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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesUse a properly rated high-voltage differential probe for a floating or mains-referenced circuit, keep the oscilloscope protective earth intact, and remove the large DC component only after confirming that the probe and its accessories can withstand the complete voltage. Measure and report ripple as peak-to-peak, RMS, or percentage with the bandwidth, attenuation and acquisition settings included.
Safety comes before the connection
High-voltage measurement can be lethal and can destroy an oscilloscope. Treat the circuit as energized while connecting or removing probes: capacitors can retain charge after power is switched off. Verify discharge with a correctly rated meter; never rely on a discharge resistor alone.
- Never defeat protective earth with an isolation transformer, ground-lifting adapter or removed earth pin. A grounded bench oscilloscope is not made safe by floating its mains supply. See Tektronix’s floating-measurement guidance.
- Do not attach an ordinary probe ground clip to an arbitrary node on a floating, rectified-mains or high-voltage bus. The clip is normally connected to protective earth and can create a short circuit.
- Use barriers, insulated tools, one-handed working practices, suitable PPE and a current-limited test arrangement required by your workplace procedure.
- The complete setup is limited by its lowest-rated part: probe body, leads, hooks, adapters, accessories, fixture and oscilloscope input.
- If the source is mains-connected, stores substantial energy or exceeds your training and equipment ratings, have a qualified high-voltage person perform the test.
IEC 61010-1 and related IEC 61010 measurement-circuit standards define safety requirements, but a voltage number by itself does not prove that a setup is safe. Consult the applicable edition at IEC’s publication page.
What “ripple” means
Ripple is the time-varying component riding on a nominally DC voltage:
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- Oscilloscope Probes are electrical component which connect the circuit under test and oscilloscope input. Superior materials and advanced technology enhance the feeling and the structure. The smooth surface is easy to use.
- High voltage probe can withstand 2000V. The grounding crocodile clip reliably grounds the probe stage for safe operation and correct signal reading.
- The tip of the removable hook is protected by a plastic case. The positioning sleeve ensures the stability and reliability of the tip exposed at the test point. 4 colors identification rings compatible with most oscilloscope probe sizes for easy channel differentiation.
- High voltage oscilloscope probe is compatible with the BNC interface, digital oscilloscopes, virtual oscilloscopes, handheld oscilloscopes and more.
- Package includes: 1 x probe, 8 x marker rings, 1 x ground spring, 2 x ic test protection caps, 1 x adjustment tool, 1 x user manual.
v(t) = VDC + vripple(t)
- Peak-to-peak: Vmax − Vmin.
- RMS ripple: RMS of the AC component after the DC value is removed.
- Percentage ripple: RMS ripple divided by DC voltage, multiplied by 100, or a specified peak-to-peak convention.
Always state which definition you used. A claim such as “10 mV ripple” is incomplete without its detector, bandwidth and whether it is RMS or peak-to-peak. Distinguish low-frequency rectifier ripple, switching-frequency ripple, high-frequency spikes, ringing, common-mode noise, and differential ripple at the load or supply terminals.
Determine whether the circuit is grounded or floating
Ground-referenced measurement
A high-voltage single-ended probe can be suitable when the measured node is intentionally referenced to earth or oscilloscope ground, the design permits that connection, and the probe’s tip-to-ground, transient and CAT ratings are adequate. Tektronix describes this class of probe at its single-ended probe page.
Rank #2
- Oscilloscope Probes are electrical component which connect the circuit under test and oscilloscope input. Superior materials and advanced technology enhance the feeling and the structure. The smooth surface is easy to use.
- High voltage probe is 250mhz probe and can withstand 2000V. The grounding crocodile clip reliably grounds the probe stage for safe operation and correct signal reading.
- The tip of the removable hook is protected by a plastic case. The positioning sleeve ensures the stability and reliability of the tip exposed at the test point. 4 colors identification rings compatible with most oscilloscope probe sizes for easy channel differentiation.
- High voltage oscilloscope probe is compatible with the BNC interface, digital oscilloscopes, virtual oscilloscopes, handheld oscilloscopes and more.
- Package includes: 1 x Probe, 8 x Marker rings, 1 x ground lead, 2 x locating sleeves, 1 x adjustment tool, 1 x ground spring, 1 x probe hook, 1 x adapter, 1 x user manual.
Floating or differential measurement
Use a high-voltage differential probe when both terminals float, when measuring across a load or component whose terminals are both elevated, or when grounding either side would alter the circuit or create a fault. It measures Vdiff = V+ − V−, while each input also has an independent voltage-to-earth limit. A differential rating does not make an input safe at an arbitrarily high common-mode voltage.
Why a normal 10× passive probe is often unsuitable
There are two separate problems. First, a general-purpose probe may not withstand the DC voltage, transient overvoltage, measurement category or voltage on its ground lead. Second, 10× attenuation reduces a small ripple before it reaches the scope. Tektronix notes that a 3 mV signal can be difficult to resolve with a 10× probe; a 1× probe can improve sensitivity for tens of millivolts, but 1× probes commonly have much lower bandwidth and are rarely rated for hazardous high voltage. Never choose 1× merely for sensitivity.
