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I figured I would post this here for those of us who are not quite so fortunate to be able to afford high power multi meters, amp meters and oscilloscopes.
Finding an oscilloscope that you can use is easy and cheap enough, but the limiting factor is the amount of voltage and or current it can handle. I downloaded an oscilloscope program that works through your sound card.
You can find it here: Virtins Technology: Turn a PC into Virtual Instrument - Home
There is a free seven day trial. The basic oscilloscope is 25$ US, but they have spectrum anylizer and function generator upgrades for up to 50$ US.
I used this a little bit, and it seemed to work OK, though I haven't been able to test much of anything in 7 days without proper equipment. The thing you have to worry about is frying your sound card in your PC, or even hurting the PC itself. They have instructions on a limiting circuit but I was worried about wave clipping/deforming and accuracy issues with it.
I also wanted to be able to test things well above the voltage my comp can handle, as well as current.
With the introduction of Voltage dividers and Shunts, you can work out circuits that would allow you to measure much higher voltages/current without burning out your PC. All that it would take is a little math.
Voltage Dividers
Using known resistor values, you can measure the voltage drop between two of them. You can enginer this to create an known voltage drop or division ratio.
The Voltage Divider Rule
Now the only thing I wasn't able to verify (at least in the little bit of research I've been doing) is weather a simple resistance voltage divider can be used for both ac and DC. I've come across sites that say yes, and others that say you have to use an induction or capacitance divider.
The other thing I would be concerned about is the accuracy of any divider circuit.
Shunts
Shunts are used to measure Amperage, using ohms law you can use a shunt (a piece of material with a known resistance value) and measure the voltage drop across it and again with a little math you get your amperage as well
Make a Shunt Resistor - Electric Circuit
I would encourage others to add there ideas or mods for these cheep skate shortcuts as well as anything way or process that will make these as accurate as possible. These tools will make it easier for others to measure and document their results.
Also, post any other ideas/resources to make this even better!
Finding an oscilloscope that you can use is easy and cheap enough, but the limiting factor is the amount of voltage and or current it can handle. I downloaded an oscilloscope program that works through your sound card.
You can find it here: Virtins Technology: Turn a PC into Virtual Instrument - Home
There is a free seven day trial. The basic oscilloscope is 25$ US, but they have spectrum anylizer and function generator upgrades for up to 50$ US.
I used this a little bit, and it seemed to work OK, though I haven't been able to test much of anything in 7 days without proper equipment. The thing you have to worry about is frying your sound card in your PC, or even hurting the PC itself. They have instructions on a limiting circuit but I was worried about wave clipping/deforming and accuracy issues with it.
I also wanted to be able to test things well above the voltage my comp can handle, as well as current.
With the introduction of Voltage dividers and Shunts, you can work out circuits that would allow you to measure much higher voltages/current without burning out your PC. All that it would take is a little math.
Voltage Dividers
Using known resistor values, you can measure the voltage drop between two of them. You can enginer this to create an known voltage drop or division ratio.
The Voltage Divider Rule
Now the only thing I wasn't able to verify (at least in the little bit of research I've been doing) is weather a simple resistance voltage divider can be used for both ac and DC. I've come across sites that say yes, and others that say you have to use an induction or capacitance divider.
The other thing I would be concerned about is the accuracy of any divider circuit.
Shunts
Shunts are used to measure Amperage, using ohms law you can use a shunt (a piece of material with a known resistance value) and measure the voltage drop across it and again with a little math you get your amperage as well
Make a Shunt Resistor - Electric Circuit
I would encourage others to add there ideas or mods for these cheep skate shortcuts as well as anything way or process that will make these as accurate as possible. These tools will make it easier for others to measure and document their results.
Also, post any other ideas/resources to make this even better!
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