10
Subject to change without notice
Basic signal measurement
Signals which can be measured
The oscilloscope HM1500-2 can display all repetitive signals
with a fundamental repetition frequency of at least 150 MHz.
The frequency response is 0 to 150 MHz (-3 dB). The vertical
amplifi ers will not distort signals by overshoots, undershoots,
ringing etc.
Simple electrical signals like sine waves from line frequency
ripple to hf will be displayed without problems. However, when
measuring sine waves, the amplitudes will be displayed with
an error increasing with frequency. At 70 MHz the amplitude
error will be around –10 %. As the bandwidths of individual
instruments will show a certain spread (the 150 MHz are a
guaranteed minimum) the actual measurement error for sine
waves cannot be exactly determined.
Pulse signals contain harmonics of their fundamental frequency
which must be represented, so the maximum useful repetition
frequency of nonsinusoidal signals is much lower than 150 MHz
(5 to 10 times). The criterion is the relationship between the rise
times of the signal and the scope; the scope’s rise time should
be
<
1/3 of the signal’s rise time if a faithful reproduction without
too much rounding of the signal shape is to be preserved.
The display of a mixture of signals is especially diffi cult if it
contains no single frequency with a higher amplitude than
those of the other ones as the scope’s trigger system normally
discriminates by amplitude. This is typical of burst signals for
example. Display of such signals may require using the HOLD-
OFF control.
Composite video signals may be displayed easily as the instru-
ment has a tv sync separator.
The maximum sweep speed of 5 ns/cm allows suffi cient time
resolution, e.g. a 100 MHz sine wave will be displayed one period
per 2 cm.
The vertical amplifi er inputs may be DC or AC coupled. Use dc
coupling only if necessary and preferably with a probe.
Low frequency signals when AC coupled will show tilt (ac low
frequency – 3 dB point is 1.6 Hz), so if possible use DC coupling.
Using a probe with 10:1 or higher attenuation will lower the
–3 dB point by the probe factor. If a probe cannot be used due
to the loss of sensitivity, DC coupling the scope and an external
large capacitor may help which, of course, must have a suffi cient
DC rating. Care must be taken, however, when charging and
discharging a large capacitor.
DC coupling is preferable with all signals of varying duty cycle,
otherwise the display will move up and down depending on the
duty cycle. Of course, pure DC can only be measured with DC
coupling. The readout will show which coupling was chosen:
= stands for DC, ~ stands for AC.
Amplitude of signals
In contrast to the general use of rms values in electrical en-
gineering oscilloscopes are calibrated in V
pp
as that is what is
displayed. To derive rms from V
pp
: divide by 2.84. To derive V
pp
from rms: multiply by 2.84.
Values of a sine wave signal
V
rms
= rms value
V
pp
= pp – value
V
mom
= momentary value, depends on time vs period.
The minimum signal for a one cm display is 1 mV
pp
±5 % provi-
ded 1 mV/cm was selected and the variable is in the calibrated
position.
The available sensitivities are given in mV
pp
or V
pp
. The cursors
let you read the amplitudes of the signals immediately on the
readout as the attenuation of probes is automatically taken into
account. Even if the probe attenuation was selected manually
this will be overridden if the scope identifi es a probe with an
identifi cation contact as different. The readout will always give
the true amplitude.
It is important that the variable be in its calibrated position. The
sensitivity may be continuously decreased by using the variable
(see Controls and Readout). Each intermediate value between
the calibrated positions 1–2–5 may be selected. Without using
a probe thus a maximum of 400 V
PP
may be displayed (20 V/div
x 8 cm screen x 2.5 variable).
Amplitudes may be directly read off the screen by measuring
the height and multiplying by the V/div. setting.
STOP
Please note!
Without a probe the maximum permissible voltage
at the inputs must not exceed 400 Vp irrespective of
polarity.
In case of signals with a dc content the peak value DC + AC
peak must not or – 400 V
P
. Pure ac of up to 800 V
PP
is permissible.
STOP
If probes are used their possibly higher ratings are
only usable if the scope is dc coupled.
In case of measuring DC with a probe while the scope input is
AC coupled the capacitor in the scope input will see the input
dc voltage as it is in series with the internal 1 MΩ resistor. This
means that the maximum dc voltage (or DC + peak AC) is that
of the scope input, i.e. 400 V
P
! With signals which contain DC
and AC the DC content will stress the input capacitor while
the AC content will be divided depending on the ac impedance
of the capacitor. It may be assumed that this is negligible for
frequencies
>
40 Hz.
Considering the foregoing you may measure DC signals of
up to 400 V or pure AC signals of up to 800 V
PP
with a HZ200
probe. Probes with higher attenuation like HZ53 100:1 allow
you to measure DC up to 1200 V and pure AC of up to 2400 V
PP
.
(Please note the derating for higher frequencies, consult the
HZ53 manual). Stressing a 10:1 probe beyond its ratings will
B a s i c s i g n a l m e a s u r e m e n t
V
p
V
rms
V
mom
V
pp
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