K8031: Using a K8031 to measure 230V AC

Instruments PC Oscilloscopes and Recorders
1

See thread [url]Using a pcsu1000 for 230v AC]

Hi, in the above thread it is stated that

  1. no connection of the scope’s “earth” input should be made to the 230V mains because it can destroy both scope and computer
  2. the maximum voltage that the scope can have is 30Vpeak.

I have some similar thoughts about the K8031:

  • The K8031 has an opto coupled interface to the computer, so I think point 1. is not valid here, since the computer can only be destroyed by a defective optocoupler while e.g. measuring mains.

  • The K8031 states on the frontpanel “100Vp max”. This would mean that the scope can measure 230V AC (= 321 V peak) with a 10:1 probe (provide the probe can handle the 230Vpeak). In fact, the K8031 can measure up to 1000V peak with an 10:1 probe (provided again the probe can handle this voltage). Of course the whole 230V sinus can not be made visible as a whole on the screen: The max V/div is 3 * 10 = 30V/div, which is too less to show 642 Vpp, but the scope would not go defective.

Apparently the PCSU1000 is only capable of having 30V peak? This means the max voltage it can handle with a 10:1 probe is 300V, which is too low to have the peak voltage of the 230Vac.

Is my reasoning about the K8031 correct?
Thanks in advance.

2

For safety reasons it is not recommended to measure higher voltages than 30V with the PCSU1000.
With the optically isolated scopes, PCS500 and PCS100 / K8031, you can safely measure higher voltages too.

Discussion of this topic also in the threads:
[forum.vellemanprojects.eu/t/pcsu-1000-voltage-limits/1087/1)
[forum.vellemanprojects.eu/t/using-pscu1000-on-main/325/1)
[forum.vellemanprojects.eu/t/pcsu1000-is-it-a-good-choice/121/1)

3

Thanks. :smiley: