PICO PicoScope 5000 A User manual

User's Guide
Flexible Resolution Oscilloscopes
PicoScope® 5000 A and B Series

IPicoScope 5000 A and B Series PC Oscilloscopes User's Guide
Copyright © 2013–2016 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps5000ab.en r4
Contents
1 Welcome .................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 2
1 Safety information .............................................................................................................................. 2
1 Safety symbols ........................................................................................................................ 3
2 Product usage ......................................................................................................................... 4
3 Maximum input ranges ............................................................................................................ 4
4 Grounding .............................................................................................................................. 5
5 Environment ........................................................................................................................... 5
6 Care of the instrument ............................................................................................................ 6
2 Conformance ...................................................................................................................................... 6
1 FCC notice .............................................................................................................................. 6
2 CE notice ................................................................................................................................ 6
3 Software license conditions ................................................................................................................. 6
4 Trademarks ........................................................................................................................................ 7
5 Warranty ........................................................................................................................................... 7
6 Minimum system requirements ............................................................................................................ 8
3 Pack contents .............................................................................................................................. 9
4 Installation ................................................................................................................................ 10
5 Product information ................................................................................................................. 11
1 Model comparison table .................................................................................................................... 12
2 Connector diagrams .......................................................................................................................... 13
3 Moving to another USB port ............................................................................................................. 14
4 Compensating probes ....................................................................................................................... 14
6 Glossary .................................................................................................................................... 15
Index ........................................................................................................................................... 17
北京海洋兴业科技股份有限公司（证券代码：839145）
www.hyxyyq.com

PicoScope 5000 A and B Series PC Oscilloscopes User's Guide 1
Copyright © 2013–2016 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps5000ab.en r4
1 Welcome
Thank you for buying a PicoScope 5000 Series Flexible Resolution Oscilloscope
from PicoTechnology!
The PicoScope 5000 A and B Series of Flexible
Resolution Oscilloscopes from PicoTechnology are a
range of high-specification real-time measuring
instruments that connect to the USB port of your
computer. With the PicoScope software you can use
these devices as oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers.
With various options of portability, resolution, deep
memory, fast sampling rates and high bandwidth,
these highly versatile oscilloscopes suit a wide range of
applications.
B
5V
A
Ext G
PicoScope
www.picotech.com
PicoScope 5000 Series
BCD
5V
A
Ext G
PicoScope
www.picotech.com
PicoScope 5000 Series
The A models are high-speed portable oscilloscopes with a function generator:
PicoScope 5242A
PicoScope 5243A
PicoScope 5244A
PicoScope 5442A
PicoScope 5443A
PicoScope 5444A
The B models are as the A models, but feature an arbitrary waveform generator and
deeper memory:
PicoScope 5242B
PicoScope 5243B
PicoScope 5244B
PicoScope 5442B
PicoScope 5443B
PicoScope 5444B
Here are some of the benefits provided by the PicoScope 5000 A and B Series
oscilloscopes:
Flexibility: Whether you want 8, 12, 14, 15 or 16-bit resolution, the PicoScope
5000 Series oscilloscopes will suit your needs.
Portability: Take the unit with you and plug it in to any Windows PC.
Performance: Up to 1 GS/s sampling, 200 MHz bandwidth and 512 MS buffer.
Programmability: The PicoScope 5000A SDK lets you write your own programs, in
your chosen programming language, to control all the features of the scope. Using
the API functions, you can develop your own programs to collect and analyze data
from the oscilloscope. Refer to the PicoScope 5000 Series (A API) Programmer's
Guide for more information.
Long-term support: Software upgrades are available to download from our
website. You can also call our technical specialists for support. You can continue to
use both of these services free of charge for the lifetime of the product.
Value for money: You don't have to pay twice for all the features that you already
have in your PC, as the PicoScope 5000 Series oscilloscope contains the special
hardware you need and nothing more.
Convenience: The software makes full use of the full-sized display, disk storage,
user interface and networking built in to your PC.
Five-year warranty: Your oscilloscope is covered for five years from the day of
purchase against manufacturing faults. We don't charge a penny extra for this
benefit.
For further information on the PicoScope 5000 A and B Series oscilloscopes, see the
comparison table in this manual, and the specifications tables in the PicoScope 5000
Series data sheets available on our website.
北京海洋兴业科技股份有限公司（证券代码：839145）
www.hyxyyq.com

Introduction2
Copyright © 2013–2016 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.ps5000ab.en r4
2 Introduction
2.1 Safety information
This product has been designed and tested in accordance with the European standard
publication EN 61010-1: 2010, and left the factory in a safe condition.
The following safety descriptions are found throughout this guide:
A WARNING identifies conditions or practices that could result in injury or death.
A CAUTION identifies conditions or practices that could result in damage to the
product or equipment to which it is connected.
Each of these safety instructions applies to all of the PicoScope 5000 Series
oscilloscopes covered by this User's Guide, unless otherwise specified.
北京海洋兴业科技股份有限公司（证券代码：839145）
www.hyxyyq.com

