The Hantek DSO3064: Useful for More than Just Automotive Diagnostics

Hantek DSO3064 automotive oscilloscope system

The Hantek DSO3064 automotive diagnostic oscilloscope system is a full-featured 4 channel 60 Mhz USB-based oscilloscope with a plethora of probes and attachments. The accessories included with the oscilloscope make this an extremely versatile unit and a remarkable bargain for the price of the system. The accessories include two AC/DC current probes, multiple oscilloscope and multimeter probes and cables, inductive/capacitive high-voltage pickup probes, and a set of BNC coaxial attenuators. Although the unit was designed with the high-tech automotive industry in mind, it has many uses for any field of electronic and electrical maintenance and other design activities.

The standard USB interface included on the Hantek DSO3064 makes it easy to interface with a Windows-based computer system for remote control and data logging operations. The supplied software is simple to operate and allows the user to see at a glance the operating parameters of the unit. All operating parameters and voltage/current values can be set and monitored using the intuitive GUI interface. Real-time operational data can be saved in standard CSV format to your computer’s memory for future analysis.

Hantek PC-based USB oscilloscope

The two AC/DC current probes that are included in the unit rival those from other manufactures that sell for hundreds of dollars. The probes can be used to monitor the complex current waveforms produced by modern lighting devices or any high-current devices and switching regulators. The CC-65 probe has a 20 Khz bandwidth and a 65 Amp rating that can be used throughout the audio range and with many switching power supply designs. The CC-650 probe has a 650 Amp rating and is designed for use at AC power line frequencies up to 400 Hz. Both probes can also be used for non-contact measurement of DC current as well.

Six inductive/capacitive coupled probes are included with the Hantek DSO3064 that are specially designed to view the high-voltage waveforms encountered on the spark plugs of an automobile—but these probes may also be used to view any transient signals on high-voltage wires and cables, such as CRTs or high-voltage discharge equipment. The attenuation of the probe is 10000:1, which allows measurement of signals in the tens of kilovolts range.

This unit is supplied with several “special” function tips and probes specific to the automotive industry. These are useful for probing and monitoring the power and communication buses found in modern automobile systems as well as the various sensors used in modern gas- and electric-powered vehicles.

The Hantek DSO3064 is an automotive diagnostic unit with a full set of probes and adapters that includes a rich feature set to simplify the measurement of the complex signals found in modern automobiles. However, its use is by no means limited to automotive applications and the DSO3064 is readily suited for any electrical or electronics measurement task. For a complete description of this powerful measurement device, please refer to the Hantek DSO3064 operations manual available on the Circuit Specialists website.

George

George Leger has a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, worked in private industry pioneering surface-mount technology and in government research labs for twenty years, published several papers on surface-mount technology, co-authored papers published in national symposiums on accelerator technology, was past president of SMTA and an adjunct professor at the community college level, holds a patent, and is a certified microchip design partner, serving as a consultant to many companies developing electronic circuits.

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