What is an oscilloscope and what is it? This is an improved multimeter, on the screen of which you can observe the indicators of the currents that are measured, as well as their visualization. Such a device is capable of making a huge number of measurements in one second, noting even the smallest deviations. Thanks to it, you can accelerate the work of detecting faults. There is a huge assortment of models from different manufacturers on the market, so for a novice electrician, choosing a device is not an easy task. Such a device will be indispensable in the repair of electrical engineering, since it can be used to see electrical vibrations that are displayed on the screen in the form of a graph. The device is used to repair computers, to diagnose cars, and also in their work they are used by radio technicians and equipment adjusters. Next, we will tell you how to choose an oscilloscope for home and work, as well as what parameters you need to pay attention to.
Content:
- Parameter overview
- Bandwidth and sampling rate
- Type of food
- Number of channels
- Varieties of devices
- Digital
- Analog
Parameter overview
Bandwidth and sampling rate
The choice of a device should also depend on its characteristics. So, when measuring variable signals with the device, do not forget that they have a certain maximum frequency and if the indicators are higher, then the measurement accuracy will deteriorate. This sets the bandwidth. This bandwidth should be 5 times higher than the frequency of the signal under investigation.
How to choose the right oscilloscope? If the bandwidth is insufficient, the measurement accuracy will be distorted. If you choose a device for simple work with audio amplifiers and with digital circuits, then 25 MHz will be enough. For professional research and for radio frequency circuits, a device with a value of 100-200 MHz must be selected. The choice of device depends on the bandwidth: the price will be higher, the higher the value of the upper band.
With regard to sampling, it depends on how fast the oscilloscope will process the input signal. And the quality of the picture that will be displayed on the screen will depend on its frequency. The higher the frequency, the wider the bandwidth and, accordingly, the better the resolution of single-shot signals. Indeed, with a larger number of processed input points, the image will be more accurate. When measuring transients and one-shot processes, this is considered very important.
The screen refresh has nothing to do with the sampling rate. Before choosing an oscilloscope, you must remember that its cost depends on this frequency: the higher it is, the better the picture, and accordingly the higher the cost of the device. Device manufacturers can only specify this figure for a single channel or the sampling rate of aggregated channels. The sampling rate will be lower if a large number of channels are involved.
Type of food
The choice of the device should also depend on the conditions of its use. For example, if you need to work with it on the road or in different rooms, then it must be powered by a battery. There are models that can run on battery power for up to eight hours. An oscilloscope that is capable of operating from an electrical network is used in workshops, classrooms or laboratories.
Number of channels
The number of independent signals reproduced on the screen depends on how many channels exist in the device. The ability to observe multiple charts at the same time makes it easy to analyze and compare them. Two or four channels are enough to work and analyze a simple technique.
Varieties of devices
Before finally choosing an oscilloscope, you need to know what types it is divided into. According to the principle of signal reflection, the oscilloscope is divided into digital and analog.
Digital
With its help, static and mathematical data processing is carried out, which are obtained as a result of taking readings. Also, if you choose a digital oscilloscope, it is possible to detect impulse noise and store up to 10,000 waveforms in the device's memory. The results are displayed on the LCD.
The selection of settings is carried out automatically, since the device has calibration and diagnostic functions. The errors of the product are minimal, due to which the data are obtained of high quality. Such an oscilloscope is indispensable if you need to get accurate diagnostics of equipment or a car.
Analog
This is the simplest design. It includes a cathode-ray tube that responds to electrostatic abnormalities. The readings are taken in real time, due to which distortion is impossible during signal processing by the signal processor.
Choosing an analog oscilloscope means getting reliability and trouble-free operation, since the image on the display does not lag behind the passing indicators. They also have a low price and good maintainability. But before choosing such an option, one should also remember its disadvantages: when teaching signals of high frequency, the screen may flicker, slight signal processing capabilities and relative to the range measurements. Such a device is widely used in service workshops for radio and television equipment. Because of this, it is also called the service oscilloscope.
We also recommend watching the videos, which provide expert advice on choosing an oscilloscope, as well as an independent ranking of the top 10 models:
That's all we wanted to tell you about how to choose an oscilloscope for home and work. We hope the tips we've provided were helpful to you!
We also recommend reading:
- How to use an oscilloscope
- How to choose a multimeter for your home
- How to make a soldering iron yourself
