Oscilloscope Question (Again)

[Supercap2F]

Hey Everyone!

The main time base on some oscilloscopes can go all the way down to 2 seconds/division and some can only go to 0.5 seconds/division. Will the one that can go to 0.5 seconds/division not be able to read frequencies as low as the one with 2 seconds/division?

Thanks for the help

Dan

 

[kpatz]

Either scope can read low frequencies (typically down to DC) but the 2/sec div. scope can fit more cycles (or parts of a cycle) across the screen before the trace recycles.

2 sec/div is crazy slow. The spot would take about 20 seconds to go all the way across. That slow a frequency is more practical on a digital or storage scope than a regular analog CRT scope, since the trace would fade long before it finishes "drawing" it.

 

[Supercap2F]

So it would not limit me to get one with 0.5 seconds/division?

Thanks for the help kpatz

Dan

 

[kpatz]

Unless you need to see entire waveforms that are a fraction of a hertz, or a signal over a 20-second time period there's no need for 2 sec/div on a scope.

 

[Supercap2F]

Ok cool!! Thanks Kpatz!

Dan