New product! PicoScope 3423 Automotive Upgrade Kit

Earlier this year, we released our new Four-Channel Automotive Oscilloscope Kit. We are now offering a money-saving upgrade kit for owners of our Two-Channel Automotive Oscilloscope Kits who wish to expand it to four channels. The upgrade kit includes the following items:

• Latest Four-Channel Automotive PC Oscilloscope - PicoScope 3423
• (Powered by USB port - no external power supply required)
• Two extra secondary ignition pickups
• Two extra BNC to 4 mm test leads
• Two extra multimeter-style test probes
• Two extra crocodile clips
• Extra 20:1 attenuator

The new Four-Channel Automotive PC Oscilloscope, as supplied in the upgrade kit, has the following improvements over its two-channel counterpart:

• Two more channels - now you can compare up to four waveforms
• Larger buffer memory - captures longer, more complex waveforms at high speed
• Additional 50-volt measuring range - for higher voltages
• USB 2.0 connection - for faster screen updates
• Powered by USB port - requires no external power supply

More information on the Four-Channel Automotive PC Oscilloscope

Technical Tip: Faster Screen Update Rate in PicoScope

In PicoScope there is a setting that limits the number of screen updates per second. This is to prevent PicoScope from taking all of the PC's resources and preventing other applications from working. You can find the “Maximum displays per second” control by selecting File | Setup | Display.

The best setting depends on the PC you are using and the product you have connected.

When using a parallel port product without internal buffer memory (ADC-100 and below) it is best to set the figure around 10. If you have a very slow PC, a lower number may be better.

When using parallel port products with a buffer memory, try a setting the control to 20, or for a fast PC you can increase this to 30 (the maximum allowed).

For USB products the best setting is normally 30, unless you have a slow PC.

New Automotive Tutorial

We have added a new article, “Primary versus Secondary Circuits”, to the series of automotive tutorials on our website. This article examines the relationship between the primary ignition waveform and the secondary HT output, and discusses the monitoring of spark burn times and HT voltages.

Northwest Automotive Industry Tradeshow (NAIT) 2005 - USA

20th to 21st May 2005 — Fairgrounds, Puyallup Washington, USA

This month, Autonerdz will be representing Pico at the Northwest Automotive Industry Tradeshow (NAIT), the leading auto repair show in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. As well as product presentations, the show provides workshops, training classes and hands-on demonstrations.

Visit Autonerdz at booth #253 and see Pico's latest products — including the new Four-Channel Automotive Oscilloscope Kit and the exciting FirstLook engine sensor.

Automotive Training

18th May 2005 — Pico Automotive Diagnostic Kit Training - St Neots, UK

This month Pico will be holding another training course for users of our Automotive Diagnostic Kits. This is a one-day course designed for existing users of the Automotive Kit who wish to explore its more advanced features. Delegates attending this course should have previously attended the “Engine Management Diagnostics using PicoScope” training course, and will be required to bring their own laptop and Automotive Kit.

The course briefly covers the use of the drop-down menu of tests and waveforms, then explains some of the more advanced features of the software such as trigger controls, manually selecting timebases and voltage ranges, custom ranges, and creating your own library of waveforms. The course will also give hints and tips for getting the best results from the ignition pickups, current clamps and breakout leads.

More information on Pico training courses

Overseas Trade Shows

Visit our overseas distributors at any of these shows and see our latest products — including the PicoScope 3000 Series PC Oscilloscopes, the USB ADC-11 Converter and the USB TC-08 Thermocouple Data Logger. Our technical specialists will also be available to offer technical advice, suggest suitable training courses and discuss any requirements you may have, and you can request a FREE software and reference CD.

MicroElettronica 2005 5th to 7th May 2005 — Vicenza, Italy

This month PCB Technologies will be representing Pico at MicroElettronica 2005, one of Italy's most important industry events and a point of reference for electronic components and production. A programme of over 20 conventions and seminars is scheduled.

Visit PCB Technologies at Pad G, Stand 1839-1840.

China Didac/Worlddidac 2005 13th to 15th May 2005 — Dalian, China

K&H Manufacturing (Beijing) Co. Ltd. will be representing Pico at China Didac, the international exhibition for educational technology, laboratory equipment and training, which will be displaying new hi-tech products and precision analytical instruments from around the world. This show is considered essential by end-users from high schools around China.

Industria 2005 24th to 27th May 2005 — HUNGEXPO Budapest Fair Centre, Budapest, Hungary

GlobalFocus will be representing Pico at Industria 2005, Hungary's largest industry forum and one of Central-Eastern Europe's leading events.

Visit GlobalFocus at Pavilion A, Stand 106G.

Hevreka! 2005 25th to 28th May 2005 — Ljubljana Fair, Slovenia

Also this month, Termotel will be representing Pico at Hevreka! 2005, a major international fair and educational event in the fields of consumer and professional electronics, automation and digital technology, electronic communication, telecommunications and computers, informatics and other advanced converging technologies and solutions. The fair is held every year in Slovenia to present the technological achievements of central and south-eastern Europe.

Visit Termotel at Stand C-13 in Hall C.

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