Erratic sinewave signal generator?

The GROUND must be interconnected. Each instrument has a plus/minus supply voltage, or a direct mains plug and a signal input or output. The signal connectors have a HOT center pin and in most cases the other pin is equal to GROUND. Those GROUND must be interconnected, ground from the oscilloscope with ground from the signal generator and with the ground from the circuit under test.

Sometimes one can connect the minus power also to ground, but not always. Sometimes it is advisable to connect protective earth from the mains also to the common ground potential.

I cannot recommend a general rule, because it depends on the devices used and other circumstances. If there is a good GROUND network, this will act as a reference point or as reference area for electrostatic discharges and high frequency noise. Often it is necessary to connect the framework of the workbench also to protective earth from the mains. The minimum thing to do is to connect all instruments to the same protective grounding from the mains outlets.

Sounds like a wishy-washy recept, but the precise details of your setup are impossible to know.

w.

z with digital readout from 200Khz to 32Megs. It's a cute little unit but o ccasionally gets locked up with a grossly distorted waveform and no frequen cy control. It does a self test when turned on and usually works fine, but sometimes doesn't boot up right, and other times goes into a spasm when I d isconnect or reconnect the output using alligator clips. I was thinking it might be a grounding problem since I have the generator connected to a diff erent power strip than the scope. Is it advisable to connect all the instru ments to the same power strip to avoid problems like this?

Hmm google has never heard of the Novatech 2901A. Re: different power strips. That shouldn't matter. The grounds are 'prett y much' all the same. At the very lowest signal levels I've sometimes seen 'ground loop' signals that will change if I plug the 'scope/ instrument in to different AC 'branchs'... sometimes worse, sometimes better...

George H.

Khz with digital readout from 200Khz to 32Megs. It's a cute little unit but occasionally gets locked up with a grossly distorted waveform and no frequ ency control. It does a self test when turned on and usually works fine, bu t sometimes doesn't boot up right, and other times goes into a spasm when I disconnect or reconnect the output using alligator clips. I was thinking i t might be a grounding problem since I have the generator connected to a di fferent power strip than the scope. Is it advisable to connect all the inst ruments to the same power strip to avoid problems like this?

tty much' all the same. At the very lowest signal levels I've sometimes se en 'ground loop' signals that will change if I plug the 'scope/ instrument into different AC 'branchs'... sometimes worse, sometimes better...

Hey I just got this via email.

Maybe you can contact Novatech and ask them about it.

1Khz with digital readout from 200Khz to 32Megs. It's a cute little unit b ut occasionally gets locked up with a grossly distorted waveform and no fre quency control. It does a self test when turned on and usually works fine, but sometimes doesn't boot up right, and other times goes into a spasm when I disconnect or reconnect the output using alligator clips. I was thinking it might be a grounding problem since I have the generator connected to a different power strip than the scope. Is it advisable to connect all the in struments to the same power strip to avoid problems like this?

retty much' all the same. At the very lowest signal levels I've sometimes seen 'ground loop' signals that will change if I plug the 'scope/ instrumen t into different AC 'branchs'... sometimes worse, sometimes better...

Yes, good idea, I'll send an email.

-Bill