ITTSB.EU Blog Forum
Electrical Test and Measurement instruments => Bench-top Oscilloscope & Handheld scope meter => Topic started by: Kiriakos GR on November 01, 2013, 02:47:26 AM
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By getting my GDS-2102A Oscilloscope, the supplied probes with the GW Instek part numbers, they are actually made by Pintek in Taiwan.
Now by looking for spare probe tips for those, I did discovered these Pintek parts as re branded again, and by a German company. :)
Recently I wanted to get my first 100:1 probe and discovered again Pintek made probe this offered by Pro's Kit (ProsKit), and so I did grab this opportunity.
I am keeping the compatibility regarding tips and accessories with my 10x probes, and I am having now a 100X probe of high quality and reasonably priced.
Got it on eBay for 27,59 EUR shipped, and now I am HV Ready .. ;D
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One Pintek 100X probe, several rebranded probes, actual product specifications slightly varying. :-X
I am returning at this article, so to offer a fresh pack of clarifications ( Year 2026).
In the world of probes, maximum safe operating input voltage, this has to do with its probe dielectric strength.
Indeed most of these probes, they come with mixed specifications about RMS , DC Peak, AC peak.
This probe specifications:
1200V RMS as Maximum Normal input.
2000V Absolute maximum.
From the side of Rohde & Schwarz
100:1 Probe RT-ZH03
This is specified as Max. 850 VRMS (1200 V with transient overvoltage)
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Voltage AC or DC this is an amount of energy.
And the probe this should be considered as this be a spoon.
At alternating voltages, Peak to Peak voltage, this is maximum quantity, that the spoon can be loaded with.
VRMS = Energy this inducing mixed AC component with DC.
Due the fact that DCV this is generated due alternating voltage, VRMS this is the sum of both within a line of voltage.
Now the user, he should have awareness of what VRMS energy he is probing.
If you expect that DC component this is dominant? Then you may probe up to 1200V.
If you expect that AC component this is dominant? Then you should consider 1200V as AC Peak to Peak.
In this case 850V AC for RT-ZH03, or 1200V AC for Pintek, this is the maximum quantity for your spoon, at 40Hz up to 40 kHz.
And or 600V AC RMS at 100KHz
And or 250V AC RMS at 1MHz
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In conclusion, DC + Peak AC , and or DC + including Peak AC, they are all translate in to basic principal of VRMS.
At three phase AC system 50Hz, there is approximately 380V ~ 390V, and Peak to Peak AC this is three times higher at 1200V.
(1200V PP = of what it is named as DC + AC Peak).
VRMS with high DC component, and with a smaller AC component in it, at 2026 you may find it at electric vehicles and their charging stations (AC component this is several volts of ripple).
VRMS with high AC component, it was a time that copper transformers they were used for ACV step up, and then you could have 500V DC up to 2000V DC as power supply for tubes (RF transmitter Amplifier stage for AM or FM Band).
This is now a dying electrical application.
At our times these probes they are usable only if you own a battery powered oscilloscope.
In real life, you can measure with be extremely cautious, single phase ACV.
And or you can measure safely only ACV step up copper transformers.
100X probe with a pile of internal resistance, this is not considered as accurate tool.
Personally I think that these probes, they have come at the end of their life, nowadays they are considered as useful for a tiny number of electrical applications.
The real thing, a modern differential probe, this is the only solution, for a full size oscilloscope.
If you get such a probe? Then this basic 100X probe, this will simply collect dust in your tool box.
Keep this explanation for your self, it is delivered by an authentic Greek expert human brain. ;)