PCSU1000, is it a good choice?

I am a hobiest that has been working on-off for the last 3-4 years on several circuits. The main one I need to finish off is a low frequency solenoid drive circuit. The main signal I am looking at varies from 2-3 hz to 50-60 hz. With my traditional scope I have trouble keeping a useable trace on the scope below about 15 hz. My “internet assistants” tell me I need a storage scope. I thought versus buying a used storage scope for several hundred dollars or more, a PC scope might be a better answer.

Will this scope work well at very low frequency (2-3 hz)?

I am concerned about the 30 volt input limitation. Will a simple 10x scope probe solve this problem? (inductive spike present goes up past 50 volts on my existing scope, probably not significant energy above 80 volts)

Thoughts?

Thanks,

The PCSU1000 oscilloscope operates very well in DC mode at 2-3 Hz frequency. You may use the recorder mode of the scope too.

The maximum voltage is limited to 30 V due to safety reasons only. The probe working voltage in position x10 is specified: 600Vdc incl. peak AC derating with frequency.

BEWARE
The safety reason of 30Vp is due to the ground connection of PCSU1000 and the PC.
Even with a probe at x10 the ground remains connected!

I guess I don’t understand the significance of the “ground still being connected”.

Would this scope be suitable for this kind of circuit?

I would be running this scope with my notebook colmputer, normally plugged into the wall circuit. The injector drive circuit would be powered by a 12 volt automotive battery that is constantly charged by a 10 amp charger plugged into the wall circuit.

What specifically would I need to understand about the ground circuit other than ensuring the PC and the charger have the same ground? (most likely I would plug the PC and the charger into the same power strip)

Thanks,

It is all about safety;
Even with a x10 probe, you ground level of the scope is same as PC.
So if you touch a metal part of the PC, it could be connected to a higher voltage.
Furthermore, using a portable PC, the chassis of the PC is not earthed.

What I say is: You can measure it but be carefull when measuring higher voltages.

Otherwise considder a hand held scope:
HSP40, APS230, these also have recorder (roll) function and PC connectivity.
The PC software however is more limitted to screen shot or data transmitting during recording mode…

If my PC is plugged into the wall power with a three prong plug, isn’t the chasis of this PC then at the same ground potential as the battery charger and the circuit being tested?

I understand everything should be connected to the same ground but as far as I can see everything should be(?) I would assume the USB connection has one conductor at ground potential of the PC which would allow the scope to be at the same ground potential as the PC and circuit being tested.

Anyway I can test for this?

Thanks,

If your PC is connected to earth and your charger is connected to earth, then there is a chance your charger GND is connected to earth.

Use an ohmmeter to check the connection.