common ground
The common ground here is a bit different of a concept than the
plasma ignition stuff.
When measuring the resistor, a "shunt", or actually a current sensing
resistor like 0.25 ohms or so was in series with the ground and the scope
channel A was put across that to see the voltage difference so the
current could be calculated at that point.
On the timer circuit, I was using a current sensing resistor on the negative
rail from the same battery to the negative of the timer circuit - I think
that is how I had it wired. On this one, channel B for example could be
put across that to measure what the timer circuit is drawing as well.
But with the Tektronix 3054C, the grounds for the channels are connected
to each other. So if measuring both channels A & B at the same time,
having both probes across those resistors on both the resistor shunt
and timer shunt, the probes were interfering with each other.
So it is better to measure each independently of each other which is
probably ok but is more difficult to see their relationship with each other
in live time with a high degree of accuracy.
The Fluke123 that I also used has the probes for Channel A & B isolated
from each other so when measuring both A & B, neither will interfere with
each other.
So the common ground thing was really a reference to how the
Tektronix scope had the channels wired together. The circuit itself,
resistor/mosfet side and the timer are already common ground being
run on the same battery.
This is my recollection of the deal with the common ground issue with
the Tektronix - I noticed the readings of one channel would instantly
change when attaching a probe to the second channel.
Originally posted by gmeast
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plasma ignition stuff.
When measuring the resistor, a "shunt", or actually a current sensing
resistor like 0.25 ohms or so was in series with the ground and the scope
channel A was put across that to see the voltage difference so the
current could be calculated at that point.
On the timer circuit, I was using a current sensing resistor on the negative
rail from the same battery to the negative of the timer circuit - I think
that is how I had it wired. On this one, channel B for example could be
put across that to measure what the timer circuit is drawing as well.
But with the Tektronix 3054C, the grounds for the channels are connected
to each other. So if measuring both channels A & B at the same time,
having both probes across those resistors on both the resistor shunt
and timer shunt, the probes were interfering with each other.
So it is better to measure each independently of each other which is
probably ok but is more difficult to see their relationship with each other
in live time with a high degree of accuracy.
The Fluke123 that I also used has the probes for Channel A & B isolated
from each other so when measuring both A & B, neither will interfere with
each other.
So the common ground thing was really a reference to how the
Tektronix scope had the channels wired together. The circuit itself,
resistor/mosfet side and the timer are already common ground being
run on the same battery.
This is my recollection of the deal with the common ground issue with
the Tektronix - I noticed the readings of one channel would instantly
change when attaching a probe to the second channel.
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