I'm looking for an entry level PC based scope for various hobby applications. Since I often deal with various appliances plugged into mains, I was hoping to find a scope that can deal with ~220-240 V (if nothing else to avoid a disaster if I touch the mains by mistake) but it looks like the PicoScopes are limited to 20V.
Thanks for the suggestion! Differential probes seem to be twice as expensive as an entry level scope, which means trippling the cost of the whole set up which is far beyond what I was hoping to spend on this.
measuring at mains voltage need always differential probes.
For every type of scope you use even if you use a 10000 euro scope. (Especially for expensive scopes you need to use a differential probe because you can easy damage your expensive scope).
If you want do do it without differential probe then you need to do at least 2 things. Or you risk blowing up your scope and the PC that is connected to the scope via USB.
1. use 1:10 probes and set them to 1:10
2. Connect the shielding of the BNC connectors to the ground of your mains wiring (not the neutral) with a thick at least 2.5mm wire. So that if your ground clip touches the mains the circuit breaker goes out and not your scope and PC.
P.S. If you are not exactly knowing the risks and precautions your should take, not ever even think of measuring mains voltage devices with a scope.