PicoScope 7 Automotive

[EaglesNest]

Greetings Readers,

I purchased a Pico 2205A and downloaded the PicoScope 7 Automotive on my Windows 10 laptop. I read on the Internet that this device will not work on that software. I already ordered the device. I wanted to check from a reliable source if that software will not work on the Pico 2205A?

Second, what amp clamp do I need with Pico 2205A since Amazon showed that it included the probe. The PicoScope 7 demo version showed that we can test the battery's voltage and amperage on Channel A and B.

Thank you in advance for your reply.

[Martyn]

You will need the Test and Measurement version of the software from https://www.picotech.com/downloads

The PicoScope 2205a is not an automotive device, it will not work with the Automotive and Diagnostic software we provide, and will not provide you access to the Waveform Library.

For accessories that will work with the PicoScope 2205A please check https://www.picotech.com/oscilloscope/2 ... ccessories

[EaglesNest]

Greetings Martyn,

So basically I can not use the PicoScope 2205A for automotive application when I bought it from the Amazon store sold by an automotive specialist?

Is it the product itself or the software that is the problem?

I need a scope to check the Camshaft/Crankshaft Position Sensors. I will use the scope for other automotive applications too, but I need to know why PicoScope 2205A will not work for automotive application?

Thanks in advance for your valuable time.

[G-son]

It is an oscilloscope, and as such it can perform any common oscilloscope duty. It will measure voltage over time, it doesn't care if you've hooked it to an audio amplifier, a computers power supply or a couple of sensors in a car - it will measure whatever it's hooked up to and show you the result on the screen. Cam/crank correlation in a car will be just fine for it - you may have to attenuate the signal from some sensors if the voltage is too high, but you always need to keep that in mind when using a scope so nothing special there.

The difference from the proper automotive picoscopes and their automotive software is that you don't get the automotive specific functions, that can help you adjust the scope settings right for different measurements, sometimes help interpret the results, and the library can be used to find what waveform you want to see on a specific sensor on a specific car in case you are not sure. Basically, you don't get the training wheels and automotive specific help. That only comes with the (far more expensive) automotive specific models.
You can still perform the test, you just have to learn to adjust the scope settings (easy) and interpret what the scope is showing you (easy in some cases, maybe not in some others), and perhaps find another source for library type use (such as known good cam/crank correlation) or make your own library by saving known good waveforms from good working cars to compare when you get to one of that model etc. with a problem.

[Martyn]

Just be careful with what you measure.

The 2205A has a maximum input voltage of +/- 20V with input protection of +/-100V, for the automotive scopes this is +/-200V with +/-250V protection. The auto scopes also have resettable fuses on the inputs.

You don't want to damage your scope and/or PC/Laptop by measuring the wrong thing.