PicoScope 5000 A and B Series PC Oscilloscopes User's Guide 3
Copyright © 2013–2016 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps5000ab.en r4
2.1.1 Safety symbols
These safety and electrical symbols may appear on the product and throughout this
guide.
Symbol
Description
Direct current.
Alternating current.
Functional earth terminal.
This terminal is connected to
chassis ground, and allows you to
connect the oscilloscope to an
external ground reference. This
terminal is not intended to
provide a protective (safety)
ground.
Chassis ground terminal.
The ground terminals of
connectors marked with this
symbol are all connected
together, and connected to the
host PC via the screen of the USB
cable. This symbol is used in
place of the equipotential symbol
which may appear on older
products.
Equipment protected throughout by
double insulation or reinforced
insulation.
Possibility of electric shock.
Caution.
Indicates a potential HAZARD:
consult the product
documentation every time you
see this symbol, in order to
identify the hazard and any
actions needed to avoid it.
Static awareness. Static discharge can
damage part(s).
IEC 61010 overvoltage category.
Do not dispose of this product as
unsorted municipal waste.
北京海洋兴业科技股份有限公司（证券代码：839145）
www.hyxyyq.com

Introduction4
Copyright © 2013–2016 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.ps5000ab.en r4
2.1.2 Product usage
WARNING
To prevent injury or death, use the product only as instructed and use only
accessories supplied or recommended. Protection provided by the product
may be impaired if used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer.
WARNING
To prevent possible electrical shock, fire, personal injury, or damage to the
product, carefully read this safety information before attempting to install or
use the product. In addition, follow all generally accepted safety practices and
procedures for working with and around electricity.
2.1.3 Maximum input ranges
Observe all terminal ratings and warnings marked on the product.
The table below indicates the full scale measurement range and overload protection
range for each oscilloscope model. The full scale measurement ranges are the
maximum voltages that can be accurately measured by each instrument. The overload
protection ranges are the maximum voltages that can be applied without damaging
the oscilloscope.
WARNING
To prevent electric shock, do not attempt to measure voltages outside the
specified full scale measurement range below.
Model
Full scale
measurement
range
Overload protection
Input channels
/ EXT trigger
Signal generator
All PicoScope 5000 A
and B Series
oscilloscopes
±20V
±100 V pk max.
±20 V pk max.
WARNING
Signals exceeding the voltage limits in the table below are defined as
"hazardous live" by EN 61010. To prevent electric shock, take all necessary
safety precautions when working on equipment where hazardous live voltages
may be present.
Signal voltage limits of EN 61010
±70V DC
33 V AC RMS
±46.7V pk max.
WARNING
The PicoScope 5000 Series oscilloscopes are not designed to measure
hazardous live signals as defined by EN 61010. To prevent electric shock, do
not attempt to measure voltages outside of the limits shown in the table
above or the specified full scale measurement range, whichever is lower.
WARNING
To prevent injury or death, the oscilloscope must not be directly connected to
the mains (line power). To measure mains voltages, use a differential isolating
北京海洋兴业科技股份有限公司（证券代码：839145）
www.hyxyyq.com

PicoScope 5000 A and B Series PC Oscilloscopes User's Guide 5
Copyright © 2013–2016 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps5000ab.en r4
probe specifically rated for mains use, such as the TA041 listed on the Pico
website.
CAUTION
Exceeding the overload protection range on any connector can cause
permanent damage to the oscilloscope and other connected equipment.
2.1.4 Grounding
WARNING
The oscilloscope's ground connection through the USB cable is for
measurement purposes only. The oscilloscope does not have a protective
safety ground.
WARNING
Never connect the ground input (chassis) to any electrical power source. To
prevent personal injury or death, use a voltmeter to check that there is no
significant AC or DC voltage between the oscilloscope ground and the point to
which you intend to connect it.
CAUTION
Applying a voltage to the ground input is likely to cause permanent damage to
the oscilloscope, the attached computer, and other equipment.
CAUTION
To prevent measurement errors caused by poor grounding, always use the
high-quality USB cable supplied with the oscilloscope.
2.1.5 Environment
WARNING
To prevent injury or death, do not use in wet or damp conditions, or around
explosive gas or vapor.
CAUTION
To prevent damage, always use and store your oscilloscope in appropriate
environments.
Storage
Operating
Temperature
–20°C to +60°C
0°C to +40°C
(+20°C to +30°C for quoted
accuracy)
Humidity
5% to 95% RH
(non-condensing)
5% to 80% RH
(non-condensing)
北京海洋兴业科技股份有限公司（证券代码：839145）
www.hyxyyq.com

Introduction6
Copyright © 2013–2016 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.ps5000ab.en r4
2.1.6 Care of the instrument
The oscilloscope and its accessories contain no user-serviceable parts. Repair and
servicing require specialized test equipment and must only be performed by Pico
Technology or an approved service provider. There may be a charge for these services
unless covered by the Pico five year warranty.
WARNING
To prevent injury or death, do not use the instrument if it appears to be
damaged in any way, and stop use immediately if you are concerned by any
abnormal operations.
WARNING
When cleaning the oscilloscope, use a soft cloth and a solution of mild soap or
detergent in water. To prevent electric shock, do not allow liquids to enter the
casing, as this will cause damage to the electronics or insulation inside.
CAUTION
Do not tamper with or disassemble the oscilloscope, connectors or
accessories. Internal damage will affect performance.
2.2 Conformance
2.2.1 FCC notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 Subpart B of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference
in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his or her own
expense.
For safety and maintenance information see the safety information.
2.2.2 CE notice
The PicoScope 5000 A and B Series oscilloscopes meet the intent of the EMC directive
89/336/EEC and have been tested to EN 61326-1:2013 Class A Emissions and
Immunity standard.
The product also meets the intent of the Low Voltage Directive and has been
designed to meet BS EN 61010-1:2010 Safety requirements for electrical
equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use standard.
2.3 Software license conditions
The software supplied with this product is licensed, not sold. Pico Technology Limited
grants a license to the person who installs this software, subject to the conditions
listed below:
Access. The licensee agrees to allow access to this software only to persons who have
been informed of these conditions and agree to abide by them.
Usage. The software in this release is for use only with Pico Technology products or
with data collected using Pico Technology products.
北京海洋兴业科技股份有限公司（证券代码：839145）
www.hyxyyq.com

PicoScope 5000 A and B Series PC Oscilloscopes User's Guide 7
Copyright © 2013–2016 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved. ps5000ab.en r4
Copyright. Pico Technology Limited claims the copyright of, and retains the rights to,
all material (software, documents etc.) contained in this release. You may copy and
distribute the entire release in its original state, but must not copy individual items
within the release other than for backup purposes.
Liability. Pico Technology and its agents shall not be liable for any loss, damage or
injury, howsoever caused, related to the use of Pico Technology equipment or
software, unless excluded by statute.
Fitness for purpose. Because no two applications are the same, Pico Technology
cannot guarantee that its equipment or software is suitable for a given application. It
is your responsibility, therefore, to ensure that the product is suitable for your
application.
Mission-critical applications. This software is intended for use on a computer that
may be running other software products. For this reason, one of the conditions of the
license is that it excludes usage in mission-critical applications; for example, life-
support systems.
Viruses. This software was continuously monitored for viruses during production, but
you are responsible for virus-checking the software once it is installed.
Support. If you are dissatisfied with the performance of this software, please contact
our technical support staff, who will try to fix the problem within a reasonable time. If
you are still dissatisfied, please return the product and software to your supplier within
14 days of purchase for a full refund.
Upgrades. We provide upgrades, free of charge, from our website at
www.picotech.com. We reserve the right to charge for updates or replacements sent
out on physical media.
2.4 Trademarks
Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the USA and other
countries.
Pico Technology Limited and PicoScope are trademarks of Pico Technology Limited
registered in the United Kingdom and other countries.
2.5 Warranty
Pico Technology warrants upon delivery, and for a period of 5 years unless otherwise
stated from the date of delivery, that the Goods will be free from defects in material
and workmanship.
Pico Technology shall not be liable for a breach of the warranty if the defect has been
caused by fair wear and tear, willful damage, negligence, abnormal working conditions
or failure to follow Pico Technology's spoken or written advice on the storage,
installation, commissioning, use or maintenance of the Goods or (if no advice has been
given) good trade practice; or if the Customer alters or repairs such Goods without the
written consent of Pico Technology.
北京海洋兴业科技股份有限公司（证券代码：839145）
www.hyxyyq.com

Introduction8
Copyright © 2013–2016 Pico Technology Limited. All rights reserved.ps5000ab.en r4
2.6 Minimum system requirements
To ensure that your PicoScope 5000 Series oscilloscope operates correctly, you must
have a computer with at least the minimum system requirements as shown in the
following table. The performance of the oscilloscope will be better with a more
powerful PC, and will benefit from a multi-core processor.
Item
Specification
Operating system
Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10*. 32 bit and 64 bit
versions.
Beta software is also available for Linux and OS X operating
systems.
Processor
As required by the operating system
Memory
Free disk space
Ports
USB 3.0 or USB 2.0 port(s)
*PicoScope version 6.11 and SDKs are compatible with Windows XP SP3 and
Vista SP2 in addition to the Windows versions listed above. For best
performance we recommend Windows 7 or later.
3Pack contents
A PicoScope 5000 A or B Series oscilloscope is supplied with the following items:
Standard USB cable (4-channel scopes only)
Double-headed USB cable
AC adaptor (4-channel scopes only)
Software and Reference CD
Installation Guide
2 or 4 x Probes (see Model Comparison table for probe details)
北京海洋兴业科技股份有限公司（证券代码：839145）
www.hyxyyq.com