Homebrew HV hiZ scope probe

Oct 20, 2012 131 Replies

There's a problem with that. The proposed 1:1000 single-stage probe requires a parallel compensating capacitance 1/1000 of the total scope-plus-cable capacitance, which is likely to be in the order of 50pF, which implies a compensating capacitor of 50 fF, or 0.05 pF. across the probe series resistor. This is probably impossible to realize.

The Tektronix 1:100 HV probe used a special "leaf-and-collar" capacitor of a few pF, across the 100M probe resistor, which is taking things about as far as they can go, and still withstand the voltage gradient across the resistor. The capacitor dielectric was Freon, rather than air, giving a higher dielectric strength. Freons have a permittivity of around 2, which helps as well. The probe actually had a load of 100K at the scope end of the cable, not just the 1meg/22pF scope input, giving 1:1000 ratio. Compensation adjustment was done at the scope end of the cable, as is ubiquitous in higher-end probes today.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled." (Richard Feynman)

Says so on the schematic in the probe manual.

Probe cables, at least modern ones, use foam dielectric, hence lower capacitance per foot.

I've got some probes with removable cables, I'll TDR one when I get the time. I'll have a go at open and shorted measurements, too, and calculate the complex Zo. With a resistive center, Zo will be significantly complex at higher frequencies than "regular" coax.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled." (Richard Feynman)

He's just taking the pith.

-- "For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled." (Richard Feynman)

Certainly not disagreeing with you Fred. In fact I don't know of any 1000:1 probes that are good at high frequency measurements. But for DC measurements, you would want a 1Gohm probe for best accuracy measurements.

Also, I think I read somewhere that the Freon 114 used in the 6015 probe had a permittivity near to 1. There was some discussion of using F-11 as a replacement but its permittivity is up there and the probe does not work well with it.

There is some good information on the yahoo tekscopes group archives concerning this probe.

Regards

That's just nuts!

I meant to say any 1 G ohm, 1k:1 probes.

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Nicrhome is ok for heater uses, but i prefer constantan for electronic purposes. Check out the properties differences, it will be worth it.

?-)

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How squirrely is this going to get?

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Correct, except it is 1000:1; all else is OK.

I am purposely using a larger capacitance as i am not mechanically inclined; easy to put plastic tube around resistors, centered with thin sheet, and wrap adhesive copper foil on outside cut for same length as resistor. Easy to calculate capacitance of the resulting coax (resistor / air / inner tube surface / acrylic / outer tube surface = = floating shield.

Thought of a way to (perhaps) make resistive coax with element in the

50 ohm per foot region. Find some Nichrome or other resistive (heater) wire,and use Teflon sleeving in successive layers or use shrink tubing in successive layers. Slip braid around that.

Acorn't tell you!

Yew guys are knot getting board with these jokes?

("My Tree Puns"... Fred MacMurray?)

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com

Ash me no questions, I'll trellis you no lies!

The discussion is about oscilloscope probes. Thousand meg. DC HV probes are a dime a dozen. Most for use with 10M DMMs, so there's a 1M load resistor in those. I have one. Don't use it much.

Could be. I just looked up the CFC dielectric properties table in Kaye and Laby. All there are around 2. It doesn't specifically mention 1.1.4.

I don't do Yahoo groups.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled." (Richard Feynman)

Whassadifference?

My usual convention for transfer functions is Vout/Vin.

Equal to 1/1000. Or 1:1000

BTW, I would never use a high-voltage probe that didn't have an internal load .

Consider the situation where there is HV applied, and the scope amplifier is inadvertently switched to GND (which means the input socket will be open circuit). Practically the full HV will appear at the amplifier input socket. The insulation won't stand that.

Even worse, a 7A13, switched to "near infinite impedance".

Relying on the scope's input resistance is dangerous. We all make mistakes.

I'm sure that UL, CSA, VDE, TüV, et al. would agree.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled." (Richard Feynman)

You can solder to constantan, for a start!

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

Dr Philip C D Hobbs Principal Consultant ElectroOptical Innovations LLC Optics, Electro-optics, Photonics, Analog Electronics 160 North State Road #203 Briarcliff Manor NY 10510 hobbs at electrooptical dot net http://electrooptical.net

I vaguely one of them can be soldered; which one?

I vaguely remember that one can be soldered; which one is that?

Look at it this way; two coax capacitors in parallel one inside the other. First one from resistor as center conductor and inner surface of plastic tube for "outer" coax and air being the dielectric. Second one has its center conductor as the inner surface of the plastic tube, and the outer coax is the outside that has the conductive foil; the plastic being the dielectric.

In physics, that inner surface would be called a Gaussian surface.

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