Can any amp clamps be configured to be used with the pico so the conversation rate is correct?

Hello Blue,

Any amp probe can be configured HOWEVER, beware of the quality.

Cheapie probes although a good deal tend to drift and have a lot of RFI that your captures are inaccurate.

So buy the best!

HTH 

Ok thanks, I have these 2, what do you think?

http://www.aeswave.com/Current-Probe-Low-range-Generic-brand-p8486.html

http://www.aeswave.com/Current-Probe-High-range-Generic-brand-p8480.html

daveyK wrote on Feb 7^th, 2015 at 4:41pm:

Cheapie probes although a good deal tend to drift and have a lot of RFI that your captures are inaccurate.

Blue_Heisenberg wrote on Feb 8^th, 2015 at 2:47am:

Ok thanks, I have these 2, what do you think?

Read carefully what Dave quoted above.

In part its all to do with the shielding.

In one of them you need extra adapter to attach to the BNC.

So basically get the pico clamps, how come I would need an adapter with just one of them, they are both banana connectors?

Blue_Heisenberg wrote on Feb 8^th, 2015 at 9:43am:

So basically get the pico clamps, how come I would need an adapter with just one of them, they are both banana connectors?

Are you going to use them at the same time?

Possibly yes. Doesnt the pico kit come with bnc to banana leads as standard?

Blue_Heisenberg wrote on Feb 8^th, 2015 at 10:24am:

Possibly yes. Doesnt the pico kit come with bnc to banana leads as standard?

Yes, and you can simply attach your banana current clamps to the ends of the test leads.  This gives you additional reach as well.  However, it does not help with the fact that the banana clamps and leads are not shielded.  In the early days, Pico supplied unshielded current clamps.  They quickly learned though that shielded clamps perform much better. 

These would be better than no amp clamps though and you can apply filter to help with all the RFI hair on the resulting captures.  Also, if you know the voltage to amps ratio, you can create a custom probe within the software to scale them in amps.  While not as accurate as the Pico ones I think the accuracy and response time of these probes would be suitable.

I have used the low amp probe with the adapter on  several different scopes before I got a Pico Scope and the Pico probes.
I still use it when I am testing with a Voltmeter.
Using one of those probes has taught me to keep rechecking 0 and resetting it, than test again before I believe the data.
It does work with any scope that I have tried it on.

Just make sure that 0 is still 0 after you finish your test; if not re-zero and test again.

Jim

Blue I have this amp probe. I use it on a daily basis. Its pretty good probe for the money. I have had to re-zero it a couple of times before because it was off. you can plug it right into your shielded pico scope leads. http://www.aeswave.com/Universal-Low-Range-Current-Probe-Custom-p9136.html

Ok, so just looking at the calibration of the clamps I listed, they seem to be the same as what is supplied with picoscopes, so am I right in saying I could use the preset configuration on pico automotive programme for 60 amp current clamp 20 & 60 amp mode. And also 600a current clamp?
Thanks

Blue_Heisenberg wrote on Feb 15^th, 2015 at 12:17am:

am I right in saying I could use the preset configuration on pico automotive programme for 60 amp current clamp 20 & 60 amp mode. And also 600a current clamp?

You could yes, if the volts to amps is the same. 

But, we don't recommend using the built in probes even for the Pico clamps.  They are too limiting.  We have our own in the probe library that are better.  You are better off making one of your own. 

The Autonerdz PicoScope installer populates your custom probe library with a bunch of probes that are a lot more functional.  Our users don't really need any of the built in probes.

That's interesting, glad you told me. So can anyone download the auto nerdz version of pico?

Blue_Heisenberg wrote on Feb 15^th, 2015 at 1:15pm:

So can anyone download the auto nerdz version of pico?

It's just for our Picogroup members.  It's the same software, just bundled in a custom installer that offers tweaks to the settings and preferences for best performance and to add some goodies like custom probes and math channels for the libraries, logo, etc.

The built in Pico amp probes work fine for the most part but, for they limit the useful range.  For example, the 600 amp probe is limited to 600 amps even though the probe will read up over 800 amps just fine.  600 isn't enough to see the initial inrush current for most applications.  They also don't allow you to set any other ranges within the probe unless you edit  the probe to open up that option.  It's easier just to build another properly, from scratch than to copy that one to the library and try to fix it.

Can I become a picogroup member without subscribing to the whole auto nerdz membership as I can't afford that?

Blue_Heisenberg wrote on Feb 16^th, 2015 at 12:52pm:

Can I become a picogroup member without subscribing to the whole auto nerdz membership

Sorry, no.  The extensive resources that are included in the Picogroup subscription, are integrated together and there is no practical way to separate out any one component.  They are all interdependent and a part of the total Autonerdz PicoScope experience.

Could you suggest any settings for this probe http://www.aeswave.com/Current-Probe-High-range-Generic-brand-p8480.html
Using the preset 600amp function doesn't show a very good signal.
Thanks

Blue_Heisenberg wrote on Feb 27^th, 2015 at 10:09am:

Using the preset 600amp function doesn't show a very good signal

The amps/volts ratio is the same.  What's not good?

Well when I was trying to do a compression check the signal looked nothing like it should. What time Base and amp division would you recommend on the 600 amp preset?

Post up what you have and maybe I can comment.

But...see reply #13.

Again, the real PicoScope help is in the Picogroup areas.