A700000007556181 PicoScope USB Oscilloscopes User Guide

: June 5, 2024
: Pico

Table of Contents

Introduction
Step 2: Safety information
Step 3: Connect your oscilloscope
- Inputs and outputs
Useful information
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

PicoScope USB Oscilloscopes User Guide
www.picotech.com/downloads
PicoScope® USB oscilloscopes

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing a Pico Technology PC Oscilloscope. This oscilloscope is intended for the measurement of electrical signals to the limits specified in this guide and in the instrument’s Data Sheet. For safe limits of accessories, refer to the documentation supplied by the manufacturer.
This guide explains how to install the PicoScope software and connect your oscilloscope. It also contains important safety information and advice on accessing user manuals and technical support. Please retain it for future reference.
We recommend that you use this document in the order it is presented:
Step 1. Install the PicoScope software
Step 2. Read the oscilloscope safety and conformance information
Step 3. Connect the oscilloscope
Once you have finished the basic installation, your product’s User’s Guide (if applicable) and Data Sheet will provide further information about setting up and using your oscilloscope, and on kit contents and replacement accessories. Both are available from picotech.com/library/documentation.
Step 1: Installing the PicoScope software
1.1 System requirements
To ensure that PicoScope operates correctly, you must use a computer with the system requirements shown in the table below. The performance of the oscilloscope will improve with a more powerful PC, and will benefit from a multicore processor.

| Specifications
---|---
Operating system| Microsoft Windows, 32-bit and 64-bit versions Linux and macOS (beta software only), 64-bit versions See picotech.com/downloads for details
Processor, memory, free disk space Ports| As required by the operating system
port(s)| USB 2.0 or USB 3.0

1.2 Installing the software

Go to picotech.com/downloads, select your PicoScope series and model from the lists, then select the latest PicoScope software. Download and run the installer.
In the PicoScope installer, select the language you wish to use.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install the software. Do not connect the oscilloscope device until the installation is complete.
You can try out the software with a demo device now, by clicking the new PicoScope icon on your desktop.

For more information on the software, refer to the A to Z of PC Oscilloscopes at picotech.com/library/a-to-z or the software User’s Guide, which you can download from picotech.com/library/documentation or access from the Help menu within the software.

Step 2: Safety information

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 near electricity.
The product has been designed and tested in accordance with the European standard publication EN 610101:2010+A1:2019 (Safety Requirements for Electrical Equipment for Measurement, Control and Laboratory Use). The product 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.
2.1 Symbols
These safety and electrical symbols (list continues overleaf) may appear on the product or in this guide.

Symbol	Description
Direct current
Alternating current
Earth (ground) terminal
Chassis terminal
Equipment is protected throughout by double insulation or reinforced

insulation
| Possibility of electric shock
| Caution
| Static awareness. Static discharge can damage parts.
CAT| EN 61010 overvoltage category
| For indoor use only
****| Do not dispose of this product as unsorted municipal waste.
---|---

The terminal can be used to make a measurement ground connection. The terminal is NOT a safety or protective earth.
Appearance on the product indicates a need to read the supplied safety and operating instructions.

WARNING

To prevent injury or death use the product only as instructed. The protection provided by the product may be impaired if used in a manner not specified by the manufacturer.
2.2 Maximum input ratings
Observe all terminal ratings and warnings marked on the product. The marked voltage is the maximum that may be applied across that terminal without risk of personal injury or damage to the instrument.
The table below and/or markings on the product indicate the full-scale measurement range and overvoltage protection range for each oscilloscope model. The full-scale measurement ranges are the maximum voltages that can be accurately measured by the instrument. The overvoltage protection ranges are the maximum voltages that will not damage the instrument.

WARNING
To prevent electric shock, do not attempt to connect to or measure voltages outside of the marked terminal rating.

Overvoltage protection (DC + AC peak)

| Full-scale measurement range| Input channels| Digital input channels (MSO)| Ext/AUX trigger| Signal generator
PicoScope 3000D Series| ±20 V| ±100 V| ±50 V| ±100 V| ±20 V
PicoScope 4000A Series| ±50 V| ±100 V| –| –| ±10 V
PicoScope 4262| ±20 V| ±50 V| –| ±50 V| ±10 V
PicoScope 5000D Series| ±20 V| ±100 V| ±50 V| ±100 V| ±20 V
PicoScope 6407| ±100 V| ±2 V| –| ±5 V| ±5 V

**WARNING**
Signals exceeding the voltage limits in the table below are defined as “hazardous live” by EN 61010.

Signal voltage limits of EN 61010-1:2010+A1:2019

±60 V DC| 30 V AC RMS| ±42.4 V pk max.

