Recommendations for an oscilliscope?

[Wayne 962]

While testing the mag pickups on the green RSR tonight, our 50+ year old oscilliscope died. I went on eBay, and there are hundreds in the $50-$100 price range - anyone have any suggestions?

thx,

Wayne

[yelcab1]

I would not do the $50-$100 ones. They are less than toys and not for serious work. If you are going to do anything serious, at least spend the $400 for a decent one from China. Rigol makes some good ones.

[florio]

Hi, I've also been looking at these for a while, and am personally leaning towards getting a used one from a reputable company like tektronics. We have these in the lab at work for decades, and they practically never die.

like this one: eBay item number:252690254687

[ChrisBennet]

I really liked my old Fluke scopemeter 190 series for working on cars.
Every time I loaned it out it came back broken and the last time I decided to get a $400 Rigol.
Maybe I'm stuck in my ways but it is not as nearly as easy to use as the Fluke.

[m42racer]

In my opinion, the best scope to get if basic scope functions are required, ( no special automotive features) look at Pico. Excellent piece and connects to your laptop for display. Record as long as your lap top has power, stop, rewind, expand, overlays, etc, often features unavailable in the lower cost standalone scopes. They offer single, dual and multi channels versions. I think a dual trace version is in the $ 400.00 range. Approx 6" square and 1' thick. Simple and very user friendly.

[T77911S]

post some links to the ones you are interested in.

I am an electronics tech for the FAA
we have the tektronics 2246.

I prefer analog Oscopes for most things. its kind of like a digital TV trying to display fog, you don't get smooth transitions from the shades of darkness or light. that's how digital scopes are for some signals.

I liked the digital scopes for adjusting square pulses on this old equipment we use to have. for the pilots out there it was our beacon interrogator system. it used tubes.
the digital scope could measure pluse width, rise time and fall time and display it all while adjusting the pulse. that way I did not have to stop and measure those things.

we now have a digital radar system that came with digital scopes but I prefer the analog scope.

I have a digital at home only because it was free. I have only used it to look at the signal out of the distributor of my 930. it was fine for that.

oh, the calibration van will be here in a week or so, if you post something they may know if it is good.

[db_cooper]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

While testing the mag pickups on the green RSR tonight, our 50+ year old oscilliscope died. I went on eBay, and there are hundreds in the $50-$100 price range - anyone have any suggestions?

thx,

Wayne

Wayne..while you are waiting for your oscilloscope..many years ago in a galaxy far away..I made a quick tester for DME components and the like. Crank or cam senders, injectors and so forth.

Using a red LED and a 220ohm .5 watt resistor wired in. some of the small male blades and insulated with tape and enclosed in a length of fuel line.

I disassembled my tester after 30 years to confirm the value of the resistor reccomendation..it needs to cleaned up too.

Works well..is polarity sensitive as we all know with the LED. No problem if installed backwards for testing. Nice bright flash when it gets a pulse..no flash..no pulse..easy.

Should work on your mag pickups..just for testing.

A picture of the disassembly tester..

[gazzerr]

Seen a few of these around guys that are into electronics repair.

https://www.amazon.com/Rigol-DS1102E-100MHz-Digital-Oscilloscope/dp/B001VKCJ0M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476236584&sr=8-1&keywords=rigol+ds1102e

Not cheap but not crazy expensive.

[jpnovak]

I have a handlheld Velleman scope meter. I use it all the time for car stuff. I have had it for about 8 years. It was inexpensive and easy to use. I did not have the budget for a Fluke at the time.

[power]

I am not current in technology there may have been advances in the last 20 years I am unaware of.

I have an old Tektronix 4 channel analog scope and an old Tektronix 2 channel digital handheld scope. I like both, the analog for slower speed things I don't need to store or capture. The digital for faster things I need to trigger off and capture for review. Having a current probe attachment with my handheld digital has been valuable over the years.

I would think you probably need something like 100MHZ in a digital storage scope.

[Quicksilver]

I found my scope on Craigslist for cheap. 2 channel digital storage with a couple probes for $100.

[r-mm]

Sorry to semi-jack here but can someone explain a few of the automotive things one would use a scope for as opposed a multimeter?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wrxnofx]

Originally Posted by r-mm

Sorry to semi-jack here but can someone explain a few of the automotive things one would use a scope for as opposed a multimeter?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Certain things on all cars produce a wave form (speed and reference sensors, for example), whether square wave or sine wave. A multimeter can't "read" this wave. An oscilloscope enables you to view this wave form and see if it is correct, if there are drop outs, etc.

I'd look at a Pico if I was looking for an oscilloscope. Connects to your laptop, completely configurable.

[yelcab1]

Ignition, injectors, O2 sensors, TDC sensor.... You know, the analog stuff.

[nocarrier]

I have a rigol ds1052e and have been very happy with it.

Some of the things you can check with a scope are :

Injector wave forms/ flyback voltage

Primary and secondary ignition waveforms.

Pwm duty cycle and frequency

Fuel pump armature condition.

Relays ( such as relay bounce or fluttering)

Voltage.....

Current (need current clamp)

And lots more of fun things....?

[steely]

I used Tektronix and LeCroy in work but they were all high-end. The newer DSO's were becoming smaller/almost pad-like. You won't need really high speed/bandwidth. Get something for the bench and the floor.

I bought a cheapie nano because I use it only once a year. Helped me diagnose a bad ICV driver on the DME, but you should get a real one.



on edit: my pic isn't coming up right away as I write this

[Tea Tray]

I recently bought an Owon 4 channel touch screen to replace my 20 year old Hitachi. The Chinese stuff has come a long way. I came from an environment that was all Tektronix and HP. Read the reviews.... I also have a Tektronix 214 that has an internal battery so you can help other brands when dead on the side O' the road...

[dicklague]

Wayne

I like the Hantek 1008c that is a USB SCOPE that plugs into the USB port on a laptop of computer. This model has many auto functions built in and has signal generator as well.

It has been great to trouble shoot early 911 ignitions and electrical.

I have also used in on other care auto electronics trouble shooting.

At less than $100 USD they are very good value for the money.

Here is an eBay listing

Hantek 1008c Oscilloscope 8CH USB Automotive Diagnostic DAQ Generator NM N15T | eBay


and here is an Amazon one.

https://www.amazon.com/Hantek-Automotive-Diagnostic-Oscilloscope-Programmable/dp/B00BSR98KW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483833270&sr=8-1&keywords=hantek+1008c

[dicklague]

[Knockdown]

I'll second the Pico scopes, very good!