An automotive oscilloscope is a diagnostic tool used to observe the electrical fluctuations of a circuit in order to diagnose and troubleshoot problems. It measures the amplitude, phase and frequency of the signal which is represented on screen as a “stretched through time” image enabling the shape of the voltage waveform to be observed as well as the speed at which it changes.

When purchasing an automotive scope there are many things to consider such as the amount of channels, record length and probe connections. An automotive scope should also have advanced features such as serial bus decoding and power analysis capabilities. These features help engineers to quickly and easily understand the data transmitted over a bus or measure the power consumption of a system.

Rev Up Your Diagnostic Skills: Exploring the Automotive Oscilloscope Advantage

The number of input channels on an automotive oscilloscope is important because it determines the amount of signals that can be measured simultaneously. A higher channel count allows for multiple measurements to be made on the same signal making it easier to identify complex problems. Input probe connectivity is also important as it defines what signals can be measured on an automotive scope and the quality of the measurements. For example, high bandwidth and high CMRR input probes allow for the measurement of high-frequency signals like those found in modern vehicles.

When selecting an automotive oscilloscope it is important to avoid models originally intended for scientific or industrial use as these may not be capable of performing the required diagnostics. It is advisable to purchase a model with automotive-specific features such as a built in pattern display, pre-sets for different vehicle tests and the ability to add new pre-sets for various automotive uses.