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R&S

RT-ZC31

Current Probe

User Manual

Version 01

1801494902

(B1aa2)

Summary of Contents for RT-ZC31

Page 1: ...R S RT ZC31 Current Probe User Manual User Manual Version 01 1801494902 B1aa2 ...

Page 2: ...ny Phone 49 89 41 29 0 Fax 49 89 41 29 12 164 Email info rohde schwarz com Internet www rohde schwarz com Subject to change Data without tolerance limits is not binding R S is a registered trademark of Rohde Schwarz GmbH Co KG Trade names are trademarks of the owners 1801 4949 02 Version 01 R S RT ZC31 The following abbreviations are used in this manual R S RT ZC31 is abbreviated as R S RT ZC31 ...

Page 3: ... LEDs 14 2 4 4 Sensor 16 3 Measuring Procedure 18 3 1 Preparing the Measurement 18 3 2 Demagnetizing and Zero Adjustment 21 3 3 Connecting the Probe to the DUT 23 3 4 Disconnecting the Probe from the DUT 29 3 5 How to Measure Current Accurately 30 3 6 Protection Mode 31 3 7 Typical Characteristics 32 3 7 1 Frequency Characteristics 33 3 7 2 Frequency Derating Curve 33 3 7 3 Input Impedance 34 3 7 ...

Page 4: ...Possible Device Errors 36 4 2 LED Display Errors 37 5 Maintenance and Service 41 5 1 Cleaning 41 5 2 Contacting Customer Support 41 5 3 Returning for Servicing 42 5 4 Calibration Interval 42 5 5 Discarding the Product 43 6 R S RT ZA13 Probe Power Supply 44 ...

Page 5: ...erence Risk of physical injury This device is designed to comply with IEC 61010 Safety Standards and has been thoroughly tested for safety before shipment However mishan dling during use could result in injury or death and damage to the device Be certain that you understand the instructions and precautions in the man ual before use Follow these precautions to ensure safe operation and to obtain th...

Page 6: ... current Use with high frequencies or strong magnetic fields may cause the device to become abnormally hot result ing in fire equipment damage or burns To prevent fire or damage of the measurement target and device as well as burns exercise caution concerning the following when measuring high frequency currents or currents that contain high frequency compo nents Eddy current loss may cause heating...

Page 7: ...ice is connected do not connect the ground side terminal to any nonground potential Otherwise short circuit current flows through the R S RT ZA13 probe power supply or this device from the ground terminal which could cause an electrical accident or damage Shock hazard To avoid shock and short circuits turn off all power before connecting the device Do not allow the device to get wet and do not tak...

Page 8: ... damage contact your dealer or R S representative This device is not designed to be entirely water or dust proof To avoid damage do not use it in a wet or dusty environment The sensor head is a precision assembly including a molded compo nent a ferrite core and a Hall effect element It may be damaged if sub jected to sudden changes in ambient temperature or mechanical strain or shock and therefore...

Page 9: ...on Keep the cable well away from heat sources as bare conductors could be exposed if the insulation melts Do not obstruct the ventilation holes on the sides and bottom of the ter minator as it could overheat and be damaged or cause a fire Strong electromagnetic fields Correct measurement may be impossible in the presence of strong mag netic fields such as near transformers and high current conduct...

Page 10: ...ues to flow through the conductor being measured Three current measurement ranges 0 1 V A 1 V A and 10 V A You can observe low current waveforms at the high sensitivity of 10 V A LED warnings indicate overload and unlocked sensor head Broadband frequency characteristics DC to 120 MHz Demagnetization and automatic zero adjustment functions make it easy to get ready for measurement 2 3 Inspecting th...

Page 11: ...t the accessories If the contents are incomplete or damaged notify your Rohde Schwarz ser vice center The following accessories are delivered with the probe User manual Carrying case R S RT Zxx data sheet Calibration certificate Documentation of calibrated values 2 4 Description of the Probe 2 4 1 Probe Overview Figure 2 1 Probe overview 1 Sensor 2 Junction box 3 Termination unit Description of th...

Page 12: ...Product Description R S RT ZC31 12 User Manual 1801 4949 02 01 2 4 2 Termination Unit Figure 2 2 Termination unit overview 1 Output terminal 2 Unlock lever 3 Ventilation holes Description of the Probe ...

Page 13: ...ck mechanism keeps the clamp closed Vents The vents are on the sides and bottom Do not clog them Power plug Connect the plug to the R S RT ZA13 probe power supply receptacle to supply power to the sensor Shell Pull on the power plug while simultaneously pulling this shell to disconnect the plug Description of the Probe ...

Page 14: ... LED 2 OVERLOAD LED 3 JAW UNLOCKED LED 4 DEMAG AUTO ZERO key 5 DEMAG AUTO ZERO LED 6 RANGE LEDs 7 Higher range key 8 Lower range key POWER LED The POWER LED turns green lighting up continuously when the device is ener gized It flashes rapidly if a checksum error has occurred Description of the Probe ...