**WARNING**
To prevent injury or death, do not directly connect the oscilloscope to hazardous live voltages.
To prevent electric shock, take all necessary safety precautions when working on equipment where hazardous live voltages may be present.
The following accessories can safely connect to and allow measurement of hazardous live voltages, up to either the instrument’s full-scale measurement voltage multiplied by the applicable attenuation ratio or the accessory’s marked maximum operating voltage, whichever is the lower:

P2036 and P2056 10:1 passive high-impedance oscilloscope probes
All Pico Technology-supplied high-voltage active probes

Accessories suited for connection to hazardous live voltages are clearly marked with their maximum allowable voltage and, where applicable, their CAT rating.

**WARNING**
To prevent electric shock, do not exceed the voltage rating marked on any accessory. If an accessory is not marked with a voltage rating on either the connector, cable or body, or if a protective finger guard is removed, then do not exceed the EN 61010 “hazardous live” limits above.

To prevent injury or death, do not connect the oscilloscope directly to the mains (line power).
To measure mains, use only a differential isolating probe that is specifically CAT rated for mains or high-energy use, such as the TA041 listed on the Pico website. Such measurements must only be made by competent persons and appropriate safety training may be required.
To prevent injury or death, do not use the product or an accessory if it appears to be damaged in any way, and stop use immediately if you are concerned by any abnormal operations.

WARNING
PicoScope detects a signal voltage exceeding the selected full-scale measurement range and indicates it on the measurement display. A red warning icon will appear in the upper left corner and next to the relevant channel’s vertical axis.
Under these conditions, displayed waveforms and measurements may be incorrect and the condition may be hazardous. Select a larger voltage range to achieve a within-range measurement and if the condition persists, to prevent injury or death, disable or otherwise safely disconnect from the source of overvoltage.

**CAUTION**
To avoid causing permanent damage to the oscilloscope and other connected equipment, do not exceed the voltage rating of any cable, connector or accessory.

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.
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**
To avoid causing permanent damage to the oscilloscope, the attached computer and other equipment, never apply a voltage to the ground input.
To prevent measurement errors caused by poor grounding, always use the high- quality USB cable supplied with the oscilloscope.

External connections

**WARNING
To prevent injury or death, use only the power cord and adaptor, if any, supplied with the product. These are approved for the voltage and plug configuration in your country.
Note:** Not all oscilloscopes require an external power supply.

| USB 2.0 powered| USB 3.1 powered| DC power input
---|---|---|---
Voltage| Current
PicoScope 3000D Series| –| Y| 5 V| 1.3 A pk
PicoScope 4000A Series| –| Y| –| –
PicoScope 4262| Y| Y| –| –
PicoScope 5000D Series| –| Y| 5 V| 1.6 A pk
PicoScope 6407| –| –| 12 V| 3.5 A pk
[1] DC power supply may be required for 4-channel models if the USB port supplies insufficient power.
[2] DC power supply is required for full functionality of 4-channel models. Refer to the Data Sheet for details.

**WARNING**
Take care to avoid mechanical stress or tight bend radii for all connected leads, including all coaxial leads and connectors. Mishandling will cause deformation and will degrade performance and measurement accuracy.

Environment

This product is for indoor or outdoor use, in dry locations only. The product’s external main power supply (if required) is for indoor use only.

**WARNING
To prevent injury or death, do not use in wet or damp conditions or near explosive gas or vapor.
CAUTION**
To prevent damage, always use and store your oscilloscope in appropriate environments.

Temperature
Humidity (non-condensing)| –20 to +60 °C| 0 to 40 °C| 20 to 30 °C[3]
---|---|---|---
5 to 95 %RH| 5 to 80 %RH
Altitude| 2000 m (maximum)
Pollution degree| 2 (maximum)
[3] Some PicoScope models have enhanced environmental specifications. Please refer to the applicable Data Sheet.

Care of the product

The product contains no user‑serviceable parts. Repair, servicing, and adjustment 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.
Inspect the instrument and all probes, connectors, cables, and accessories before use for signs of damage.

**WARNING**
To prevent electric shock do not tamper with or disassemble the oscilloscope, case parts, connectors or accessories.
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 water to enter the casing, as this will compromise the electronics or insulation inside.

**CAUTION**
Do not block the air vents (if present) at the back or front of the instrument as overheating will cause damage to the oscilloscope.
Do not insert any objects through the air vents (if present) as internal interference will cause damage to the oscilloscope.

Conformance

General statement of conformity
The enclosed instrument has been calibrated in accordance with the manufacturer’s verification procedure using standards that are traceable to UK national standards. The test location’s quality management system complies with, and its calibration process is controlled under, ISO 9001:2015. The calibration processes are designed to certify that the instrument was within its published specification at the time of calibration. The measurements were made in a monitored environment.
A full calibration certificate including test data and traceable to national standards is available on request. Please refer to picotech.com/products for pricing.

