Having built up a simple octopus circuit, I connected it to my Siglent 1202XE.
So far I have been unable to get clear readings for open and short on the probes,
(horizontal for open and vertical for closed).

I'm new to oscilloscopes so likely it is my lack of knowing how to set up the scope.
I'm looking for a few basic pointers so I can get proper readings.

 

Having built up a simple octopus circuit,

What is an "octopus circuit"?

 

Another name would be "Curve Tracer"

 

either this:

or this...
http://www.jammarcade.net/simple-component-tester-a-k-a-octopus-curve-tracer/



for this:

 

What is an "octopus circuit"?

A

Having built up a simple octopus circuit, I connected it to my Siglent 1202XE.
So far I have been unable to get clear readings for open and short on the probes,
(horizontal for open and vertical for closed).

I'm new to oscilloscopes so likely it is my lack of knowing how to set up the scope.
I'm looking for a few basic pointers so I can get proper readings.

Please show a schematic of the circuit you are using so that we can help you to get it working.

.

 

What is an "octopus circuit"?

It's a simple circuit for component testing. Here's a circuit diagram commonly used:

A


Please show a schematic of the circuit you are using so that we can help you to get it working.

.

I'm using wolframore's circuit basically but using a 10 volt secondary and a 1K resistor in place of the 560 ohm resistor.

 

draw it out for us... visuals help for some reason. Also connect everything in your drawing... please.

 

draw it out for us... visuals help for some reason. Also connect everything in your drawing... please.

 

What are you testing, what are the results and what are you expecting. Shouldn’t the voltage divider be 900:100?

 

What are you testing, what are the results and what are you expecting

Capacitors, diodes, zeners, transistors, electrolytic capacitors etc.

Right now I want to be able to see the horizontal line with test leads open and a vertical line with them shorted...

I'm pretty much OK with the circuit, it's the settings on the scope that are unclear to me.

 

what happens when you connect to:

diode or capacitor? Are you getting anything?

 

I think the issue's will probably be in your scopes settings. You should also let us know how you have it set up.

 

Capacitors, diodes, zeners, transistors, electrolytic capacitors etc.

Right now I want to be able to see the horizontal line with test leads open and a vertical line with them shorted...

I'm pretty much OK with the circuit, it's the settings on the scope that are unclear to me.

Acquire Menu

Acquisition set to Eres
XY set to ON

 

Never heard of something like that called an 'octopus circuit'.

 

I think the issue's will probably be in your scopes settings. You should also let us know how you have it set up.

Before one can test any parts, the scope needs to be set up to read a horizontal line when the probes are unconnected and
a vertical line when shorted together.

I need some set up information to use the scope with an octopus. Are there some general settings needed to
use a digital scope with a curve tracer?

 

Follow @Yaakov comments above:

 

Hello,

Techlib has a nice desciption:
http://www.techlib.com/electronics/curvetrace.html

Bertus

 

I have an old dedicated curve tester... so I don't use my o'scope for this. The old analog is better for it. Much quicker.

 

If it's not clear, after setting the scope to the XY mode, you then adjust the two input sensitivities to get the desired pattern.

 

If it's not clear, after setting the scope to the XY mode, you then adjust the two input sensitivities to get the desired pattern.

Thanks for all your input. I can see I have a big learning curve ahead of me but was able to
get the basic vertical and horizontal lines and angled line for a resistor and an ellipse on a small
electrolytic capacitor. Mostly I use an old Simpson 260 so this is all new territory for me.
Just learning all the functions will take some time so was glad to get some pointers in the right direction.

Thanks to all for chipping in on the subject.


all the best,


Burt