Lightages wrote:
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I am still considering a DS2074Z as I want Canbus which the DS1054Z does not have, or a DS1054Z plus a logic analyzer with Canbus for the same price as the DS2074Z, or just the Wens 540 as an all in one device."
You had mentioned doing work on Solar systems. How is your combination hammer/wrench/screwdriver working out for you?
Luckily one wrench fits all bolt sizes too.
Sadly (returning to reality), there doesn't yet exist an instrument that does everything, has great performance specs, AND is really cheap. Perhaps really not that surprising, when you think about it.
How often will you need to be probing more than one channel? For those situations, a Picoscope 2105 (25 MHz BW, 100 MSPS) may fit the bill. It's extremely portable, and with your laptop provides scope, meter, spectrum analyzer, protocol decoder, and data logger capabilities. For <$300. More protocol decoders than the Rigols, and expanding.
You can do some research here:
http://www.picotech.com/handheld-oscilloscope.html Saelig has them for about 10% off MSRP.
Well, rats. I see there's no 10x probe mode, so it's limited to +/-50V. Of course, you're not going to be looking at digital logic, or comms decoding, etc. at 600V, so a more conventional handheld may fit the bill for that part of your work.
A Hantek DSO1060 at $365 will handle 10A, and 600VAC (800VDC). That's 2 channels, 60 MHz BW, and 250 MSPS. Has meter functions along with scope, but no protocols.
The Owon HDS1021M is even cheaper, at $260, with current ranges up to 20A, and 400V (AC + DC). That one is 2 channels at 20 MHz BW, and 100 MSPS. Again, no protocols, but nothing else does either.
These units are both battery operated, and work fine in the field. My Hantek DSO8060 has held up well over the years. They're certainly not bench-grade instruments, but they don't have to be. The screen is sharp and bright, but very glossy, which can be an issue with the sun overhead and trying to angle the handheld device. I haven't used the Owon's.
It you really need the portability for your work, a Hantek handheld, plus a Picoprobe and your laptop, may fit the bill for ~$660. But that won't work for SPI, which requires a minimum of 2 channels. So drop the Pico and add a USBeeSX or Saleae (I prefer the SX), and get 8-channels of logic analysis, and lots of protocol decoders, with SPI up to ~8 Mbit/s or so, for under $200. Total combo <$550. The Hantek will run 6-7 hours on a charge, which since it shuts down automatically, mean you'll get all-day use in most scenarios. The decoders will run as long as your laptop does, and you won't have to drag the laptop into a situation where you're just reading voltage and current, or scoping out levels or switching signals.
Hope this gives you some fresh ideas.