Pico Technology's ADC-200/100

If you have large pockets, Pico’s unit is just about pocketable, which results partly from its use of an external mains adaptor rather than an internal power supply. A 5-hour battery pack option enables the unit to double as a field or bench-operated unit. This power supply arrangement allows you to “float” inputs, whereas the other modules have “earthed” inputs.

The version I tested states on the enclosure 20 V maximum for channel inputs A and B. The spec says overload protection is 5100 V, which makes this unit vulnerable if you’re probing around in a mains-powered circuit. Agreed, Pico’s product is exceptional value for money and better input-protection would push up its cost. But, I fear for the life of any instrument intended for general-purpose bench work that can’t withstand mains voltages, even momentarily, on its inputs.

The scope display is easy to operate, although you make selections using typical MS-Windows drop-down menus rather than button-like controls. The display defaults to a blue-and-red trace on a white background although you can set up any combination of colours you like. You can also select the control panel language to be English, French, Swedish, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, or Portuguese.

The module also includes a 4-digit DMM display and a 4096-point spectrum analyser display, and scope triggering functions that include a “save to disk on trigger” function. This feature allows you to monitor circuits for long periods in order to trap intermittent events, which you can record with a time/date stamp. Recent additions with software version R5.06 (downloading is free), includes automatic measurements of rise-time, pulse width, duty cycle, THD, SNR, SINAD, and drag-and-drop trigger level setting. Future additions planned to the spectrum analyser include total harmonic distortion and signal-to noise ratio measurements, X-Y rulers, and Y-axis magnification.

The ADC-200 range includes lower-cost 10-MHz and 25-MHz models. Contact Pico Technology, Cambridge, UK, +44-1480-396395, www.picotech.com.