Need a current probe solution to use with PXI-5112 scope

[Rajakumar]

We have a PXI-5112 scope in our PXI-based tester setup to measure voltage ripples and rise / fall times from the signals of the Device under test. An additional requirement we need to meet is to measure the switching 'current' output from one of the Device pins that will be flowing out of the Device pin and into a connected Inductor. The user wants to use a "Current Probe" to capture that switching current waveform.

Which current probe(s) can be used with a NI 5112 Scope instrument easily and effectively? Does NI have Current probe options to choose from?  If not, what are the choice of Current probes from other vendors which will work fine with the NI 5112. What we need is an equivalent of the Yokogawa Current probe model #701932. It has a bandwidth of DC to 100MHz. And can handle up to 30A(rms) currents, though, the current we need to measure are only in the order of 1-2A.

We need to achieve a Current measurement capability with the PXI setup we are using; and, as I mentioned, it has a PXI 5112 instrument as part of it.

[dansch]

Hello Rajakumar,

Unfortunately, NI does not have a recommended current probe for use with the High-Speed Digitizers. However, any generic BNC current probe should be fine to work with the PXI-5112. If an "active" probe is used, it will need to have power supplied to it externally as the 5112 will not be able to provide the power. The main thing to consider is what the corresponding voltage range will be that is returned by the probe. As long as the voltage that is returned for the current being measured is within the acceptable range of the 5112 (±25 V), it should be fine to use. Also, since the 5112 is just measuring the voltage being returned by the probe, you will need to setup a conversion between the measured voltage and what the actual current is. Hope this helps,

[Henrik_Volkers]

Go through the pages of the traditional scope manufactures (HP AG, Tektronix, ....)  or Fluke   

100MHz will push up the price 😉

Another source of current sensors/probes is  LEM

And if I remember right Jim Williams from linear.com wrote something good (never found something bad 😉  ) about current probes  in a app.note (could have been an appended chapter, so maybe not directly visible)

[petergeller]

As per your requirements for 5112 i think the best solution would be using intellisens i2 probe. Its pretty cheap and smart. You can check it here