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Discussion board help and admin topics => Half Baked Ideas => Topic started by: DeepCut on April 04, 2010, 10:23:09 PM

Title: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: DeepCut on April 04, 2010, 10:23:09 PM
Hi.

I am currently using a soundcard as a scope :

Hardware setup :

http://www.ladyada.net/library/equipt/diyaudioprobe.html

Software :

http://www.zeitnitz.de/Christian/scope_en

I will get a real scope but in the meantime i have a question.

I am trying to use my 'scope' to read the RPM of a magnetic-stator/rotor setup.

I am putting the 'probe' on a hookup wire that gets pulsed with a charge every time the reed-switch closes.

I was hoping that the frequency read-out from the scope (divided by the number of poles) would give me the RPM but it seems to fluctuate a fair bit and i know the RPM is not fluctuating that much.

Is this due to noisy PC electronics, does anyone have any experience with this poor-man's scope ?

Thanks.

Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: DeepCut on April 05, 2010, 04:05:38 PM
now i've blown the mic input on two soundcards, onward and upward ;+}
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: pese on April 05, 2010, 06:56:43 PM
i am workinking since years with tis.
you must not overload the input.
eventually limitimg with serie resistor or voltage divuder
gp
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: DeepCut on April 05, 2010, 07:27:06 PM
Quote from: pese on April 05, 2010, 06:56:43 PM
i am workinking since years with tis.
you must not overload the input.
eventually limitimg with serie resistor or voltage divuder
gp

Thanks pese. I am using a potentiometer and a 47mF cap but still blew the mic input, not sure why as i am new to electronics.
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: pese on April 05, 2010, 07:40:20 PM
Quote from: DeepCut on April 05, 2010, 07:27:06 PM
Thanks pese. I am using a potentiometer and a 47mF cap but still blew the mic input, not sure why as i am new to electronics.
try to use an serie resistor 1meg  (100k) between pot (slider) and input to card.
be sure thas briund is also connected tocard (otherwise it is try to have problems)
Use shilded (like coax) cables from pot to the card-input
pese
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: wings on April 06, 2010, 03:20:24 AM
my suggestion :

use an external USB 2.0 to 3D AUDIO SOUND CARD ADAPTER, you can put all in a small box

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-2-0-3D-AUDIO-SOUND-CARD-ADAPTER-Music-Fairy-/280390165961

use this program is free:

http://www.sillanumsoft.org/

nice alternative:

http://www.elechouse.com/elechouse/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=396
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: Paul-R on April 06, 2010, 06:43:20 AM
Don't forget that you are limited by the frequency response of the sound card.
There are devices which plug into your USB socket, made, amongst others, by
Hantek, e.g. Model DSO 2150, which are more expensive but give better results:

http://www.hantek.com.cn/english/produce_list.asp?unid=63
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: DeepCut on April 06, 2010, 07:12:56 AM
"try to use an serie resistor 1meg  (100k) between pot (slider) and input to card.
be sure thas briund is also connected tocard (otherwise it is try to have problems)
Use shilded (like coax) cables from pot to the card-input
pese "

Thanks pese, i will do that. Do you mean ground, when you say 'briund' ?

"my suggestion :

use an external USB 2.0 to 3D AUDIO SOUND CARD ADAPTER, you can put all in a small box

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/USB-2-0-3D-AUDIO-SOUND-CARD-ADAPTER-Music-Fairy-/280390165961

use this program is free:

http://www.sillanumsoft.org/

nice alternative:

http://www.elechouse.com/elechouse/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=396"

Nice one Wings will check those out.

"Don't forget that you are limited by the frequency response of the sound card.
There are devices which plug into your USB socket, made, amongst others, by
Hantek, e.g. Model DSO 2150, which are more expensive but give better results:

http://www.hantek.com.cn/english/produce_list.asp?unid=63"

Yes thanks Paul i am aiming for the 2150 but can't get until next month :(
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: ramset on April 06, 2010, 07:16:46 AM
Paul
do you know how much?
Thanks
Chet
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: DeepCut on April 06, 2010, 05:34:40 PM
Quote from: ramset on April 06, 2010, 07:16:46 AM
Paul
do you know how much?
Thanks
Chet

Chet, 2150 on ebay :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/New-PC-USB-DSO-2150-USB-PC-Based-Digital-Oscilloscope_W0QQitemZ280480457484QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET?hash=item414df0230c

£140.00, free postage/packing.
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: ramset on April 06, 2010, 09:44:45 PM
Thanks  D C

Chet
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: Paul-R on April 07, 2010, 06:39:58 AM
Quote from: ramset on April 06, 2010, 07:16:46 AM
Paul
do you know how much?
Thanks
Chet
On Ebay, they go new for around £100. But this model may not be
the latest or best.

Go to you own National Ebay, then to oscilloscopes, then put in "Hantek".
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: Omnibus on April 07, 2010, 06:46:17 AM
You can download from the net a number of these sound card oscilloscopes for free. Unfortunately, because of the capacitor at the input of the sound card these oscilloscopes cannot measure DC.
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: DeepCut on April 07, 2010, 11:20:49 AM
Quote from: Omnibus on April 07, 2010, 06:46:17 AM
You can download from the net a number of these sound card oscilloscopes for free. Unfortunately, because of the capacitor at the input of the sound card these oscilloscopes cannot measure DC.

Thanks Omnibus i didn't know that.
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: gravityblock on April 09, 2010, 11:08:36 AM
I have a thread on how to convert a USB mouse into a Dynamo-meter.  The Dynamo-meter can simultaneously measuring torque and rotational speed (rpm). Here's a short video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSnnX1FwiWQ 

The free software continuously plots RPM, Torque, and Power.  It can export torque and power Vs. RPM curves to excel in .csv format.

For detail instructions and the free software, http://www.overunity.com/index.php?topic=8763.msg236980#msg236980

GB
Title: Re: PC-Soundcard-based oscilloscope ...
Post by: DeepCut on April 09, 2010, 08:02:45 PM
Block what a great find :)

Very useful for those of us on a budget, i was wondering what RPM i was having, nice one mate !


Gary.