PINTECH High Frequency Current Probe Instruction Manual

Warranty

PINTECH warrants that PT-227/PT-320/PT-325/PT-350/PT-3100 will be free for a period of THREE (3) years from the date of shipment. Any repair except replacing components is free.

Please pay attention that, you must DO NOT unseal the product or do any change on it. Or PINTECH will not offer any warranty. Contact PINTECH or distributors if you need any repair.

1. General Safety Summary

Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to this product or any products connected to it.

To avoid potential hazards, use this product only as specified. Only qualified personnel should perform service procedures.

⚠ WARNING: To avoid fire or personal injury.

Connect and Disconnect Properly: Connect the probe output to the measurement instrument before connecting the probe to the circuit under test. Disconnect the probe input and the probe ground from the circuit under test before disconnecting the probe from the measurement instrument.

Observe all terminal ratings: To avoid fire or shock hazard, observe all ratings and markings on the product. Consult the product manual for further ratings information before making connections to the product.

Do not connect a current probe to any wire that carries voltages above the current probe voltage rating.

Do not operate without covers. Do not operate this product with covers or panels removed.

Do not operate with suspected failures. If you suspect that there is damage to this product, have it inspected by qualified service personnel.

Avoid exposed circuitry. Do not touch exposed connections and components when power is present.

Do not operate in wet/damp conditions.

Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere.

Keep product surfaces clean and dry.

Terms in this manual:

These terms may appear in this manual:

• ⚠ WARNING: Warning statements identify conditions or practices that could result in injury or loss of life.
• ⚠ CAUTION: Caution statements identify conditions or practices that could result in damage to this product or other property.

Symbols and terms on the product:

These terms may appear on the product:

• DANGER indicates an injury hazard immediately accessible as you read the marking.
• WARNING indicates an injury hazard not immediately accessible as you read the marking.
• CAUTION indicates a hazard to property including the product.

2. Specification

3. Connecting the Probe to Oscilloscope

Method 1: Connect the oscilloscope directly. (See image description below)

Method 2: Connect the probe's BNC connector with PL-36, BP-250, then connect the BP-250 BNC cable with the oscilloscope. (See image description below)

Image Description (Pic 1 & Pic 2): Two images show oscilloscope connection setups. Pic 1 illustrates a direct connection of the current probe to an oscilloscope. Pic 2 shows the current probe connected via an adapter (BP-250) to the oscilloscope.

Disconnecting the Probe

Remove the probe away from the oscilloscope accordingly.

To disconnect the adapter:

1. Press down the latch button on the adapter.
2. Pull the adapter away from the probe by pulling the aviation connector.

Image Description: An image shows the probe adapter with a cable and an aviation connector. A red arrow indicates pulling the aviation connector to disconnect the adapter.

4. Probe Head Controls

Slider and Conductor Jaw

1. When the slider is in the locked position, you can take measurements.
2. Move the slider to the unlocked position to insert and remove conductors from the jaw.
3. The jaw can accept a 5 mm (0.2 in) diameter maximum conductor size.

WARNING: To prevent probe from damage, do not force conductors larger than 5 mm (0.2 in) diameter into the jaw. Do not adjust the probe by yourself using the hole on the probe; the hole is for manufacturer use only.

Diagram Description: A diagram illustrates the probe head with a slider. It shows the slider in a locked position (labeled '1') for measurement, and an unlocked position (labeled '2') for inserting/removing conductors. It also indicates the jaw capacity and shows a conductor passing through the jaw with polarity markings (+ and -) relative to the probe's current flow direction.

Grounding the Probe

Use the ground lead to improve EMI rejection at high frequencies only.

1. Fasten the small clip to the ground stub on the probe body.
2. Clip the alligator clip to your circuit.
3. Attach the probe to your circuit.
4. Make sure the oscilloscope is grounded, and there is no voltage signal between channels and the probe's ground, or it will damage the probe.

Diagram Description: A diagram shows the probe body with a ground stub (labeled '1'). A small clip is attached to the stub. An alligator clip (labeled '2') is shown, ready to connect to a circuit (labeled '3').

5. Function Testing

The following information is provided to help you use the current probe properly.

Auto Zero DC Offset: Power the probe, press this button with the red LED lighting, then remove your hand immediately. The function is finished when the LED turns off. (Use this function before testing DC; it is not needed for testing AC.)

Functional Check:

1. Connect the probe to any channel of the oscilloscope.
2. Set the oscilloscope to display the probe channel.
3. Clamp the probe to your circuit.
4. Adjust the oscilloscope or use the Autoset function to display a stable waveform. When you see a stable waveform, your probe is functioning correctly.

Image Description: A close-up image of the PINTECH current probe module is shown, highlighting the 'Power' and 'Zero/Degauss' buttons.

6. Basic Operation

1. Before connecting the probe to the lead (circuit), check the display of the oscilloscope.

(Degauss and zero the probe if an overload occurs, a no-load DC offset is found, or the probe is exposed to a strong magnetic field.)

1. Close and lock the probe jaw over the conductor. For correct polarity reading, connect the probe so that the current flow, from positive to negative, is aligned with the arrow on the probe jaw.
2. Readout the measurement on the oscilloscope or inductor leads.