Rank #3
- The HDP50 differential probe is designed for high frequency and high voltage measurements. The 100Mhz BD and 1400V range will help you with most high voltage situations.
- Two ranges are available for different applications: 50x attenuation (140V range) and 500x attenuation (1400V range). 5V DC adapter included, no batteries required. Power supplies are also available from power packs, PC USB, and mobile phone charging.
- Compatible with a wide range of oscilloscopes, requiring only that the device be equipped with standard BNC connectors. Designed for measuring high-voltage differential signals for floating measurements. Comes with a black storage case for easy portability.
- Package include: 1 x HDP50 differential probe with USB connector, 2 x alligator clips, 2 x multimeter pens, 2 x high voltage test hook clips, 1 x BNC to BNC cable, 1 x 5v adapter for power supply, 1 x black storage box.
- Hope you can be satisfied with our products. We will always provide friendly customer service.
Choose the probe from the worst-case waveform
Calculate the maximum instantaneous voltage as:
VDC,max + VAC,peak + transient margin.
Include startup overshoot, rectifier surge, load removal, switching spikes, faults and capacitor-bank energy. Then check each criterion below.
| Criterion | What to verify |
|---|---|
| Differential voltage | Maximum voltage between the two inputs, including transients. |
| Input-to-earth voltage | Maximum voltage from each input to earth; often more restrictive than differential range. |
| Common-mode range | Permitted average input voltage, VCM = (V+ + V−)/2. |
| CAT and safety standard | Rating for the actual circuit location and applicable IEC standard. |
| Attenuation and noise | Lower attenuation improves sensitivity; higher attenuation increases voltage margin. Compare input-referred probe-plus-scope noise with the ripple. |
| Bandwidth and CMRR | Bandwidth must cover the frequencies of interest; CMRR must be adequate at those frequencies, not just at 50/60 Hz. |
| Loading | Input resistance and capacitance. Capacitance lowers impedance at high frequency and can change ringing or circuit operation. |
| Accessories | Confirm that supplied leads, hooks, clips, adapters and power supplies retain the stated rating. |
CMRR is frequency-dependent. For example, Teledyne LeCroy’s HVD3605A specifications list separate rejection values at several frequencies. Do not generalize one model’s numbers to another.
Rank #4
- Attenuation Ratio: 100:1; Bandwidth: 100MHz; Rise time: 3.5ns; Input Resistance: 100MΩ ±2%; Input Capacitance: 5pF
- Max. Input Voltage: 2KV Working Voltage(Vp-p); Compensation Range: 10pF~35pF
- Operation Temperature: -10℃~ +55℃; Humidity: -40℃ or below ≤90% +41℃ to 50℃≤60%
- Altitude: Operating 3000m / Non-operating 15000m; Cable length:130cm ±2cm
Safe connection procedure
- Define the test. Record nominal and maximum DC voltage, expected ripple amplitude and frequency, required transient bandwidth, grounding, common-mode voltage, CAT requirement, stored energy and discharge method.
- Select the topology. Choose a high-voltage differential or isolated probe for floating nodes, a high-voltage single-ended probe for a verified grounded node, or a power-rail probe only when its voltage and offset limits cover the rail.
- Inspect and configure. Check insulation and accessories. Set attenuation, connect the probe to the scope first, select the matching probe factor and input impedance, and perform the maker’s zero, degauss or compensation procedure. The Tektronix probe primer describes this sequence.
- Connect without a ground fault. Keep protective earth intact. Follow the probe manual for any reference lead, then connect the positive and negative inputs across the two test points with short, close-together insulated leads. Twist a long differential pair where appropriate to reduce magnetic pickup.
- Energize under control. Use current limiting and barriers. Confirm the displayed DC level is plausible before increasing vertical sensitivity.
Remove the DC component without confusing display and safety
AC coupling
AC coupling blocks the DC component in the oscilloscope signal path, allowing the ripple to use more vertical range. It does not reduce the voltage on the probe, insulation, leads or circuit. Confirm the probe’s full DC rating first, and ensure the coupling corner frequency does not attenuate the ripple of interest. See Tektronix’s probing note.
DC coupling and offset
Use DC coupling when the absolute rail and ripple must be observed together and the probe and scope have sufficient range. A probe or scope with external offset can preserve the DC information while magnifying the small AC component.
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- Attenuation: 1:100; Input Resistance: 100MΩ
- Input Capacitance: X100: 14.5pF~17.5pF; Compensation Range: 15pF~35pF; System Bandwidth: DC~100MHz
- Maximum Working Input Voltage : X100: <2000VDC+Peak AC; Humidity: ≤85% (Relative Humidity)
- Temperature Operating: -10 ℃--+50 ℃; Non operating : -20 ℃-+75 ℃
Specialized power-rail probes
Power-rail probes provide very low noise and large offset ranges for rails within their specified voltage. They are not substitutes for hazardous-kilovolt insulation; a high-voltage front end must be rated as a complete system.
Configure acquisition and vertical scale
- Start at a conservative vertical scale and the probe’s higher-attenuation range.