FCC notice
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 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 which the user will be required to correct at their own expense.

CE notice
This PicoScope oscilloscope has been designed and tested in accordance with the following European Union directives:

Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC)
Low Voltage Directive (LVD)
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS).
It left the factory in a safe condition. For more information, please refer to your product’s EU declaration of conformity, available for free download from picotech.com/downloads.

Step 3: Connect your oscilloscope

If your oscilloscope is mains-powered, connect the power cord to the power adaptor and plug it into a mains power socket. Then connect the DC power cord to the back of the oscilloscope and switch on the mains power.
Connect the oscilloscope to your PC using the USB cable supplied. See the connection diagram below for more information.
a PicoScope PC oscilloscope
b Oscilloscope USB port
c Pico USB cable
d PC
e PC USB port
f Power adaptor
Wait for your computer to install the oscilloscope. While doing so it will display a message or icon in the taskbar telling you it has found the device.
Run the software.
If you wish to use a probe, connect one to Channel A. Touching the metal tip of the probe should cause a small 50 or 60-hertz signal to appear in the PicoScope window.

Inputs and outputs

Note: PicoScope 5000D Series 4-channel models are shown here. Other models may have a different arrangement of connectors. Refer to your oscilloscope’s data sheet for details.

1| Oscilloscope analog inputs. Refer to the maximum input voltage marked on the front panel of the oscilloscope. [BNC(f) or SMA(f)]
---|---
2| Probe compensation pin. Refer to the documentation supplied with your probe for compensation instructions. For oscilloscopes without a probe compensation pin, the built-in signal generator may be used to provide a signal for probe compensation.
3| MSO logic inputs. Refer to maximum input voltage marked on front panel of oscilloscope. Refer to User’s Guide for pinout if not using the supplied cable.
[20-way header]
Ext| External trigger input. [BNC(f)]

| Signal generator or arbitrary waveform generator output. Do not apply an external voltage to this output. [BNC(f)]
---|---
| Earth terminal [M4 screw]
| USB connection to PC [USB 2.0 or 3.0 Type-B socket]
| Power supply input as described in Section 2.4, External connections. [2.1 mm barrel jack, center positive]
| Auxiliary (AUX) trigger and reference clock input

Useful information

Documentation
The Data Sheet contains the latest specifications for your PicoScope PC oscilloscope.
You can download PDF copies of this and all other documentation relevant to your oscilloscope, including the User’s Guide and Programmer’s Guide, where available, from
picotech.com/library/documentation.

Software updates
The PicoScope software can check for updates automatically, and notify you when any are available. Alternatively, you can download the latest version free of charge from picotech.com/downloads.

PicoLog software
Your PicoScope PC‑based oscilloscope may also be compatible with the PicoLog 6 data acquisition software, allowing it to function as a voltage-input data logger with a maximum sample rate of 1 kS/s per channel. PicoLog 6 is available free of charge from picotech.com/downloads.

Writing your own software
PicoSDK®, a software development kit with all the drivers and other files you will need to develop your own custom programs, is available for download from picotech.com/downloads.
Linux driver packages are available for download from picotech.com/downloads/linux.
The relevant files are included in the PicoScope software download for macOS, available from picotech.com/downloads.
Pico also maintains repositories of examples for various programming languages on GitHub, at github.com/picotech.

Technical support
Regularly updated technical support information can be found on the Pico Technology technical support web page (picotech.com/tech-support) and the Test & Measurement Forum (picotech.com/support). You can also email [email protected] or telephone +44 (0) 1480 479 164 to contact our team directly.

Certificate of conformity
If you require a certificate of conformity (CoC) for your PicoScope oscilloscope, you can obtain a PDF copy electronically by contacting our Technical Support team. Please provide the model and the serial number, which are both printed on the base of the instrument.

Warranty and returns
Your PicoScope USB oscilloscope device is supplied with a five‑year return-to- manufacturer warranty. All accessories are guaranteed for at least one year from the date of purchase. You may also return your oscilloscope for any reason within 14 days of purchase for a refund. For terms and conditions, visit picotech.com/about. YEAR

Legal information
Information regarding Pico’s software licenses, liability, privacy policy, trademarks, and other legal matters is available (in English only) at picotech.com/about/legal-information.

Free newsletter
Pico Technology sends out a free monthly newsletter by email. This gives news of product launches, software upgrades, and application notes, as well as hints and advice. We treat your email address and other details as confidential and will not pass them on to any third party. To subscribe, visit picotech.com/signuplibrary/newsletter.

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Pico Technology, PicoScope, PicoLog and PicoSDK are internationally registered trademarks of Pico Technology Ltd.
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