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Instrumentation and Measurement Circuits

• Auto ranging 4-1/2 Digit Digital Voltmeter
• 3-1/2 Digit ICL7107 Digital Panel Meter 
• Current Source mA for calibration

Test and Measurement Design

Analog Circuits are the core in any instrument design, Even in a Instrument with Digital or uC control. The Interface to the Real World parameters is Analog. High Speed Analog and High Energy Measurements are the challenging areas.

Diode Reverse Bias Leakage Tester

T&M and Process Control Instrumentation have many things in common; but the conditions in which a Industrial Instrument works, may be very unfriendly.



Industrial Instruments are used both in Clean-Cool Control Rooms and also in a corrosive, humid, hot and vibrating industrial environment. Even high levels of Static, Magnetic influences in conjunction with spikes and brown outs can be expected.

Oscilloscopes in Test Measurement

Test and Measurement instruments are of two types, by way of its usage; Portable and Benchtop. Portable Instruments will consume low power, insulated and rugged. The Product Safety features are more stringent as they are HandHeld or slung over the shoulder. Some features and specs are sacrificed. The Benchtop version has more front panel space and can interface with other instruments or systems. More accuracy and features can be accommodated in this.

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Instrumentation Notes -

• If the waveform on the scope droops then you may need to use a 10X attenuating probe or mode. this attenuator is at the tip of the probe hence better measurement possible, also very high frequency signals may be best transmitted over a 50 ohm impedance matched line to the Oscilloscope. The History of Oscilloscope, Learn more about Oscilloscope from the Innovator of the Scope as a Measuring Instrument here is XYZs of Oscilloscopes.
• Karl Ferdinand Braun - In 1897 he built the first cathode-ray tube...oscilloscope. CRT technology is to this day used by most television sets and computer monitors. The CRT is still called the "Braun tube".
• Test a NPN transistor, DMM in 200K range. emitter negative probe, collector positive probe, it should show open. while still holding that way press wet finger on base and collector, it may show some reading, then it is ok. for PNP swap probes polarity and do the same thing. the wet finger when pressed applies a base current in uA.
• The most common reason of DMM failure is when a person tries to measure 230V AC with a DMM in current or ohms mode, with the probes in the wrong sockets. Use external attenuators and shunts.
• A DMM in diode mode or resistance mode can be used to test IR diodes, take it under 100W lamp and measure, cover the IR diode and measure you will see a response in proper polarity.
• If you put the DMM in 2V mode and measure the voltage across a ordinary LED near a 40W lamp you will see around 200mV. Turn off 40W lamp the mV will fall near 0. Even metal-can transistors with their top ground away will become photo sensors.
• When you measure low voltages or high resistance like 1M with a DMM your body must not be in contact with the probe tips. Body resistance is low in comparison so error in reading or loading of mV from sensor, in sensitive and high impedance ranges.
• Do not use an oscilloscope to measure 230V directly, use a transformer, differential probe or attenuator.
• An oscilloscope 1M probe or a DMM 10M impedance can load circuits with nano-pico amps of bias.
• Red socket and probe for positive and black socket and probe for negative
• Is it oscillating ?.... We cannot say, it could also be DC, you need to see if a Clock is present. use a signal tracer or a DMM freq mode, or AC measurement, or build a logicprobe.  When you do not have a scope you can build one for the PC.
• Polarity and Zero Cross, a polarity indicator, which will tell you to swap the leads.Zero Crossing Detectors, Comparators.

Related Resources

• Precision Amplifier with Digital Control
• Precision Attenuator with Digital Control
  
• Build a DMM or digital multi meter
• Small Electronic Testing Tools

More Designs in PDF

• Linearizing circuit  using opamps
  
• Universal signal conditioner differential amp
• Simple MilliVolt Source
  
• 0-2V to 4-20mA Converter
• Analog averaging circuit with Opamps
• Relative Humidity  Chart pdf