Page 15: ...the device has entered protection mode or a checksum error has occurred DEMAG AUTO ZERO LED orange light Color State Flashes slowly Demagnetization or automatic zero adjustment has not yet been per formed Lights orange Demagnetization and automatic zeroadjustment are in execution No light Demagnetization and automatic zero adjustment has been completed Lights red The upper jaw is unlocked Flashes ...

Page 16: ...RLOAD LED is flashing When a measured current is detected Higher range key Lower range key Switch over to a next higher lower current range RANGE LEDs green lights Color State Lights green The current range is chosen Fast flashing Indicates that the device has entered protection mode or a checksum error has occurred 2 4 4 Sensor Description of the Probe ...

Page 17: ... Current direction indication Clamp the device to the conductor so that the direction in which the current being measured is flowing matches the arrow Opening lever Operating lever for opening the sensor head Always use this lever to open the sensor head Sensor aperture A conductor to be measured has to pass through this aperture Sensor head The sensor head clamps on the conductor being measured a...

Page 18: ... internally Use a high impedance input of the measuring instrument With an input impedance of 50 Ω accurate measurement is not possible If using BNC banana plug adapters or similar to connect to input termi nals other than BNC connectors make sure the polarity is correct Turn the collar until it clicks and check that it is locked securely 1 Have the R S RT ZA13 probe power supply and an oscillosco...

Page 19: ... until it clicks and check that it is locked securely Figure 3 1 Oscilloscope inputs The current waveform of the measured conductor is output at a constant rate 1 V A 7 Configure the probe connection at the oscilloscope Make sure to set the fol lowing Vertical unit Ampere Coupling DC Termination 1 MΩ Manual Gain 1 V A Alternatively select Predefined probe R S RT ZC31 if this selection is available...

Page 20: ...or keep it oriented in a straight line rela tive to the waveform measurement instrument when connecting and dis connecting it To avoid damaging the output connector pull the unlock lever toward you and then pull the connector out and away from the waveform mea surement instrument To avoid damaging the output connector of the terminator or the BNC input terminal s locking mechanism on the waveform ...

Page 21: ...G AUTO ZERO LED lit the device outputs a demagnetization waveform which attenuates over time from its output terminal This waveform which appears on a waveform measuring instrument may be asymmetric along the horizontal axis However this does not represent a device malfunction Do not move the sensor during demagnetization or automatic zero adjust ment Disturbance such as external magnetic fields a...

Page 22: ...20 seconds During demagnetizing a demagnetizing waveform is shown on the oscilloscope The positive and negative compo nents of this waveform may be asymmetrical Note If the DEMAG AUTO ZERO LED continues flashing instead of turning off when the DEMAG AUTO ZERO key is pressed demagnetization and zero adjustment did not complete normally To halt demagnetization or automatic zero adjustment in the mid...

Page 23: ...pre ceding sections have been carried out 2 Pull the sensor opening lever so that the sensor head opens 3 Align the sensor so that the current direction indication matches the direction of current flow through the conductor that you measure The conductor should be in the center of the clamp aperture because the measurement may be affected by the position within the clamp aperture of the conductor ...

Page 24: ... c Any other LEDs light up or blinks there is a different error See Chap ter 4 2 LED Display Errors on page 37 6 Press or key to choose the current range Choose a current range with a maximum peak current higher than the peak value of a current to be measured If the peak value of the current exceeds the maximum peak current of the chosen current range the output waveform is saturated preventing yo...

Page 25: ...ncrease relative sensitivity 10 windings multiplies the mea sured current by a factor of 10 However in this case the windings should be made radially with a diameter of at least 20 cm Cord placement and the act of clamping the probe onto the conductor being measured may trigger load fl uctuations affecting the observed waveform Connecting the Probe to the DUT ...

Page 26: ...ated cur rent is a recommended value that assumes sine wave input under stan dard conditions Self heating may happen if the ambient temperature increases or the measurement current waveform contains other fre quency components If the input current exceeds a certain level generated heat activates a built in safety function that blocks normal output If this happens remove the input immediately remov...

Page 27: ...al principles Be careful to avoid injury electric shock due to short circuits or damage to the device that may be caused by the increased temperature Do not place any unclamped conductor with an electric current of a fre quency of 10 kHz or more near the sensor head Current flowing in the conductor nearby may heat up the sensor head and cause its tempera ture to rise leading to damage to the senso...

Page 28: ...estored to normal by opening and closing the sensor head Depending on the amplitude and frequency of the current being mea sured the sensor head may emit a resonant sound This sound may also occur during demagnetizing operation but it does not represent a malfunction or device failure If foreign matter is adhered to the facing surfaces on the sensor head so that a slight gap exists between the upp...

