Tektronix TCP0150 Instruction Manual
TCP0150
20 MHz, 150 A AC/DC Current Probe
Instruction Manual
www.tektronix.com
071-2251-00
Copyright © Tektronix. All rights reserved. Licensed software products are owned by Tektronix or its subsidiaries or suppliers, an d are protected by
national copyright laws and international treaty provisions.
Tektronix products are covered by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and pending. Information in this publication supersedes that in all previously
published material. Specifications and price change privileges reserved.
TEKTRONIX and TEK are registered trademarks of Tektronix, Inc.
Contacting Tektronix
Tektronix, Inc.
14200 SW Karl Braun Drive
P.O . Bo x 5 0 0
Beaverton, OR 97077
USA
For product information, sales, service, and technical support:
In North America, call 1-800-833-9200.
Worldwide, visit www.tektronix.com to find contacts in your area.
Warranty 2
Tektronix warrants that th is product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of shipment. If
any such product proves defective during this warranty period, Tektronix, at its option, either will repair the defective product without charge for parts
and labor, or will provide a replacement in exchange for the defective product. Parts, modules and replacement products used by Tektronix for
warranty work may be new or reconditioned to like new performance. All replaced parts, modules and products become the property of Tektronix.
In order t o obtain service under this warranty, Customer must notify Tektronix of the defect before the expiration of the warranty period and make
suitable arrangements for the performance of service. Customer shall be responsible for packaging and shipping the defective product to the service
center designated by Tektronix, with shipping charges prepaid. Tektronix shall pay for the return of the product to Customer if the shipment is to a
location within the country in wh ich t he Tektronix service center is located. Customer shall be responsible for paying all shipping charges, duties,
taxes, and any other charges for products returned t o any other locations.
This warranty s hall not apply to any defect, failure or damage caus ed by improper use or improper or inadequate maintenance and c are. Tektronix
shall not be obligated to furnish service under this warranty a) to repair damage resulting from attempts by personnel other than Tektronix
representatives to install, repair or service the product; b) to repair damage resulting from improper use or connection to incompatible equipment; c) to
repair any damage or malfunction caused by the use of non-Tektronix supplies; or d) to service a product that has been modified or integrated with
other products when the effect of such modification or integration increases the time or difficulty of servicing the product.
THIS WARRANTY IS GIVEN BY TEKTRONIX WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT IN LIEU OF ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED. TEKTRONIX AND ITS VENDORS DISCLAIM ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE. TEKTRONIX’ RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS IS THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY
PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER FOR BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY. TEKTRONIX AND ITS VENDORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY
INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR C ONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER TEKTRONIX OR THE VENDOR HAS
ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
Table of Contents
General Safety Sum m ary . . ................................................................................................................. v
Service Safety Summary .................................................................................................................. viii
Environmental Considerations ............................................................................................................. ix
Preface...................................................................................................................................... xi
Documentation........................................................................................................................ xi
Conventions Used in this Manual .................................................................................................... xi
Returning the Probe for Servicing ...................................................................................................xii
Key Features ............................................................................................................................... 1
Installation .................................................................................................................................. 2
Using the Probe Head ................................................................................................................ 3
Degaussing the Probe................................................................................................................ 4
Connecting to the Circuit .. ........................................................................................................... 6
Probe Controls and Indicators ........................................................................................................ 8
Functional Check andBasic Operation ................................................................................................... 16
Basic Operation...................................................................................................................... 17
Application Examples...................................................................................................................... 18
Inductance M easurements .......................................................................................................... 19
Measuring Inductor Turns Count .................................................................................................... 22
Table of Contents
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual i
Table of Contents
Accessories and Options.................................................................................................................. 24
Probing Principles ......................................................................................................................... 30
Specifications.............................................................................................................................. 43
User Maintenance ......................................................................................................................... 55
Performance Verification .................................................................................................................. 57
Standard Accesso ries ............................................................................................................... 24
Optional Accessories ................................................................................................................ 26
Options ............................................................................................................................... 29
Degaussing a Probe with an Unpowered Conductor in the Jaws .. ................................................................ 30
Measuring Differential Current....................................................................................................... 31
Extending Current Range............................................................................................................ 33
