Choosing Oscilloscope for Measuring Current

[Madhav Aggarwal]

Hello,

We are developing a wearable device with NRF52 as a Beacon with CR2032 coin cell battery. We need to measure current profile for the beacon and calculate corresponding battery life. For this we also referred to  Measuring current chapter in the nRF52 DK documentation. Now, in order to measure current profile as described in documentation, we are looking forward to purchase a digital oscilloscope with following configuration:

Hantek 6022BE: Bandwidth: 20MHz; Sample Rate: 48MSa/s; Vertical Resolution: 8bit

Can you please confirm whether it would serve our purpose as we are tight on budget to purchase expensive one. Or, maybe you can suggest some cheap alternative to it.

Thank you,

Madhav

[haakonsh]

48Msps is more than enough. 

I suggest you read some reviews of the HW and SW before buying. 

[Madhav Aggarwal]

Hey,

Thank you for your prompt reply. I read the reviews on its HW and SW and they seem to be pretty good. Further below are its parameters: (kindly let me know whether to go for it or not as I am purchasing DSO for the first time)

Oscilloscope Features
Bandwidth	20MHz
Channel	2(Digital)+16(Logic)
Sample Rate	48MSa/s
Memory Depth	1M
Rise Time	17.5ns
Time Base Precision	±50ppm
Time Base Range	4ns/div-1h/div (Step by1-2-4)
Input Impendence	1MΩ 25pF
Input Sensitivity	20mV/div～5V/div
Vertical Resolution	8Bit
Vertical Position Range	20mV ~ 5V/div @ x1 probe; 200mV ~ 50V/div @ x10 probe; 2V ~ 500V/div @ x100 probe; 20V ~ 5KV/div @ x1000 probe
DC Accuracy	±3%
Bandwidth Limited	20MHz
Trigger Type	Edge, Alternative
Trigger Source	CH1, CH2

Thanks,

Madhav

[AmbystomaLabs]

Unless you happen to be really pressed for bench space or just require a portable solution, I would always choose a device with a built in monitor.  They boot fast and are always ready to go whether or not you happen to be looking up something on the web.

Plus the 48MSa/S rate of yours is pretty slow.  My scope is 1GSa/S and I consider it just sufficient.

My current scope is an old Agilent 2 channel.  But, if I were looking at scopes I would definitely get a 4 channel. Virtually all modern test equipment has ethernet and usb ports so you can easily capture screens and data on a PC.

Though I don't own a Rigol, I have seen them at the ESC conferences and it seems like a nice and very inexpensive machine with very good reviews.  If I were in the market for an inexpensive 4 channel it would be my top choice.  Only $349 at amazon.

www.amazon.com/.../B012938E76

[awneil]

I do own a Rigol and can thoroughly recommend it for this kind of work.

But have you looked at the Nordic Power Profiler Kit?

https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/Power-Profiler-Kit

[Madhav Aggarwal]

According to AmbystomaLabs, 48MSa/s is pretty slow which is quite contrary to what you suggested. Can you please clarify?