Page 29: ...ensor heads have been magnetized causing incorrect current measurements Reexecute the demagnetization and automatic zeroadjustment 3 4 Disconnecting the Probe from the DUT Once measurement has completed 1 Pull the opening lever toward you Remove the device from the conductor that you measure 2 Slide the opening lever toward the lower jaw until the JAW UNLOCKED indi cator is hidden The upper jaw is...

Page 30: ...tracting and extending the upper jaw can cause an offset voltage of several millivolts Perform the steps described below to accurately measure a current 1 Hold down the DEMAG AUTO ZERO key on the junction box for about 1 second ZERO LED lights up and demagnetization and automatic zero adjustment start After the completion the DEMAG AUTO ZERO LED goes out 2 Wait for about 5 minutes for the fluctuat...

Page 31: ...e temperature of the junction box exceeds a specified level In protection mode the device cannot correctly measure any current Moreover you cannot switch the current ranges If the device has entered protection mode recalibrate it because internal components may have been subjected to thermal stress To exit the protection mode 1 Pull the opening lever toward you Remove the device from the conductor...

Page 32: ...f the RANGE LEDs of the range used before the device entered protec tion mode lights up and the device gets back to normal The DEMAG AUTO ZERO LED blinks slowly which indicates demagnetiza tion and automatic zero adjustment are required 3 7 Typical Characteristics All the characteristics shown in this section are typical for R S RT ZC31 Typical Characteristics ...

Page 33: ...ency Derating Curve Fig 3 3 shows the derating curves with a sine wave current input If the ambient temperature rises or the current being measured contains high frequency compo nents the device temperature rises and thus its continuously inputtable current value and frequency lowers Figure 3 3 Frequency derating curve Typical Characteristics ...

Page 34: ...d as shown in fig 3 4 In particular take this characteristic into account when measuring a high fre quency current Figure 3 4 Input impedance as a function of frequency 3 7 4 Consumption Current Fig 3 5 shows the current consumption of the current probe drawn from the power supply versus the input current in the 30 A range Typical Characteristics ...

Page 35: ...onsumption current with the specified 30 A range 3 7 5 Influence of Common Mode Voltage Fig 3 6 shows the ratio of a common mode voltage applied to the conductor being measured and the resulting output voltage Figure 3 6 Influence of common mode voltage Typical Characteristics ...

Page 36: ...or head may emit a resonant sound depending on the amplitude and fre quency of the current being measured Such a sound may also be emitted during demagnetization This however does not affect the measurement accuracy The resonant sound emitted from the sensor heads becomes louder The gap between the upper and lower sensor heads may have increased Cali brate the device because the gap may adversary ...

Page 37: ...not clamped around any conductor and the upper jaw locked in place the device can be damaged Send the device for repair The waveform outputted during the demagnetization is asymmetric along the horizontal axis This does not represent a device malfunction After demagnetization and auto matic zero adjustment are completed make sure that the zero position on the waveform measuring instrument is appro...

Page 38: ...xceeding the speci fied level of each current range is detec ted If you use the 30 A range immediately remove the sensor from the conductor being measured If you use the 0 5 A range or 5 A range switch to a higher current range The instrument may not be able to prop erly detect overload states immediately after the current range has changed The currents for which an overload state can be detected ...

Page 39: ... and automatic zero adjustment cannot be performed Per form demagnetization and zero adjust ment again after implementing the rem edy described below Circumstan ces Remedy When the JAW UNLOCKED LED is lit up Lock the sensor head Press the opening lever until the JAW UNLOCKED indicator turns off When the OVERLOAD LED is flash ing Remove the device from the conductor being measured When a cur rent o...

Page 40: ...state Meaning All LEDs blink rapidly Checksum error An internal CPU malfunction checksum error has occurred Send it to the ser vice center for repair No LEDs light up Malfunction The device has malfunctioned Send it to the service center for repair LED Display Errors ...

Page 41: ...l object 2 Clean the outside of the product using a soft cloth moistened with either distil led water or isopropyl alcohol Keep in mind that the casing is not waterproof Note Do not use cleaning agents Solvents thinners acetone acids and bases can damage the labeling or plastic parts 3 Dry the product completely before using it 5 2 Contacting Customer Support Technical support where and when you n...

Page 42: ...ider the following 1 Use a sufficiently sized box 2 Protect the product from damage and moisture e g with bubble wrap 3 Use some kind of protective material e g crumpled newspaper to stabilize the product inside the box 4 Seal the box with tape 5 Address the package to your nearest Rohde Schwarz service center 5 4 Calibration Interval The recommended calibration interval for R S RT ZC31 current pr...

Page 43: ...Maintenance and Service R S RT ZC31 43 User Manual 1801 4949 02 01 5 5 Discarding the Product Handle and dispose the product in accordance with local regulations Discarding the Product ...

Page 44: ...ply R S RT ZC31 44 User Manual 1801 4949 02 01 6 R S RT ZA13 Probe Power Supply This unit is a special purpose power supply for the current probes You can connect up to four current probes to the power supply Front view Rear view ...

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