Understanding Current Probes

Get an introduction to current probes and how they enable oscilloscopes to measure current without breaking the circuit. Clamping current probes work by detecting the electromagnetic field around a conductor and converting it to a proportional voltage. This tutorial shows the differences between AC-only and AC/DC probes, explaining how current transformers measure AC while Hall effect sensors detect DC. Key probe selection criteria are discussed, including bandwidth, sensitivity, and voltage ratings, along with essential calibration procedures for accurate power measurements.

What you’ll learn:

• How current probes convert current measurements to voltage signals using current transformers and Hall effect sensors, and the differences between AC-only and AC/DC capable probes
• Key parameters for selecting current probes including bandwidth, gain/sensitivity, maximum ratings, and the trade-offs between proprietary and standard BNC oscilloscope interfaces
• Essential calibration procedures - zeroing, degaussing, and deskewing - that ensure accurate and repeatable current measurements, particularly for power analysis applications

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