Overview Of Probes - HBM Genesis GEN5i User Manual

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Overview of probes

HBM offers a variety of probes for use with the Genesis Highspeed and
ISOBE5600 systems. Which probe is needed depends on the application and
which instrument is being used. It is important to match the compensation of
the probe to the instrument.
Voltage probes for single ended amplifiers
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These probes increase the input range of a single ended amplifier, but they
typically decrease the overall accuracy of the amplifier.
Voltage probes for isolated amplifiers
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These probes increase the input range of an isolated unbalanced amplifier,
but they typically decrease the overall accuracy of the amplifier.
It is also important to understand that they increase the range only, but not
the isolation voltage.
Voltage probes for isolated amplifiers (high accuracy)
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These probes increase the input range of an isolated unbalanced amplifier,
while they maintain a good accuracy.
It is also important to understand that they increase the range only, but not
the isolation voltage.
Matched differential, passive voltage probes
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These probes increase the input range of a differential amplifier, but they
typically decrease the overall accuracy and the CMRR of the amplifier.
They work with isolated as well as with non-isolated variants of differential
amplifiers.
If used with isolated amplifiers, they increase the range only, but not the
isolation voltage.
Active differential voltage probes
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These probes are self-contained, differential amplifiers to be used in front
of an instrument.
The input range and accuracy depend on the type of active differential
probe used.
Active differential probes can be used in front of virtually any amplifier, but
their performance typically is limited. Also, as they usually operate from
batteries, this causes some inconvenience.
Current clamps
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Current clamps are more transducers rather than probes, as they convert
one physical quantity (current) into another one (usually voltage). They are
used to make non-invasive current measurements. That is, the current in
a circuit can be measured without disturbing the circuit.
Note There are other possibilities to measure current as well (current shunts, or
Rogowski coils).
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