Increasing Sensitivity ................................................................................................................ 36
Common Mode Noise/Magnetic Field Errors........................................................................................ 37
AC and DC Coupling.................................................................................................................38
Maximum Current Limits............................................................................................................. 39
Warranted Characteristics ........................................................................................................... 44
Typical Characteristics............................................................................................................... 45
Nominal Characteristics ............................................................................................................. 51
Certifications and Compliances ..................................................................................................... 51
Oscilloscope Firmware .............................................................................................................. 55
Troubleshooting...................................................................................................................... 55
Cleaning.............................................................................................................................. 56
Equipment Required................................................................................................................. 58
ii TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
Table of Contents
Making the DC Current Loop ........................................................................................................ 59
Equipment Setup..................................................................................................................... 60
DC Gain Accuracy ................................................................................................................... 61
Rise Time and Bandwidth ........................................................................................................... 64
TestRecord .......................................................................................................................... 66
Adjustments................................................................................................................................ 67
Equipment Required................................................................................................................. 67
Equipment Setup..................................................................................................................... 67
DC Gain Accuracy ................................................................................................................... 68
Repair...................................................................................................................................... 70
Repairing the Probe ................................................................................................................. 70
Probe Disassembly .................................................................................................................. 71
Reassembly.......................................................................................................................... 79
Replaceable Parts ................................................................................................................... 80
Index
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual iii
Table of Contents
iv TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
General Safety Summary
Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to this product or any products con nected to it.
To avoid potential hazards, use this product only as sp ecified.
Only qualified personnel should pe rform service procedures.
To Avoid Fire or Personal Injury
Connect and Disconnect Properly. Do not connect or disconnect probes or test leads while they are connected to a voltage
source.
Connect and Disconnect Properly. De-energize the circuit under test before connecting or disconnecting the current probe.
Connect and Disconnect Properly. Connect the probe output to the measurement instrument before connecting the probe to the
circuit under test. Connect the probe reference lead to the circuit under test before connecting the p robe input. Disconnect the probe
input and the probe reference lead from the circuit under test before disconnecting the probe from the measurement instrument.
Ground the Product. This product is indirectly grounded through the grounding conductor of the mainframe power cord. To avoid
electric shock, the grounding conductor must be connected to earth ground. Before making connections to the input or o utput
terminals of the product, ensure that the product is properly grounded.
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 apply a potential to any terminal, including the common terminal, that exceeds the maximum rating of that terminal.
General Safety Summary
Do not co nnect 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.
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual v
General Safety Summary
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.
Provide Proper Ventilation.
ventilation.
Refer to the manual’s installation instructions for details on installing the product so it has proper
TermsinthisManual
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.
vi TCP0150 Cu rrent Probe Instruction Manual
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.
The following symbol(s) may appear on the product:
General Safety Summary
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual vii
Service Safety Summary
Service Safety Summary
Only qualified personnel should perform service procedures. Read this Service Safety Summary and the General Safety Summary
before performing any service procedures.
Do Not Service Alone. Do not perform internal service o r adjustments of this product unless another person capab le of
rendering first aid and resuscitation is present.
Disconnect Power. To avoid electric shock, switch off the instrume nt power, then disconnect the power cord from the mains
power.
Use Care When Servicing With Power On. Dangerous voltages or currents may exist in this product. Disconnect power,
remove battery (if applicable), and disconnect test leads before removing protective panels, soldering, or replacing components.
To avoid electric shock, do not touch exposed connections.
viii TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
Environmental Considerations
This section provides information about the environmental impact of the product.
Product End-of-Life Handling
Observe the following guidelines when recycling an instrument or component:
Equipment Recycling. Production of this equipment required the extraction and use of natural resources. The equipment may
contain substances that could be harmful to the environment or human health if improperly handled at the product’s end of life. In
order to avoid release of such substances into the environment and to reduce the use of natural resources, we encourage you to
recycle this product in an appropriate system that will ensure that most of the materials are reused or recycled appropriately.
The symbol shown below indicates that this product complies with the European Union’s requirements according to Directive
2002/96/EC on w aste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). For information about recycling options, check the
Support/Service section of the Tektronix Web site (www.tektronix.com).