- After the DC component is removed or offset, increase sensitivity until ripple occupies a useful portion of the display without clipping.
- Select a timebase showing several ripple cycles. Use enough sample rate for the highest retained frequency and a record length long enough to reveal low-frequency modulation.
- Apply a bandwidth limit when fast spikes are outside the question; excess bandwidth admits more noise.
- Use averaging only for stable, repetitive ripple. It can hide burst mode, startup events, sporadic arcing and load-dependent transients. Use peak-detect or equivalent acquisition when narrow spikes matter.
Tektronix recommends probe bandwidth at least equal to signal bandwidth and preferably 1.5–5 times higher, while noting that fast converter edges can require hundreds of megahertz. More bandwidth is not automatically a better low-ripple measurement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Measure and report the result
Useful measurements include AC RMS, peak-to-peak, maximum and minimum, frequency or period, crest factor, and FFT components at the switching frequency and harmonics. Record probe attenuation, coupling, termination, scope bandwidth, sample rate, acquisition mode, averaging and measurement bandwidth.
Example report: 620 V DC bus; differential probe at 500×; AC-coupled; 20 MHz bandwidth limit; 10-cycle acquisition; 1.8 V p-p ripple, 420 mV RMS; dominant component 100 kHz; no averaging.
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Prove that the ripple is real
- Measure the instrument floor. Join the probe inputs using the manufacturer’s shorted-input procedure and record probe-plus-scope noise.
- Change bandwidth. Compare a narrow-band ripple figure with a wide-band spike figure. A large change identifies high-frequency content or noise.
- Improve geometry. Shorten leads, keep the pair close and rotate or reposition them. Strong changes indicate electric- or magnetic-field pickup or loop inductance.
- Change operating conditions. Compare no-load, rated load, light-load/burst mode, startup, shutdown, switching frequency and cable arrangements.
- Separate differential and common mode. Low ripple across the output does not imply low voltage from each terminal to earth; characterize common-mode voltage only with a separately safe setup.
Common failure modes
| Symptom | Likely cause | Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate clipping or overload | Wrong probe factor, insufficient range or excessive offset | De-energize; verify ratings and settings; use an appropriate range or probe. |
| Ripple grows with a long lead | Ground-loop pickup or lead inductance | Use differential probing, shorter leads, a twisted pair and suitable bandwidth. |
| Sharp ringing appears only on the scope | Connection resonance or loop area | Improve tip geometry and verify with a bandwidth limit. |
| Differential probe overloads despite low differential voltage | Input-to-earth or common-mode limit exceeded | Check each input-to-earth rating and dynamic range. |
| Reading changes with attenuation | Noise, loading, bandwidth or compensation issue | Compare specifications and re-zero or compensate the probe. |
| Averaging produces an unnaturally clean trace | Intermittent or burst-mode events | Disable averaging; use peak detect or segmented acquisition. |
| Reading is near the noise floor | High attenuation or excessive probe noise | Use a lower-attenuation approved probe, narrower bandwidth or a specialized front end. |
Which measurement architecture fits?
| Architecture | Use it when | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|
| High-voltage differential probe | Floating buses, converter outputs and elevated component terminals | Cost, attenuation, noise and frequency-dependent CMRR. |
| High-voltage single-ended probe | The test node is intentionally earth-referenced | Unsafe across floating nodes; no differential common-mode rejection. |
| Power-rail probe | Very low ripple on a rail within its voltage and offset limits | Usually unsuitable for hazardous kilovolt rails. |
| Isolated voltage probe | Galvanic isolation and very high common-mode voltage are central | Cost, power management, noise and bandwidth vary by model. |
| Engineered divider | A reviewed test fixture accounts for insulation, creepage, capacitance, surges, calibration and failure mode | Improvised resistor strings are not a safe shortcut. |
Buying examples and selection priorities
Compare products by architecture, differential and input-to-earth voltage, CAT rating, input-referred noise, attenuation modes, CMRR versus frequency, bandwidth, input capacitance, scope compatibility, power requirements, accessories and calibration support.
Quick Recap
- Tektronix high-voltage differential probes target floating power-converter nodes; listed prices and model limits vary by region and configuration.
- Tektronix single-ended probes suit verified ground-referenced measurements, not floating outputs.
- Keysight differential probes provide model-specific attenuation and common-mode specifications; confirm interface compatibility.
- Teledyne LeCroy power probes publish detailed noise, CMRR and CAT data that must be checked at the chosen attenuation.
- Yokogawa’s 701977 illustrates a 7,000 V peak, 5,000 V RMS, 50 MHz class; select bandwidth and voltage for the actual waveform.
Pre-energization checklist
- DC voltage and worst-case transients are known.
- Differential, input-to-earth and CAT ratings are adequate.
- Probe factor, input impedance and polarity are configured correctly.
- Protective earth remains intact.
- All leads and accessories are rated.
- Discharge has been measured and verified.
- Bandwidth, sample rate and acquisition mode match the question.
- Probe-plus-scope noise has been checked.
- Ripple definition and measurement conditions will be documented.
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