Keysight Technologies N2879A User manual

User’s Guide
Keysight N2879A
Fine Pitch Accessory Kit

2
Contents
N2879A Fine Pitch Accessory Kit 3
Safety Information 4
Accessory Details 5

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N2879A Fine Pitch Accessory Kit
N2879A Fine Pitch Accessory Kit
The N2879A Fine Pitch Accessory Kit is to be used with the Keysight N2870A
Series passive probe family. This kit contains accessories that make it easier to
probe and measure signals on fine pitch surface mount components.
Kit Contents
The following table shows the accessories supplied in the N2879A kit. Some of
these accessories are discussed in greater detail starting on page 5.
Accessory Quantity
Spring-loaded probe tips, gold-plated 0.5 mm 5
Rigid probe tips, CuBe 0.5 mm 5
Ground blade, 2.5 mm 3
Ground spring, 2.5 mm 3
Dual adapter, 2.5 to 0.8 mm sockets 2
Pico hook, black 2
Pico hook, red 2
IC cap, 2.5 - 0.5 mm green 3
IC cap, 2.5 - 0.65 mm blue 3
IC cap, 2.5 - 0.8 mm gray 3
IC cap, 2.5 - 1.0 mm brown 3
IC cap, 2.5 - 1.27 mm black 3
PCB adapter kit 2.5 10
Insulating cap, 2.5 mm 1
Protection cap, 2.5 mm 1
QFP IC clips, 13 mm long down to 0.5 mm pitch
(one pair yellow/green)
2
QFP IC clips, short down to 0.5 mm pitch (one pair
yellow/green)
2
Micro SMD clip 2
2 leg probe positioner 1
Self-adhesive Cu-pads (2x2 cm) 10

4
Safety Information
Safety Information
Warning To avoid personal injury and to prevent fire or damage to this product or products
connected to it, review and comply with the following safety precautions (these
apply to the accessories in the N2879A kit and the N2870A Series probes). Be
aware that if you use this probe assembly in a manner not specified, the protection
this product provides may be impaired.
Handle Probe Tips / Accessories Carefully
Some of the probe tips / accessories are very sharp (the spring tips and ground
spring, for example). You should handle these with care to avoid personal injury.
Use Only Grounded Instruments
Do not connect the probe’s ground lead to a potential other than earth ground.
Always make sure the probe and the oscilloscope are grounded properly.
Connect and Disconnect Properly
Connect the probe to the oscilloscope and connect the ground lead to earth
ground before connecting the probe to the circuit under test. Disconnect the
probe input and the probe ground lead from the circuit under test before
disconnecting the probe from the oscilloscope.
Observe Probe Ratings
Do not apply any electrical potential to the probe input which exceeds the
maximum rating of the probe. Make sure to comply with the voltage versus
frequency derating curve in the N2870A Series User’s Guide.
Keep Away From Live Circuits
Avoid open circuitry. Do not touch connections or components when power is
present.
Indoor Use Only
Do not operate in wet/damp environments. Keep product surfaces dry and clean.
Do Not Operate With Suspected Failures
Refer to qualified service personnel.
Do Not Operate in an Explosive Environment
!

5
Accessory Details
Accessory Details
Below is information regarding some of the accessories in the N2879A Fine Pitch
Accessory Kit.
Replacing Rigid/Solid Probe Tips and Spring-
Loaded Probe Tips
These solid tips and spring-loaded tips are replaceable. To change the probe tip,
use pliers to grip the tip and pull it straight out of its contact socket along the
axis of the probe. Do not grip the plastic insulator or the housing with the pliers
because the tip could be crushed (see images below). This could result in being
unable to remove the tip and/or damaging the probe. Once the probe tip is
removed, the new tip can be inserted with pliers into the contact socket along
the axis of the probe. In order to insert the probe tip completely into the housing,
carefully press the probe tip against a hard surface.
Warning Exercise caution when using these sharp probe tips to avoid personal injury.
Spring loaded probe tips offer a method of probing signals that is less susceptible
to vibration or movement than traditional rigid tips. Many users find it easier to
use this type of tip. The spring loaded tips work when they are either partially or
fully compressed and are protected against over compression damage.
!

6
Accessory Details
Short Ground Blade / Ground Spring
The short ground blade is the best performing ground connection available with
the N2870A Series due to its low inductance. To attach the ground blade, simply
push it over the probe tip and continue pushing until the blade is inserted into
the notch located on the probe barrel (as shown in the picture below - Note that
the ground blade was placed over the tip and then an IC cap was placed over it
as well in the picture).
This will keep it from spinning around on the probe while in use. You can also
bend and form the blade to reach your grounding location.
The ground spring offers similar performance as the ground blade and depending
on the probing situation, may offer greater flexibility when making a ground
connection. The ground spring is also inserted over the probe tip in a similar
manner. It is mainly used for browsing as it is flexible and snaps back to original
orientation (unlike the ground blade that you can form) which allows you to
connect it to your grounding location and then move the probe tip around. It does
have a slightly larger inductance than the ground blade which may result in some
decrease in performance depending on the application.
blade fully
inserted
into notch

7
Accessory Details
Dual Adapter, 2.5 to 0.8 mm Sockets
The dual lead adapter offers a convenient and reliable method to connect both
the probe signal and ground to probe points on the board or other probe
accessories. For example, this can used to connect to connector headers or to
other accessories like the QFP clips or pico hooks (see the picture in the Pico
Hook section of this manual).
The sockets accept 0.56-0.86 mm round and 0.64 mm square (0.022 - 0.034 inch
round and 0.025 inch square) diameter pins. The maximum insertion depth is 7.5
mm (0.295 inch) and the outer insulation of the socket is 2.2 mm maximum (0.87
inch). You can use it for 2.54 mm pitch (0.1 inch) terminals.

8
Accessory Details
Pico Hooks / QFP IC Clips
You can use pico hooks or QFP IC clips to make connections to components or
wires with leads that are 1.01 mm (0.04 inches) in diameter or smaller. With
today’s miniature IC- and component-packaging techniques, the pico hooks or
QFP IC clips can make probing challenging devices much easier. Most users
prefer to attach the clips/hooks to the probe via the dual lead adapter as shown
in the picture below. Press the back of the pico hooks to extend the grasping
hook and then release to tighten the hook around the component you are testing.
Press the lever on the QFP IC clip to extend the grasping jaws.
IC Caps
The IC caps fit over the probe tip and provide a convenient self-aligning
connection to IC pins. This helps maintain contact on small fine pitch legs and
prevents shorting adjacent pins by preventing the probe tip from sliding between
the legs of the component.
pico hook
adapter
QFP IC Clip

9
Accessory Details
The different colored IC caps correspond to different pitches (see diagram below
to see how pitch is measured and refer to the table on page 3 to see what pitch
each color corresponds to). The IC caps are compatible with both the rigid and
spring loaded tips. Below is a simplified drawing showing how the caps fit around
the IC pins and where the probe tip comes through the cap.
IC pin IC pin IC pin
probe tip
IC Cap
pitch

10
Accessory Details
PCB Adapter Kit
The PCB Adapter sockets are designed to solder into a printed circuit board (PCB)
as test points to minimize ground inductance and maximize signal fidelity. Below
is a picture showing one of these PCB sockets attached to a PCB.
The recommended PCB layout is shown in the manual that accompanied your
N2870A Series probe. The PCB socket is compatible with hand soldering and
reflow processes. After soldering the socket - both the signal contact and ground
contact - to the board, simply insert the probe. The PCB adapter is compatible
with either the rigid or spring-loaded probe tip.
Insulator Cap
This cap is meant to fit over the probe tip and cover the ground barrel of the
probe, covering any potential shorting locations near the tip. This enables you to
probe in hot environments without having to worry about shorts.

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Accessory Details
Micro-SMD Clip
The micro-SMD clip is a spring loaded, two-pole test clip specially designed for
SMD components. It features a gold-plated, hardened tip for testing circuits and
has flat-nosed grips for individual components. Its balanced spring force enables
you to test both large and small components. Its pin connection is 0.64 mm (0.025
inches) and the spring is electrically insulating. The clip’s clamping range is 0-8
mm (0 - 0.3 inches).
2-Leg Probe Positioner
The 2-leg probe positioner can be used for quick and stable hands-free browsing.
The positioner has three different sized apertures into which various sized probes
can be placed. To use, first determine the appropriate aperture for your probe.
Then insert your probe and arrange the positioner/probe at the measuring point.
The front of the positioner (the side with the Keysight logo) must be pointing up
during use.