Environmental Considerations
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual ix
Environmental Considerations
Restriction of Hazardous Substances
This product has been classified as Monitoring and Control equipment, and is outside the scope of the 2002/95/EC RoHS Directive.
This product complies with the RoHS Directive requirements except for the presence of hexavalent chromium in the surface coating
of the aluminum chassis parts, assembly hardware, and 63/37 tin/lead solder used in the fabrication of th e circuit boards.
x TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
Preface
This manual describes the installation and operation of the TCP0150 current probe. Basic probe operations and concepts are
presented in this manual. You can also access the Tektronix Web site for this document and other related information.
Documentation
Preface
To read about Use these documents
TCP0150 Probe: First Time Operation, Functional Check,
Operating Basics, Specifications, Performance Verification
In-depth oscilloscope operation, user interface help, GPIB
commands
*
To access the documentation that is installed on your instrument, click Start in the taskbar and select Programs > TekApplications.
Read this Instruction Manual.
Access the online help from the Help menu on the host
instrument.
*
Conventions Used in this Manual
The following icon is used throughout this manual to indicate a step sequence.
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual xi
Preface
Returning the Probe for Servicing
If your probe requires servicing, you must return the probe to Tektronix. If the o riginal packaging is unfit for u s e or not available, use
the following packaging guidelines:
Preparation for Shipment
1. Use a corrugated cardboard shipping
carton having inside dimensions at
least one inch greater than the p robe
dimensions. The box should have a carton
test strength of at least 200 pounds.
2. Put the probe into an antistatic bag or wrap
it to protect it from dampness.
3. Place the probe into the box and stabilize it
with light packing material.
4. Seal the carton with shipping tape.
5. Refer to Contacting Tektronix at the
beginning of this manual for the shipping
address.
xii TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
Key Features
You can use the TCP0150 current probe to make accurate measurements from D C to 20 MHz. The probe combines proven
Hall-effect te chnology with the Tektronix TekVPI oscilloscope interface. Key features include:
>20 M Hz bandwidth, <17.5 ns rise time
AC/DC Measurement capability
500 A peak pulse current (PW <30 μs)
25 A and 150 A range settings
5 mA sensitivity ( on TekVPI oscilloscopes
that support the 1 mV/div setting)
1% DC Accuracy (typical)
One-button degauss/autozeroing
Probe control through the oscilloscope
menus or remotely through the oscilloscope
Direct scaling and unit readout on host
instruments
AC coupling (oscilloscope dependent)
Key Features
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual 1
Installation
Installation
1. Slide the probe into the TekVPI receptacle.
The probe snaps in when fully engaged.
When the probe is connected, the host
instrument reads information from the
probe and identifies the device. All of the
probe LEDs light briefly for a quick visual
check.
2. To disconnect, press the latch button and
pull the probe away from the instrument.
NOTE. Your TekVPI instrument may require a
firmware upgrade to support full functiona lity
of the probe.(See page 55, Oscilloscope
Firmware.)
CAUTION. To preven t the compe nsation box
from overheating, ensure that all ventilation
openings are unobstructed whe n connected to
the oscilloscope.
2 TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
Using the Probe Head
1. The U-shaped current-sensing core (the
jaw) is located at the front of the probe.
CAUTION. To prevent risk of fire, do not
connect or disconnect the current probe to or
from a live, uninsulated conductor. The core
is not insulated. When you test un insulated
circuits, remove power before you connect or
disconnect the probe.
2. The trigger at the rear of the probe opens
and closes the sliding bar over the jaw and
the conductor under test.
3. Keep your hands b ehind the tactile barrier
(away from the shaded area) when
connected to live circuitry.
WARNING. To prevent risk of electric shock,
keep your hands behind the tactile barrier
which indicates the limit of safe access.
4. Press the lock switch up to lock the slide
and down to unlock it.
Installation
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual 3
Installation
Degaussing the Probe
1. After the probe is identified by the host
instrument:
The screen display prompts you to
degauss the probe
The multicolor Degauss/AutoZero
status LED on the probe flashes red
NOTE. The DC gain and offset are not
guaranteed when this LED flashes red.
