Pico Technology PicoScope 4444 Standard Kit, High Resolution Differential Oscilloscope

With four true differential inputs, 12 to 14-bit resolution and wide differential and common-mode voltage ranges, the PicoScope 4444 and its accessories offer accurate and detailed measurement for a multitude of applications.

The Picoscope 4444 Standard Kit from Pico Technology is a high-resolution differential USB oscilloscope with three PicoConnect 441 1:1 passive differential voltage probes and one TA271 single-ended D9-BNC adaptor.

The PicoScope 4444 uses specially designed passive voltage probes that have smaller and lighter (or no) interface boxes makes multiple differential measurements at the same time while never occupying more than one power socket. It's intelligent probe interface automatically configures the PicoScope display to probes. The four D9 inputs allow to make true differential measurements. The 12bit resolution of the PicoScope 4444 offers 16 times as much vertical detail and its deeper capture memory of 256MS gives it greater horizontal resolution. It is used in non-ground-referenced measurements, safe probing of single phase and 3-phase voltages and currents, measuring power drawn by mobile and IoT devices, hybrid and electric vehicle design, motor drives and inverters.

Key features

• 4 high impedance differential inputs
• 20 MHz bandwidth
• Flexible 12 and 14-bit resolution
• 256 MS deep memory
• Measures non-grounded (floating) signals
• Rejects common-mode noise
• Intelligent probe interface
• Low-voltage probe for millivolts to 50 V
• 1000 V CAT III probe for high-voltage applications

Typical applications

• Safely probe single and 3-phase voltage and current
• Measuring power drawn by mobile and IoT devices
• Mains quality testing
• SMPS design
• Hybrid and electric vehicle design
• Motor drives and inverters
• Biomedical electronics
• Measuring differential signals (CAN, balanced audio) with a single channel

Intelligent differential inputs
With a traditional oscilloscope probe, single-ended measurements are made between a high-impedance input and a low-impedance ground.

With a differential oscilloscope, measurements are made between two high-impedance inputs, allowing measurements to be made across components and test points where neither side is grounded. Differential inputs also reject common-mode noise: noise picked up equally on both high-impedance inputs is rejected.

Each of the four input channels on the PicoScope 4444 features an intelligent probe interface that detects and identifies compatible probes, and powers them where necessary. Each channel can have its own choice of voltage or current probe.

Non-attenuating probes allow high-resolution, low-noise measurement of signals ranging from millivolts to ±50 V. Attenuating probes allow signals up to 1000 V CAT III to be measured. Current probes are available for currents up to 2000 A.

PicoConnect 441: Measure from millivolts to ±50 V
The PicoConnect 441 differential voltage probes are suitable for voltages up to ±50 V (for higher voltages see the PicoConnect 442). The probes are fitted with industry-standard 4 mm connectors and supplied with detachable sprung hook probe tips. Other 4 mm accessories such as multimeter probes and crocodile clips are available separately.

As well as measuring non-grounded voltage signals, differential inputs are ideal for measuring current through sensing resistors. As neither side needs to be grounded, they can make high-side measurements. The sensitive input ranges, high resolution and fast sampling are ideal for measuring fast-changing currents in battery-powered and IoT devices.

The high-impedance, high-resolution inputs are also suited to biological and scientific research, as they allow measurements on low-level millivolt signals (2 mV/div at 12 bits) in the presence of common-mode noise without the need for expensive differential preamplifiers or differential oscilloscope probes. The probe is constructed with twinax cable (twisted-pair inner conductors with an outer shield) to ensure a high common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR). The outer screen of the cable can optionally be connected to a signal ground to improve screening and further reduce noise pickup.

The PicoConnect 441 probes are also ideal for measuring differential signal sources such as CAN bus and balanced audio on a single channel, and can be used to directly measure from bridge-type sensors such as load cells and pressure sensors.

TA300 and TA301 current probes
Two different current probes are available with Pico D9 interfaces. Both use the Hall effect to measure AC and DC currents without direct connection to the cable. The intelligent probe interface powers the probes, so no batteries are required. It also means that when you connect either probe, PicoScope software identifies it and configures the oscilloscope to read in amperes.

The TA300 current probe is a 40 A probe suitable for measuring signals from DC to 100 kHz. It is a precision probe for smaller currents and can resolve down to a few milliamps. 

The TA301 current probe is a switched-range 200/2000 A probe suitable for measuring signals from DC to 20 kHz bandwidth. 

In addition to the TA300 and TA301, Pico stocks a wide range of AC and DC current clamps with BNC connectors that can be connected to the PicoScope 4444 using the TA271 D9 to BNC adaptor.