#311
This video describes the top 5 reasons that you might think your oscilloscope voltage readings are wrong. These are the most common mistakes made by new users and professionals alike. They are:
1) Voltages are off by a factor of 10 - usually due to not accounting for 10x probe attenuation. See this video about 1x/10x probes:
• #9: Basic 1X and 10X Oscilloscope Pro...
2) Voltages off by a factor of 2 - usually due to using a signal generator that is expecting a 50 ohm load. See this video for more details:
• #137: Why your Function Generator's o...
3) All voltage readings lower than they should be - usually caused by not putting the volts/div vernier into the Calibrated position. See this video on one reason that this control exists:
• #66: How to make a rise-time measurem...
4) High frequency voltage readings low - could be several reasons, but most often due to signal frequencies being too close to the scope/probe rated bandwidth. See these videos on scope bandwidth considerations:
• #25: Analog Oscilloscope bandwidth co...
• #69: Basics of Analog Oscilloscope Ba...
• #70: Digital Oscilloscope Bandwidth M...
5) Probed voltage amplitudes are not right - most often caused by improper 10x probe compensation. See this video on the importance of probe compensation:
• #206: Importance of 10X Probe Compens...
Video notes can be found here:
http://www.qsl.net/w2aew/youtube/WhyS...