what an oscilloscope recommended for a woman passionate about electronics?

[CharlotteSwiss]

in the evening I ordered: siglent sds1202x-e.
I hope to learn how to use it properly.
I'll update as soon as it arrives, I'll have to go with the velvet gloves...
 

[wizard69]

in the evening I ordered: siglent sds1202x-e.
I hope to learn how to use it properly.
I'll update as soon as it arrives, I'll have to go with the velvet gloves...
 

Lots of luck with that new purchase!    As they say one step at a time.

[CharlotteSwiss]

thanks wizard, I will try to learn slowly, possibly without doing damage
 

[james_s]

I'm pretty sure you'll be happy with it, I've never used a Siglent but it looks like a nice little scope. Now the important thing is to learn how to use it properly, first so that you don't damage it, and then so that you know how to get the most out of it.

DON'T be tempted to try to look at the mains waveform, I don't really know why but every new scope owner seems to want to do that at some point and you really need a differential probe to do it. Looking at the low voltage AC output of a power transformer is fine though.

[rstofer]

Read The Fine Manual!  Skim through quickly on the first pass, just to find out where things are, and then get serious.  You should try to get a couple of passes through the manual before the scope arrives.

[CharlotteSwiss]

DON'T be tempted to try to look at the mains waveform, I don't really know why but every new scope owner seems to want to do that at some point and you really need a differential probe to do it. Looking at the low voltage AC output of a power transformer is fine though.

thanks for the warning, I will certainly not connect the probe to the mains voltage.
the standard probes have a maximum input voltage> 600vac.
Vpp of my mains voltage is: (mainsvac X square root of 2) x2 = Vacpp (certainly higher than 600), I would risk damage 
To test measurements I have to see if I have a power supply with lower AC voltage output, now I don't remember..
 

[CharlotteSwiss]

Read The Fine Manual!  Skim through quickly on the first pass, just to find out where things are, and then get serious.  You should try to get a couple of passes through the manual before the scope arrives.

ok i will do so 
I will need a hand in the first period, I will be helpful to understand that the oscilloscope is not defective (alone I am not capable)
Then calmly read the manual by yourself and I will begin to learn 
thanks rstofer

Ps: what parts of manaule do you mean before the oscilloscope arrives? however I have already read the first part of the manual ...

[tautech]

Read The Fine Manual!  Skim through quickly on the first pass, just to find out where things are, and then get serious.  You should try to get a couple of passes through the manual before the scope arrives.

ok i will do so 
I will need a hand in the first period, I will be helpful to understand that the oscilloscope is not defective (alone I am not capable)

Check it has latest firmware then just use it !

Learn how to grab USB screenshots (blue Print button  ) and how to post them here on the forum.
Try to capture the appropriate menu screen to show settings used as this gives us a heap of info for which to guide you with advice on correct usage.
You'l love the little X-E in no time and it will serve you well for years.

[CharlotteSwiss]

Check it has latest firmware then just use it !
Learn how to grab USB screenshots (blue Print button  ) and how to post them here on the forum.
Try to capture the appropriate menu screen to show settings used as this gives us a heap of info for which to guide you with advice on correct usage.
You'l love the little X-E in no time and it will serve you well for years.

thanks tautech 
yes here I'll see right away if I have the latest firmware on board.
Ok to take the screenshots.

my siglent is already on his way to me...

being very precise and meticulous, I will certainly try in the menus if there is the operating time and the switching on of the device
(often the devices are used 15-30 days to understand if they are free from problems ... and if they are returned they often have some problems)
 

we hope well

[StillTrying]

I will certainly try in the menus if there is the operating time and the switching on of the device

I don't think there's any hours timer, System Status (Page 164) shows how many times it's been Started Up.

[rstofer]

Ps: what parts of manaule do you mean before the oscilloscope arrives? however I have already read the first part of the manual ...

When you read through quickly, you are only learning what features the scope has, not how to use them.  Later on, when you want to use a feature, you'll remember that it has the feature and that it is described in the manual.  Then you can get into the details.

