Current Probes
Current Probes
Current probes are oscilloscope accessories that enable non-invasive measurement of AC and DC current waveforms by clamping around a conductor without breaking the circuit. They convert current flowing through a conductor into a proportional voltage signal that is read by the oscilloscope, allowing engineers to visualize current waveforms, measure rise times, and analyze transient behavior alongside voltage channels. Unlike shunt resistors, current probes introduce no insertion impedance and cause no disruption to the circuit under test.
Current probes are widely used in power electronics, electric motor testing, automotive electronics, and industrial control. Wideband models from Hioki and Keysight support bandwidths from DC up to hundreds of MHz, enabling accurate capture of fast switching transients in converters and inverters. They are also commonly used alongside voltage probes for instantaneous power measurements and energy efficiency analysis in R&D and compliance testing.
Typical Applications
- Switching power supply and DC-DC converter analysis — measuring inductor current ripple and switch-node current waveforms for efficiency optimization
- Motor drive testing — monitoring phase currents and detecting overcurrent events in three-phase inverter systems
- Automotive and EV systems — analyzing inrush currents in battery management systems, onboard chargers, and DC fast-charging circuits
- Power quality analysis — capturing harmonic content and distortion in AC mains currents in industrial and energy applications
- EMC measurement — characterizing conducted common-mode and differential-mode current signatures on power lines
Popular Brands
Hioki's 3273–3276 series wideband current clamp probes cover a broad frequency range suited to power electronics and high-frequency inverter testing. Keysight offers current probes compatible with their InfiniiVision and Infiniium oscilloscope platforms, including DMM-compatible models for dual-function measurement configurations.