2. With no conductor in the jaw, lock the
probe slide.
3. Press the Degauss/AutoZero button on
the probe or in the Degauss window on the
host instrument.
4. The multicolor Degauss/ AutoZero status
LED glows green to indicate a successful
degauss routine was run, and that the
probe is in normal operating mode.
4 TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
Quick Tip
To maintain measurement accuracy, degauss
your probe in each of these c ases:
After you turn on the measurement system
and allow a 20-minute warm-up period
Before you connect the probe to a
conductor
Whenever a current or thermal overload
condition occurs
Whenever you subject the probe to a
strong external magnetic field
Installation
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual 5
Installation
ConnectingtotheCircuit
CAUTION. To avoid damage to the probe
core, do not drop the probe or subject it to
physical shock, strain, or sudden changes in
ambient conditions.
1. Press the lock switch down to unlock the
slide.
2. Squeeze the trigger handle to open the jaw.
3. Place the jaw around the conductor in the
circuit.
6 TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
4. Release the trigger to close the slide over
the jaw.
5. Press the lock switch up to lock the slide.
WARNING. To prevent risk of electric shock,
use protective equipment (gloves, for example),
if you use the probe on accessible uninsulated
wires or bus bar.
WARNING. Do not exceed the ba re wire
voltage rating of the probe. R efer to the
specification section for details.
Installation
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual 7
Installation
Probe Controls and Indicators
When you connect the probe to the
oscilloscope, all of the indicator LEDs light
briefly, and then at least two LEDs remain
lighted to indicate:
The current range selected
The Degauss/AutoZero status
NOTE. On some host instruments, the probe
retains the range state and restores it when it
is power cycled.
8 TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
Jaw Open LED
1. If the Jaw Open LED glows, the probe slide
is unlocked.
2. Lock the probe slide to accurately measure
current or to degauss the probe.
Installation
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual 9
Installation
Overload LED
The multicolor Overload LED alerts you that
the probe specifications are being exceeded.
The Overload LED alert conditions are:
Glowing red. The maximum continuous
input current limit has been exceeded
Glowing orange. The safe operating
temperature of the probe has been
exceeded
Flashing red and orange. Both the
maximum continuous input current limit
and the safe operating temperature of the
probe have been exceeded
NOTE. The probe will sh ut down if you exceed
the safe operating temperature. To reset
the probe, disconnect the probe from the
oscilloscope, let it cool, and then reconnect it.
Quick Tip
An input current overload can magnetize the
probe. Always degauss t he probe after an
overload.
10 TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
Range Button and LEDs
Press the Range button to select between the
25 A and 150 A current range settings.
The green LEDs indicate the selected range.
The range and units are also displayed on the
oscilloscope screen.
Installation
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual 11
Installation
Degauss/AutoZero
Button and LED
When the multicolor Degauss/AutoZero status
LED fl ashes red , you must degauss the probe.
If th e LED flashes orange, you should degauss
the probe. The DC gain and offset accuracy are
not guaranteed when this LED flashes orange.
The Degauss/AutoZero function also clears
(AutoZeroes) any DC offset in the probe.
To degauss the p robe, d o the following:
1. Disconnect the probe from the current
source and lock the slide.
2. Press the Degauss/AutoZero button to
initiate the degauss routine.
The LED glows green a fter successfully
completing t he Degauss/AutoZero routine.
12 TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
Menu Button
1. Press the Menu button on the probe.
2. The P robe Setup or Probe Controls screen
displays and shows your probe sett ings;
the screen differs by oscilloscope model.
(See page 14, Optional Probe Screens.)
Use the screen buttons to change
the settings or to access other probe
information.
3. Press the Menu button again to close the
screen.
Installation
TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual 13
Installation
Optional Probe Screens
The following screens may be available for the probe, depending on the host oscilloscope model.
The P robe Controls screen may be accessed from the p robe Menu button or other probe screens. It contains buttons for common
probe functions and for access to other probe screens, such as Probe Setup and Probe Properties.
Click the Setup button to display the Probe Setup screen.
14 TCP0150 Current Probe Instruction Manual
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