The manual won't make a lot of sense on first reading unless you have the scope sitting right there.  Don't worry, you'll have a long time to play with the scope and manual together.

You will see 'buzz' words like Single Shot, Roll Mode, Volts/Div, Time/Div and many others.  It's probably not possible to absorb all of these things on the first reading.

[rstofer]

my siglent is already on his way to me...

Outstanding!

[rstofer]

I will need a hand in the first period, I will be helpful to understand that the oscilloscope is not defective (alone I am not capable)

Work through "Prepare For Using" starting on Page 5 of the manual.  By page 8, you will have a trace and both probes compensated.

[rstofer]

DON'T be tempted to try to look at the mains waveform, I don't really know why but every new scope owner seems to want to do that at some point and you really need a differential probe to do it. Looking at the low voltage AC output of a power transformer is fine though.

thanks for the warning, I will certainly not connect the probe to the mains voltage.
the standard probes have a maximum input voltage> 600vac.
Vpp of my mains voltage is: (mainsvac X square root of 2) x2 = Vacpp (certainly higher than 600), I would risk damage 
To test measurements I have to see if I have a power supply with lower AC voltage output, now I don't remember..
 

The problem isn't the voltage, using the probe in x10 mode will reduce the voltage as seen by the scope to about 60V.  There's a question in my mind whether the probe can handle such voltage but that's not the biggest problem.

The ground clip is the problem!  You would have a tendency to connect it to Neutral and that will immediately short the Neutral to Earth Ground through the scope.  There will be a non-zero voltage difference between the points and current will flow.  A LOT of current.  It is easy to destroy the probe/scope and damage the user by trying to make this measurement.  Just don't!

[tautech]

Check it has latest firmware then just use it !
Learn how to grab USB screenshots (blue Print button  ) and how to post them here on the forum.
Try to capture the appropriate menu screen to show settings used as this gives us a heap of info for which to guide you with advice on correct usage.
You'l love the little X-E in no time and it will serve you well for years.

thanks tautech 
yes here I'll see right away if I have the latest firmware on board.
Ok to take the screenshots.

my siglent is already on his way to me...

being very precise and meticulous, I will certainly try in the menus if there is the operating time and the switching on of the device
(often the devices are used 15-30 days to understand if they are free from problems ... and if they are returned they often have some problems)
 

we hope well

Siglent products have 3 year warranty and HW failures are very rare IME in my NZ marketplace. Siglent have been excellent when I needed warranty support.
SDS1202X-E have been a strong seller here and for Siglent worldwide for good reason. 
It will serve you well.

[CharlotteSwiss]

I don't think there's any hours timer, System Status (Page 164) shows how many times it's been Started Up.

thanks 
I should only have about 1 boot in that menu.. we'll see

[bin_liu]

In our country, most amateur players cannot afford isolation probes or high voltage differential probes;
Then someone used a 1:1 transformer to isolate the city electricity from the power supply of the oscilloscope, and used a 100x probe to measure the primary signal waveform of the switching power supply. This measurement method is very dangerous, and the human body cannot touch it during measurement. Any metal part of the oscilloscope. No metal parts of the oscilloscope can touch the workbench or other objects.
Economic conditions permit, it is better to add an isolation probe or a high-voltage differential probe.

[CharlotteSwiss]

Work through "Prepare For Using" starting on Page 5 of the manual.  By page 8, you will have a trace and both probes compensated.

