PicoAuto 4425A for the Lab

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AlmazInd
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PicoAuto 4425A for the Lab

Post by AlmazInd »

Hello!

I am interested in purchasing a PicoScope. I work on a farm and can see the value in the automotive scopes and software for equipment repairs, but am also hoping to use the same scope in the lab for electronics development on my custom farm sensors/equipment. Does the Test & Measurement software work with an automotive scope such as the 4425A?

I read a lot of forum posts and most people seem to want to buy the cheaper T&M scopes and use the automotive software. To be clear I'm looking to do the opposite--buy the more expensive automotive scope and use it with both PicoScope Automotive and all the test & development software (PicoScope, PicoLog and PicoSDK). Is that possible?

If not, are there any features of the PicoScope T&M software that are not available in PicoScope Automotive? (Digital modes for SPI, I2C or RS485 for example?)

Thank you!

AndrewA
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Re: PicoAuto 4425A for the Lab

Post by AndrewA »

The automotive models are the best option for you as you can buy kits and get the auto probe/lead accessories, and case.
You also you get diagnostic software and access to the auto waveform library with the auto scopes.
The 2/4 channel auto scopes inputs are a floating differential type with common mode voltage range of +/-30V between the channels. They also have higher over voltage protection on the channels.

See one of our 2 or 4 channel automotive scope kits-
https://www.picoauto.com/products/autom ... t/overview click on the orange compare kits button.

All the automotive models can also be used with our standard version of the PicoScope software.
But test measurement models (non automotive) will not work with the automotive versions of the software.
Note the psdata files are the same format, between the two versions.

That said the 2204A/2205A are great little scopes, if you want quick look at signals on equipment, but have very limited buffer memory.
Just be careful as these have a common ground on the channels and 20V max range, compared to the 2/4 channel automotive scope of 200V.
Regards Andrew
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OMAR1992
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Re: PicoAuto 4425A for the Lab

Post by OMAR1992 »

Hi, I'm researcher.
i have piezoelectric generator devices with signal Vpp 44, 60, 50, 100 and 150 Ac voltage with open circuit current 4.4 uA and 6uA 5.5uA and 9uA, respectively. can i use the 2205A picoscope to get the signal or not ? and which mode safety for the picoscope to get the piezoelectric signa is x1 or x10.

and any suggestions help me.

G-son
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Re: PicoAuto 4425A for the Lab

Post by G-son »

OMAR1992 wrote:
Fri Jan 06, 2023 7:51 am
Hi, I'm researcher.
i have piezoelectric generator devices with signal Vpp 44, 60, 50, 100 and 150 Ac voltage with open circuit current 4.4 uA and 6uA 5.5uA and 9uA, respectively. can i use the 2205A picoscope to get the signal or not ? and which mode safety for the picoscope to get the piezoelectric signa is x1 or x10.

and any suggestions help me.
The 2205A can measure max 20V at the input (at 1X), with a 10X probe that becomes 200V max so that should be able to handle the voltages involved.
However, it sounds like the currents are very small. The 10:1 probe has an input resistance of 10 megaohms, you need to figure out if that's high enough to not change the signal too much. If I'm not mistaken 150V at 10 megaohms would produce a current of 15 uA, if the source can't supply that the voltage will probably be reduced significantly. You need to look into that.

AlmazInd
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Re: PicoAuto 4425A for the Lab

Post by AlmazInd »

Thank you for your help Andrew! Definitely excited the automotive line works with the T&M software! I went ahead and ordered a PicoAuto 4425A from a US retailer. Looking forward to putting it to use!

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