[Amps] Scope book

[Bill Turner]

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

At 01:59 PM 3/13/2006, Will Matney wrote:

>All,
>
>Some on here were wondering about operating a scope correctly and 
>what everything does. I dug out an old book I've had since I first 
>started in this that I got from a cousin back in 1980. The books 
>title is "Oscilloscope Handbook", and was written by Clyde Herrick, 
>copyright 1974 by Reston Publishing. The ISBN number is; 
>0-87909-597-0. It talks about every aspect of the way a scope works 
>from the CRT, each circuit section, and how to use it. There is a 
>good chapter called "Signal tracing and troubleshooting 
>proceedures", that will be of interest. It goes on with TV 
>troubleshooting in the next chapter, then scope maintenance.
>
>Best,
>
>Will

*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********

I don't have the book, so perhaps this is covered: One of the 
cleverest tricks with an oscilloscope, if it is a dual-channel type, 
is to ADD the two channels together while INVERTING one of them. This 
allows the two probes to be used in a differential mode, i.e. 
measuring the difference between the probe tips. The advantage is 
that no ground connection is required, believe it or not. Since most 
scopes have their chassis - and the probe ground - connected to the 
AC mains ground, this allows you to measure AC mains voltages without 
having to float the scope chassis above ground.

This may not be a mode you will use every day, but when you do need 
it, it is very handy.

73, Bill W6WRT