months because I got some scare that I'll fry it.
                    Now there is a signal generator that arrived a few days ago, for which I also have to find what shall I never do with it before I power it up for the first time.

                    Any kind of help would be much appreciated,
                    Sasa

                    Comment

                    • stj
                      Great Sage 齊天大聖
                      • Dec 2009
                      • 30917
                      • Albion

                      #11
                      Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                      dont scope mains power.
                      infact check the voltage rating on your probes - some are only 300v rated.

                      Comment

                      • Chriso
                        Member
                        • Jul 2010
                        • 30

                        #12
                        Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                        Originally posted by Agent24
                        Agreed!

                        You need an isolation transformer or differential probe set etc otherwise the sparks can fly...
                        Or remove the earth pigtails from the probes.

                        Use the probes on both channels

                        Use the probe tips to obtain measurements while setting the scope MATH function to A - B.

                        Still have to observe the probes voltage limit but grounding issues are avoided

                        Comment

                        • stj
                          Great Sage 齊天大聖
                          • Dec 2009
                          • 30917
                          • Albion

                          #13
                          Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                          maybe a 1:1 transformer inline with the probe, but a beginer should never try to make something like that.

                          Comment

                          • Agent24
                            I see dead caps
                            • Oct 2007
                            • 4913
                            • New Zealand

                            #14
                            Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                            Originally posted by stj
                            maybe a 1:1 transformer inline with the probe, but a beginer should never try to make something like that.
                            I expect that would be tricky to get right, in terms of ensuring it does not affect the signal at the least?

                            A mains isolation transformer is probably the best idea. Easy to use and cheap to buy. At least, mine was about $15 second hand.
                            "Tantalum for the brave, Solid Aluminium for the wise, Wet Electrolytic for the adventurous"
                            -David VanHorn

                            Comment

                            • SaleB
                              Member
                              • Oct 2012
                              • 19
                              • SER

                              #15
                              Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                              @Chriso:

                              If I have understood you correctly, when the grounding clip is removed and the probe catches only a signal it is referenced to scope ground. Another probe traces the ground clip's position in the same way through signal wire. Then do the math function as signal minus ground, and the result is the the first signal. That makes sense.

                              Have I understood it correctly, the dangerous loop can only be made through the ground clip connector, and not trough the signal connector?

                              What happens with the integrity of the signal if just the signal is measured with one probe, but without ground clip and without the ground component on the other channel? Is it even possible?


                              @Agent24:

                              Can you tell me in which cases does the device go through an isolation transformer? What are the drawbacks of routing the scope trough the isolation transformer when the current rating of the transformer is not sufficient for power requirements of the tested device? Is it even recommendable?


                              Thank you all,
                              I have learned something new
                              Last edited by SaleB; 08-04-2015, 09:50 PM.

                              Comment

                              • keeney123
                                Lauren
                                • Sep 2014
                                • 2536
                                • United States

                                #16
                                Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                                This link may be useful for isolation transformers and where to put them. https://www.badcaps.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=33

                                Comment

                                • budm
                                  Badcaps Legend
                                  • Feb 2010
                                  • 40746
                                  • USA

                                  #17
                                  Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                                  https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...&postcount=201
                                  Never stop learning
                                  Basic LCD TV and Monitor troubleshooting guides.
                                  http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthr...956#post305956

                                  Voltage Regulator (LDO) testing:
                                  http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthr...999#post300999

                                  Inverter testing using old CFL:
                                  http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthr...er+testing+cfl

                                  Tear down pictures : Hit the ">" Show Albums and stories" on the left side
                                  http://s807.photobucket.com/user/budm/library/

                                  TV Factory reset codes listing:
                                  http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=24809

                                  Comment

                                  • keeney123
                                    Lauren
                                    • Sep 2014
                                    • 2536
                                    • United States

                                    #18
                                    Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                                    awesome information BudM

                                    Comment

                                    • felipeunix
                                      New Member
                                      • Aug 2015
                                      • 7
                                      • Brasil

                                      #19
                                      Re: H-E-L-P! How do I learn to use my new oscilloscope?

                                      Nice, thanks!

                                      Comment

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