Everything you need to know when buying/using an Oscilloscope! EB#49

You can get a decent (4 channel, low cost) scope here (affiliate links):
You can get a differential probe here (affiliate links):

Websites which were shown in the video:

In this electronics basics episode we will be having a look at the biggest mistake you can do when working with an oscilloscope. But I will not only show you how to do safe mains voltage measurements but also show you all the basics when it comes to oscilloscopes. That means I will show you how to choose one, how to do simple voltage and current measurements and finally how FFT works. I will explain passive probes, triggering, voltage & time division, measuring functions, the cursor function, AC & DC coupling and single mode capturing. Let's get started!

Music:
2011 Lookalike by Bartlebeats

0:00 The big mistake when using an oscilloscope
1:08 Intro
2:02 How to choose a scope?
4:44 Passive probes & scaling factor
5:55 Trigger
6:41 Voltage division
7:11 Time division
7:37 Measure function
7:47 Cursor function
8:19 AC & DC coupling
9:08 Single mode capturing
9:36 Current measurement
10:16 Safe mains voltage measurement
11:37 Differential probe
11:52 Math & FFT

[greatscottlab]

Here are some things I would like to add to the video:

1. I do not want to shame low cost scopes in this video. I started with a 2 channel one from Rigol and it worked perfectly fine. Over the years though I noticed that 4 channel scopes are the way to go. And I also only got such expensive Keysight scopes since they gave them to me for free in order to support my work. So in a nutshell, you can start with a low cost scope just fine!

2. I heard that people would just insulate the PE connector when powering the scope in order to measure mains AC voltage. This is a TERRIBLE idea. This way you connect a possibly very high voltage to the BNC connectors. If you touch that, you have a problem because you can be partly or completely connected to PE. Only use a differential probe for that or use two scope channels and use the math function in order to calculate the difference between them.

Thanks for reading ;-)

[yeyee]

I was pretty sure something was gonna blow up on the intro, but quickly realize this is not electroBOOM. Great video as always sir!

[Kevin-jzbg]

Greatscott: Let's hook it up and.... thank god, nothing blows up.
Electroboom: Let's plug it in and... Wow, nothing blew up, that's surprising. Oh wait, I forgot the turn on the power strip. (flicks switch) BANG

[TechGorilla]

I love the fact that your hand computer (aka writing instrument) is permanently set to bold text. Your ability to accurately trace over your writing with your markers is legendary.

[kenmore]

As a long time SMPS engineer, I can tell you, NEVER isolate the scope or defeat the PE ground on it! You can isolate the power supply (device under test or D.U.T.) with a 1:1 isolation power transformer, or my old fave for use when I don't have access to one is to use two scope channels. Connect just the probe tips (unclip your ground wires from the probes so they don't touch anything by accident), and use "invert and add." That works well for low to moderate frequencies. If you must measure higher frequencies, connect both grounding clips to an "X" capacitor (rated for across the line) of around 0.1uF or so and connect the other end of that cap to the D.U.T. electrical power supply ground, though that is the least preferred method. The most preferred is the power isolation transformer to isolate the supply. It makes it safer in case you touch it too.

[brianmendell]

Hey Scott I've been watching your videos for a couple of months. Man I just have to say thanks man for helping me learn a new trade after I was hit with a stray bullet 7 years ago. Learning how to chase down my electronic demons lol has now through your videos helped me help other people in my area with their mobility scooters or wheel chairs. So thanks and keep up the great content and I'll keep watching.. 👨‍🦼

[Darkshadow]

I learned more in this 12 minutes than in 8 hours of my electric measurements course. Good job

[jackwilliams]

Great tips! When I took an electronics course the instructors wouldn't let us touch the oscilloscopes until our second year. And then there were several reminders not to touch the leads to any of the board's powered by the mains unless you were on the other side of a transformer.

[gokhanince]

11:37 When I was in the university, We solved this problem with a bit of electrical tape to mask the PE of the oscilloscope. But this method can be painful. Please don't try at home. But instead of the tape method, I think an isolation transformer can work fine.

[Mladjasmilic]

I had electrical measurement classes at Faculty of electrical engineering. We worked with old analog scopes (2012). Our professor taught us that is we measure mains voltage or autotransformer that we can simply unground the scope by plugging it into ungrounded socked.

[peerappel]

The input and output of differential probes are actually usually not isolated, it's just a resistive voltage divider (the 4.5Meg measured in the video) that reduces the voltage on the input that enables measurement of high (common mode) voltages.

[anthonymina]

You are my inspiration on why I chose Electronics Engineering for my college degree. Thank you, sir. Starting my class in a week. Wish me luck!

[varunrmallya]

Sir, could you make a series teaching us about the features of an oscilloscope and wave forms observed in electronics. Would be really helpful

[xConundrumx]

2 more options...

1. Use a separation transformer to power the device under test.
2. Use a handheld (or battery powered scope)

[Salfke]

Great video, you teach simple steps of using a scope in 12 minutes better then all the other videos I have seen. nice and easy.

[tvishmaychoudhary]

Mehdi from electroboom didnt explained that much
Happy that you did it 😀

[huseynmashadiyev]

I have fast reaction to pause the video, when someone says: "Let's hook it up", I guess ElectroBoom's mental traces are visible :D

[deeprobardhan]

I have bought a hantek USB oscilloscope(20 mhz and 48MSa/s)since i cant afford a DSO, and that works quite ok for my POWER electronic projects. And Thanks sir for all this videos u made . Really appreciate it. Love from India.

[nirbhay.k]

THE best video for beginners! You are a life saver dude! Perfect and clear explanations.

[DoDo-isyb]

Great video!
For the basics I would add to adj. the cap in the probe for a correct square wave.