Degaussing:

1. To degauss the probe, first make sure that the probe jaw is fully closed.
2. Press and hold the degauss button until the red LED is flashing, then release the button. The function is finished when the LED turns off.

7. Measuring Inductor Turns Count

To obtain an approximate turns count of an inductor, do the following:

1. Connect the inductor to a current limited source, as shown.
2. Measure the input current on one of the inductor leads.
3. Clamp the current probe around the inductor and note the current value. The number of turns is equal to the ratio of coil current to input current. The accuracy of this method is limited by the current measurement accuracy.

Diagram Description: A circuit diagram shows a current source connected to a coil. An arrow indicates the input current 'i'.

For a more precise turns count, you need a coil with a known number of turns to use as a reference. Do the following:

1. Repeat steps 1 and 2 above and make the following changes:
2. Insert the reference coil into the current probe.
3. Insert the test coil into the current probe so that the currents oppose each other, as shown. You must observe the polarity of coil current to determine whether the test coil has less or more turns than the reference coil. The turns are calculated by using the formula:

N₂ = N₁ × (I<0xE2><0x82><0x98> ÷ I₁)

where:

• N₂ is the number of turns in the test coil,
• N₁ is the number of turns in the reference coil,
• I<0xE2><0x82><0x98> is the measured coil current, and
• I₁ is the input current.

Diagram Description: A diagram shows two coils, a reference coil and a test coil, placed within the current probe jaws. Arrows indicate opposing current flows through the coils.

Warning: To reduce the risk of electric shock or fire, do not exceed the ratings of the ADP-250N adapter.

8. Measuring Current

To make the measurements accurate, perform the DC zero setting.

WARNING: Do not force the slide closed. Or it may damage the probe. If you cannot close the slide around the conductor(s), either reduce the number of conductors you are measuring, or, if possible, take your measurement on a smaller conductor.

1. Be certain the polarities (+ and -) oppose each other.
2. Clamp the tested conductor (electric cable). Be careful not to pinch a conductor in the probe jaws.
3. Measure the current. Conventional current flows from positive to negative. A waveform above the baseline indicates that the conductor with the conventional current flow in the direction of the probe arrow is carrying the greater current.
4. To adjust for a current null, adjust the current in one of the conductors until the displayed measurement is zero.

Diagram Description: A current waveform is shown, with a baseline and a positive peak, indicating measured current.

9. Increasing Sensitivity

If you are measuring very small DC or low-frequency AC signals of very small amplitudes, you can increase the measurement sensitivity of your current probe by doing the following:

1. Wind several turns of the conductor under test around the probe as shown. The signal is multiplied by the number of turns around the probe.
2. To obtain the actual current value, divide the displayed amplitude by the number of turns.

For example, if a conductor is wrapped around the probe three times and the oscilloscope shows a reading of 60 mA DC, the actual current flow is 60mA divided by 3, or 20mA DC.

NOTE: Winding more turns around the probe increases the insertion impedance and reduces the upper bandwidth limit of the probe.

Diagram Description: A diagram shows a conductor being wound multiple times around the jaw of a current probe.

10. Maximum Current Limits

Current probes have three maximum current ratings: pulsed, continuous, and Ampere-second product. Exceeding any of these ratings can saturate the probe core, which magnetizes the core and causes measurement errors.

Refer to the specifications for the maximum current ratings of the probe.

Maximum Pulsed Current (ImaxP) is the maximum peak value of pulsed current the probe can accurately measure, regardless of how short (within bandwidth limitations) the pulse duration is.

Maximum Continuous Current (ImaxC) is the maximum current that can be continuously measured at DC or at a specified AC frequency. The maximum continuous current value is derated with frequency; as the frequency increases, the maximum continuous current rating decreases.

Ampere-Second Product is the maximum width of pulsed current that you can measure when the pulse amplitude is between the maximum continuous and maximum pulsed current specifications. The maximum continuous specification varies by frequency.

To determine if your measurement exceeds the Ampere-second product, you must first determine the maximum allowable pulse width or maximum allowable pulse amplitude.

NOTE: Always degauss the probe after measuring a current that exceeds the maximum continuous current, maximum pulsed current, or Ampere-second product rating of the probe. Exceeding these ratings can magnetize the probe and cause measurement errors.

The probe has been calibrated at an indoor ambient temperature of 23°C ±5°C.

The probe must have a warm-up time of at least 20 minutes and be in an environment that does not exceed the limit.

11. Cleaning

Protect the probe from adverse weather conditions. The probe is not waterproof.

CAUTION: To prevent damage to the probe, do not expose it to sprays, liquids, or solvents. Avoid getting moisture inside the probe during exterior cleaning.

Do not use chemical cleaning agents; they may damage the probe. Avoid using chemicals that contain benzine, benzene, toluene, xylene, acetone, or similar solvents.

Clean the exterior surfaces of the probe with a dry, lint-free cloth or a soft-bristle brush. Do not use abrasive compounds on any part of the probe.

12. Packing List

Company Information

Guangzhou PinTech Electronics Co., Ltd.

Address: 10th Floor, Building A1, Lian Dong U Valley, Xicheng Middle Street, Huangpu District, Guangzhou City

Website: www.pintech.com.cn

Phone: 020-82510899