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Accessory Details

Keysight Technologies
P.O. Box 2197
1900 Garden of the Gods Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80901
Safety
Notices
This apparatus has been
designed and tested in accor-
dance with IEC Publication
1010, Safety Requirements for
Measuring Apparatus, and has
been supplied in a safe condi-
tion. This is a Safety Class I
instrument (provided with ter-
minal for protective earthing).
Before applying power, verify
that the correct safety precau-
tions are taken (see the follow-
ing warnings). In addition, note
the external markings on the
instrument that are described
under "Safety Symbols."
Warnings
• Whenever it is likely that the
ground protection is impaired,
you must make the instrument
inoperative and secure it
against any unintended opera-
tion.
• Service instructions are for
trained service personnel. To
avoid dangerous electric shock,
do not perform any service
unless qualified to do so. Do
not attempt internal service or
adjustment unless another per-
son, capable of rendering first
aid and resuscitation, is pres-
ent.
• Do not install substitute parts
or perform any unauthorized
modification to the instrument.
• Capacitors inside the instru-
ment may retain a charge even
if the instrument is discon-
nected from its source of sup-
ply.
• Do not operate the instru-
ment in the presence of flam-
mable gasses or fumes.
Operation of any electrical
instrument in such an environ-
ment constitutes a definite
safety hazard.
• Do not use the instrument in a
manner not specified by the
manufacturer.
Safety Symbols
Instruction manual symbol: the
product is marked with this
symbol when it is necessary for
you to refer to the instruction
manual in order to protect
against damage to the product
or personal injury.
Hazardous voltage symbol.
Earth terminal symbol: Used to
indicate a circuit common con-
nected to grounded chassis.
!

Notices
© Keysight Technologies, Inc. 2009
No part of this manual may be
reproduced in any form or by any
means (including electronic stor-
age and retrieval or translation
into a foreign language) without
prior agreement and written con-
sent from Keysight Technologies,
Inc. as governed by United States
and international copyright laws.
Manual Part Number
N2879-97000, April 2009
Print History
N2879-97000, April 2009
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
1900 Garden of the Gods Road
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 USA
Restricted Rights Legend
If software is for use in the per-
formance of a U.S. Government
prime contract or subcontract,
Software is delivered and
licensed as “Commercial com-
puter software” as defined in
DFAR 252.227-7014 (June
1995), or as a “commercial item”
as defined in FAR 2.101(a) or as
“Restricted computer software”
as defined in FAR 52.227-19
(June 1987) or any equivalent
agency regulation or contract
clause. Use, duplication or disclo-
sure of Software is subject to
Keysight Technologies’ standard
commercial license terms, and
non-DOD Departments and Agen-
cies of the U.S. Government will
receive no greater than
Restricted Rights as defined in
FAR 52.227-19(c)(1-2) (June
1987). U.S. Government users
will receive no greater than Lim-
ited Rights as defined in FAR
52.227-14 (June 1987) or DFAR
252.227-7015 (b)(2) (November
1995), as applicable in any tech-
nical data.
Document Warranty
The material contained in this
document is provided “as is,”
and is subject to being
changed, without notice, in
future editions. Further, to
the maximum extent permit-
ted by applicable law, Key-
sight disclaims all
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WARNING
A WARNING notice
denotes a hazard. It calls
attention to an operating
procedure, practice, or
the like that, if not
correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in
personal injury or death.
Do not proceed beyond a
WARNING notice until the
indicated conditions are
fully understood and met.
CAUTION
A CAUTION notice
denotes a hazard. It calls
attention to an operating
procedure, practice, or
the like that, if not
correctly performed or
adhered to, could result in
damage to the product or
loss of important data. Do
not proceed beyond a
CAUTION notice until the
indicated conditions are
fully understood and met.

Keysight Technologies
Printed in Germany, April 2009
Manual Part Number
N2879-97000
*N2879-97000*