The difference between an oscilloscope and a digital multimeter (DMM) is simply stated as pictures vs. numbers. Learn more, including when to use each.
Oscilloscope resources and case studies
Not all electrical measurements can be inspected from a single point. Instead, many produce dynamic electrical characteristics where the waveform produced needs to be analyzed. Learn about measuring these electric signals and the different components to look for, including the four characteristics of a waveform and the different forms and variations a waveform can come in.
Fluke oscilloscopes have been put to the test in some incredible real-world situations. Aircraft maintenance technicians in Norway are using them to keep planes fully functional and a zoologist is travelling deep into the Amazon to measure electric eels to further science and renewable energy.
Recent stories
Learn both the traditional manual method and the new automated method of properly displaying a waveform on an oscilloscope. 4 example waveforms illustrated.
Oscilloscopes sample signals as they change over time and then plot those signals on a display. The amplitude of the signal is plotted on the vertical axis and time is displayed on the horizontal.
Driving the future of flight, Fluke tools are in the hands of the everyday heroes of aviation. Seppo Huittinen is an instructor at Savo Vocational College in Kuopio, Finland, teaching future aircraft technicians.
Every building, whether it houses commercial, industrial, municipal, healthcare, or educational operations, must include life safety systems.
MMs come in several flavors, including high accuracy (5 to 8 digits resolution), bench type, line-powered models that are not intended for field use. These DMMs are used in the lab, mostly for research and development or for production systems. An advanced model DMM can cost as much as a portable oscilloscope.
- The current trend in factory automation is to replace traditional control schemes in which each device has its own control wiring with bus systems that link a number of devices via the same cable. One benefit of bus networks is that they require far fewer cables and wires to connect devices to controllers. One of the most popular and widely used of these bus systems is Foundation Fieldbus.
The importance of investing in the right set of tools to monitor power quality issues, and prevent them in the future, can't be emphasized enough. Fluke offers an extensive range of excellent power meters and other power quality tools for troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and long-term recording and analysis in industrial applications and utilities.
The heat, dust, corrosive chemicals, moisture, and vibration common to many work environments can degrade wiring and connections, however, and a harsh electrical environment can degrade signal quality. As a result, effective troubleshooting may require an examination of wiring, connections, and the electrical characteristics of the signals as they traverse the system
The formula can be stated in two ways, depending on what you're looking for. It is usually applied to the leading edge of a pulse in a dynamic system and is related to resistor-capacitor filter time constants and settling times.
Learn how the Fluke ScopeMeter® 190-202 portable oscilloscope, used by scientist Will Crampton and the crew on location in Suriname to measure the voltage of an electric eel.Test and record field bus, motors, and power with one instrument.
It's just common sense that the higher the oscilloscope bandwidth, the higher the resolution of the results. The question is: How important is that in the day-to-day troubleshooting of most electricians and engineers? It all depends on your applications.
Part 4 of this five-part series describes capturing and analyzing waveforms with a portable oscilloscope, answering that key question, "How do I know if a waveform is good or bad?". You can view Part 3 of this series, Triggering and Isolation. You can also view the complete webinar with audio and animations at the Fluke Training Center.
This final installment of the five-part series about using portable oscilloscopes covers how to "capture" waveforms that do not occur in a repeating and predictable way. You can view Part 4 of this series, Capturing and Analyzing Waveforms with a Portable Oscilloscope. You can also view the complete webinar with audio and animations at the Fluke Training Center.
In this introduction to digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs) you'll find a comprehensive tour of DSO functions and measurements
Fluke ScopeMeter®190 Series II, 2-channel handheld oscilloscopes combine the power of a 2-channel oscilloscope with a 5000-count digital multimeter and paperless recording mode, creating an advanced test and measurement tool that service and maintenance professionals can rely on for troubleshooting equipment performance problems in the field
Part 3 of this five-part series describes how to trigger an oscilloscope so it displays a signal the way you want, and how the oscilloscope's inputs are isolated. You can view the preceding installment of this series, Signal Input and Processing. You can also view the complete webinar with audio and animations at the Fluke Training Center.
Oscilloscope and multimeter fundamentals, and where each of these devices excels, are covered in part one of this five-part series adapted from The ABCs of Oscilloscopes webinar.
Part 2: Signal Input and Processing
Since its introduction nearly 40 years ago, the 555 timer IC and its companion 556 dual timer have inspired hobbyists, technicians, inventors, engineers, and many others who love to experiment with electronic circuits. An Internet search on "555 timer" yields millions of hits. Using "555 timer projects" as the search phrase yields more than 800,000 hits.
