Test and Measurement News

May 2007

Tech Tip: Log 160 Thermocouple Channels

Did you know that you can now use up to 20 serial TC-08 or USB TC-08 thermocouple temperature loggers on a single PC? With eight channels per logger, that means that you can record 160 temperature channels at once.

The TC-08 is a cost-effective temperature measuring solution. Here are the main features:

  • 8-channel thermocouple data logger
  • Measures from -270 to +1820 °C
  • Automatic cold junction compensation
  • High resolution and accuracy
  • Fast sampling rate
  • Up to 20 units can be run on a single PC
  • Available with USB or RS-232 interface

Make sure that you have the latest version of PicoLog, which you can download free of charge from our website.

Find out more about the TC-08 Thermocouple Data Logger

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 planned and newly available features:

  • Spectrum view — now released
  • Property sheet, listing all settings at a glance — now released
  • Advanced triggering, with pulse width, logic, drop-out and window modes — coming soon

Find out more about the PicoScope 5000 Series

Win an Electronics Textbook

Answer three questions about Pico products and you could win a copy of ANALOG SEEKrets — DC to daylight (retail price 45 GBP), a new electronics textbook written by Leslie Green and published by Future Science Research Press.

Crammed full of measurement tips and techniques, this book gives you expert advice on how to use probes effectively, how measurements are made within instrumentation, how some manufacturers cheat, and what terms like SFDR, ENOB, return loss and VSWR mean.

Entry is free (only one entry per person), and no purchase is necessary. The competition closes on 31 May 2007. We will then draw three winners at random from the list of correct entries.

EPE Reader Wins a PicoScope 3205

Our congratulations to EPE reader Stephen Stopford, whose Wind Speed Monitor was judged the best design in the last year of Everyday Practical Electronics magazine’s monthly “Ingenuity Unlimited” feature. Stephen has won a PicoScope 3205 PC Oscilloscope, our general-purpose scope with a bandwidth of 200 MHz, a sampling rate of 100 MS/s, a record length of 512K samples, and a USB 2.0 interface. He was “absolutely delighted” with his scope, and reported that it was “already up and running, thanks to the easy-to-use software”.

Second prize went to Mr C Hegter, whose entry was for an Automatic Doorbell. He has won a Pico DrDAQ Data Logger, which plugs into a parallel port and delivers measurements from its built-in light, sound and temperature sensors. It also has sockets for external sensors.

Find out more about the PicoScope 3205 PC Oscilloscope
Find out more about the DrDAQ Data Logger

Automotive News

New product: COP extension lead

The coil-on-plug extension lead is a simple accessory that allows you to take accurate secondary ignition measurements on coil-on-plug ignition systems. The extension lead enables you to make HT measurements when there are no spark plug leads, or when the plug leads are inaccessible. The leads are specifically designed for use with the PP178 Secondary Ignition Pickup.

The COP extension leads are easy to use: simply fit them between the coil pack and the plugs, place a capacitive secondary ignition pickup on each lead, and your oscilloscope will show accurate ignition waveforms with correct kV measurements. The coil-on-plug extension leads are designed for use with PicoScope automotive oscilloscopes, but can also be used on all other scopes that are capable of displaying ignition patterns.

New Real-Life Diagnostics article

We have just published a new story from the world of engine diagnostics, this time about a modified Ford Escort with an engine that wouldn’t fire. Nick Hibberd, of Hibtech Auto-Electrical Diagnostics, uses a PicoScope oscilloscope to trace the fault through the vehicle's engine management system and asks: Is it possible to determine the fault just by the vehicle owner?

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