I had seen, the probes must be compensated before using them for the first time .. I guess it is no longer necessary to do this operation

The problem isn't the voltage, using the probe in x10 mode will reduce the voltage as seen by the scope to about 60V.  There's a question in my mind whether the probe can handle such voltage but that's not the biggest problem.
The ground clip is the problem!  You would have a tendency to connect it to Neutral and that will immediately short the Neutral to Earth Ground through the scope.  There will be a non-zero voltage difference between the points and current will flow.  A LOT of current.  It is easy to destroy the probe/scope and damage the user by trying to make this measurement.  Just don't!

this would only happen if I was wrong to position the ground clip. If the clip is positioned exactly on the circuit ground, then with the 1x10 probe would it be possible to measure 230vrsm? (I won't do it)

a curiosity: ok even with 1x10 probe better not to measure the mains voltage. But reasonably, up to what voltage limit of the circuit is it possible to measure safely with the oscilloscope using normal and non-voltage probes? 30, 60 volts max?

  thanks

[CharlotteSwiss]

Siglent products have 3 year warranty and HW failures are very rare IME in my NZ marketplace. Siglent have been excellent when I needed warranty support.
SDS1202X-E have been a strong seller here and for Siglent worldwide for good reason. 
It will serve you well.

if all goes well, much better 
thanks 

[tautech]

Work through "Prepare For Using" starting on Page 5 of the manual.  By page 8, you will have a trace and both probes compensated.

I had seen, the probes must be compensated before using them for the first time .. I guess it is no longer necessary to do this operation

It is unless the seller has already compensated probes as I do.

[CharlotteSwiss]

In our country, most amateur players cannot afford isolation probes or high voltage differential probes;
Then someone used a 1:1 transformer to isolate the city electricity from the power supply of the oscilloscope, and used a 100x probe to measure the primary signal waveform of the switching power supply. This measurement method is very dangerous, and the human body cannot touch it during measurement. Any metal part of the oscilloscope. No metal parts of the oscilloscope can touch the workbench or other objects.
Economic conditions permit, it is better to add an isolation probe or a high-voltage differential probe.

an isolation probe or a high-voltage differential probe they have a very high price..
my solution will be to not measure parts of the high voltage circuit 

[tautech]

In our country, most amateur players cannot afford isolation probes or high voltage differential probes;
Then someone used a 1:1 transformer to isolate the city electricity from the power supply of the oscilloscope, and used a 100x probe to measure the primary signal waveform of the switching power supply. This measurement method is very dangerous, and the human body cannot touch it during measurement. Any metal part of the oscilloscope. No metal parts of the oscilloscope can touch the workbench or other objects.
Economic conditions permit, it is better to add an isolation probe or a high-voltage differential probe.

an isolation probe or a high-voltage differential probe they have a very high price..
my solution will be to not measure parts of the high voltage circuit 

You can use Siglent's ISFE albeit with limited BW.
These connect directly to the scopes input BNC's and provide for 2 isolated channels.
https://www.siglenteu.com/accessory/isolated-channel-optional-accessories%ef%bc%88isfe%ef%bc%89/

[james_s]

I had seen, the probes must be compensated before using them for the first time .. I guess it is no longer necessary to do this operation

It's always worth checking the probe compensation, it only takes a moment to do it.

[bin_liu]

I had seen, the probes must be compensated before using them for the first time .. I guess it is no longer necessary to do this operation

It's always worth checking the probe compensation, it only takes a moment to do it.

It seems that the probe is rarely calibrated without changing the channel.

[magic]

this would only happen if I was wrong to position the ground clip. If the clip is positioned exactly on the circuit ground, then with the 1x10 probe would it be possible to measure 230vrsm? (I won't do it)

a curiosity: ok even with 1x10 probe better not to measure the mains voltage. But reasonably, up to what voltage limit of the circuit is it possible to measure safely with the oscilloscope using normal and non-voltage probes? 30, 60 volts max?

My Hantek probes are rated 600V peak in 10x mode and 200V in 1x mode. 230VRMS is easily within their capability in 10x mode.

It's not about voltage, it's about transient overvoltages and available pulse energy in the event the probe's insulation breaks down and arcs over. Same applies to DMM and their probes.
https://content.fluke.com/promotions/promo-dmm/0518-dmm-campaign/dmm/fluke_dmm-chfr/files/safetyguidelines.pdf

Most simple scope probes simply aren't CAT rated at all. They may work, until some motor turns off nearby and then they may or may not crap out, no warranty.