New Test and Measurement Catalogue

The new 2007 Test & Measurement Catalogue is now in print. It shows all our current test and measurement products, including the PicoScope 5000 series of high-performance scopes and our money-saving scope bundles, all with specifications and prices. Fill in the form on our website and we will send a copy to you right away or, if you prefer, you can download a PDF version.

Get your copy of the Pico Test & Measurement Catalogue

Tech Tip: Switching Off Automotive Web Help in PicoScope

PicoScope Automotive, our diagnostic software for automotive oscilloscopes, includes a valuable library of help topics that explain each test in detail, with illustrations and technical data. Normally, a help topic appears whenever you select a preset test. If you are an experienced PicoScope user you might not want to see these help topics every time you do a test, so we have provided an option for you to switch them off. Select the Automotive menu, then click the Show Web Help option to remove the tick, and web help will no longer appear. You can switch it on again at any time.

PicoScope 5000 Series News

We are busy adding new features to the PicoScope 6 software so that you can get the most out of your new PicoScope 5000 Series scope. Here are the latest available and planned features:

• Advanced triggering I: pulse width, interval — in latest release
• Advanced triggering II: window, drop-out and logic triggers — coming soon
• Application Programming Interface: — coming soon
• Demonstration mode: try PicoScope 6 before buying a scope — coming soon

Find out more about the PicoScope 5000 Series

New Application Note: Measuring the Performance of a Wind Turbine

We have published a new article on our website showing how a Pico ADC-16 8-Channel Data Logger was used to monitor the performance of a wind turbine installed on the Falkland Islands. The article shows how the real–world performance of the turbine was compared with the manufacturer's specification to give an objective assessment of its condition. This information was then used to decide whether maintenance was required and whether the turbine was properly sited.

The article explains in detail how the logger was connected to the turbine, and includes circuit diagrams, data on the turbine, and performance graphs. There is also some general commentary on the design and siting of wind turbines in such a demanding environment.

Pico would like to thank Tim Cotter of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation for providing the material for this article. If you have used our products for an application that you think our readers will find interesting, please contact us, and we may be able to publish your story on our website.

Read the “Measuring the Performance of a Wind Turbine” application note

Win an Electronics Textbook — Prize Draw Result

Last month we asked you to answer three questions about Pico products for a chance to win a copy of ANALOG SEEKrets — DC to daylight, a new electronics textbook written by Leslie Green. The winners, drawn at random from all the correct entries submitted in May, are:

JE Clunan, Duddon Electronics Ltd, UK
Phil Dandy, UK
Francesco Uggetti, NIRA Instruments, Italy

The correct answers were:

1. Which Pico oscilloscope can sample a signal 1,000,000,000 times a second?
c) PicoScope 5204
2. Which Pico oscilloscope has 12-bit vertical resolution and 4 channels?
b) PicoScope 3424
3. Which parameter cannot be measured using Pico products?
e) none of the above (they can all be measured)

ANALOG SEEKrets is published by Future Science Research Press (retail price 45 GBP). A list of the book’s contents is available at www.logbook.freeserve.co.uk/seekrets.

Automotive news

New product: Motorcycle Diagnostics Kit

Interested in maintaining or repairing bikes? Then the Pico Motorcycle Diagnostics Kit is the tool you need. With our new kit you can solve problems fast, and cut out the guesswork and head-scratching!

At last, after countless requests from our customers, we have used our award-wining automotive technology to create an inexpensive diagnostics tool that is suitable for use on any modern motorcycle. The kit will help you to track down faults on the increasing number of sensors, actuators and electronic circuits found on today’s bikes. It has been designed to be easy to use, and so is equally suitable for both novice and expert users. The kit does not require harnesses for different makes and models of bikes, so you can save time and money.

At the core of the kit is the PicoScope automotive oscilloscope, which is connected to and powered by the USB port of your PC. The kit also includes our easy–to–use PicoScope software, which means that even if you’re a complete beginner you can get started straight away, and test every fuel injection and engine management component from crank and cam sensors to injectors and ignition signals. Software updates can be downloaded for free, so your kit will always be up to date.

There isn’t room in this newsletter to list all the features in the kit, so if you want to know more please visit our new Motorcycle Diagnostics page.

New product: Vehicle Electronics Diagnostic Course CD

Would you like to learn from an expert how to troubleshoot problems in today‚s complex vehicle systems?

Frank Massey is one of the UK’s leading vehicle diagnostic experts. With over 38 years’ industry experience, he is renowned in the motor industry for his unrivalled expertise and knowledge.

At nearly two and a half hours, the Pico Vehicle Electronics Diagnostics Course is designed to give you the benefit of Frank’s extensive hands-on experience in the field, and to give you the necessary knowledge to confidently and accurately troubleshoot problems in today's increasingly complex vehicle systems. Frank shows the Pico diagnostic kit in use on real vehicles, and explains how to measure and diagnose ignition current and voltage, multiple sensors, broadband oxygen sensors and direct ignition systems.

During the course you will gain a sound understanding of automotive electronic diagnostic techniques and principles that you can apply immediately in your everyday work environment.

The CD runs on any modern Windows PC.

Events

Please visit Pico Exhibitions for the latest list of exhibitions and trade shows that Pico and its representatives will be attending.

We're hiring!

Thanks to our continuing success and growth Pico are always seeking talented people to join our company.

Please visit https://jobs.picotech.com/ to see our current vacancies. We look forward to hearing from you!

Software releases

Our latest software releases are available as free downloads. To check which release you are using, start the software and select Help > About.

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Contact details

UK Headquarters:
Pico Technology, James House, Colmworth Business Park, St. Neots,
Cambridgeshire, PE19 8YP, United Kingdom
Tel.: 01480 396395 (+44 1480 396395)
Fax: 01480 396296 (+44 1480 396296)

North America Office:
Pico Technology, 320 N Glenwood Blvd, Tyler TX 75702, United States
Tel:+1 800 591 2796 (Toll Free)

Asia-Pacific Office:
Pico Technology, Room 2252, 22/F, Centro, 568 Hengfeng Road, Zhabei District,
Shanghai 200070, PR China
Tel: +86 21 2226-5152

Email: sales@picotech.com