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lammelm
PostPosted: Feb 13, 2012 - 09:08 PM
Hangaround


Joined: Aug 27, 2007
Posts: 143
Location: Budapest, Hungary

Hi!

I would like to measure the ripple voltage on a DC-DC step down converter output.

The DC-DC step-down converter is using TPS5410 integrated switch IC from Texas Instruments, which has a switching frequency of 500 kHz. On the output I use 100uH/2A inductor and 100uF/50V low ESR capacitor for output filter. According my estimate calculation, and the TI SwitcherPRO simulation the ripple voltage should be less than 10mV or less.

The problem is: my PicoScope 2205 USB oscilloscope has a 8 bit vertical resolution, and for measuring the 5V output voltage on my DC-DC converter, the oscilloscope uses +/-10V measurement range.
This means, that the LSB of the ADC is 20V/256 = 79mV
And so measuring 10mV noise is impossible, since all I see is this 79mV noise, which comes from the LSB noise of the ADC.


Can somebody suggest a solution for this?



Thanks
 
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MBedder
PostPosted: Feb 13, 2012 - 09:34 PM
Raving lunatic


Joined: Nov 02, 2009
Posts: 3239
Location: Zelenograd, Russia

Switch your 'scope input to AC coupling (if it doesn't support this, add a 0.1 uF capacitor in series with the input). Then use any scale you wish - e.g. 10 mV/div.

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Warning: Grumpy Old Chuff. Reading this post may severely damage your mental health.
 
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lammelm
PostPosted: Feb 15, 2012 - 07:28 AM
Hangaround


Joined: Aug 27, 2007
Posts: 143
Location: Budapest, Hungary

MBedder wrote:
Switch your 'scope input to AC coupling (if it doesn't support this, add a 0.1 uF capacitor in series with the input). Then use any scale you wish - e.g. 10 mV/div.


Thank you very much. So simple, and elegant solution.

(Btw. I should really learn, how to use a scope properly Smile )
 
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