Re: where to put the probe ..... RE: [TCML] Grounding a Tesla Coil (Yes, Again)

[dave pierson <dave_p@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A long time ago, i earned my living doing this stuff.
 It is not easy and I can be wrong.
 8)>>

 I'm guessing some 'professional literature/standards'
 for 'best practice has grown up in the mean time?

Rule of Thumb:
  'good ground' can't be wired to.  The wire, at LF/RF makes it
  ungood, becoming an antenna/inductor.  The one picks up 'stuff'.
  The other prevents a 'clean ground' from being 'wired'.  The higher
  the freq in question, the SHORTER the 'ground aerial' can be.
  This can be an INTENSELY frustrating area.

Some scopes allow use of either a _differential_ probe, or,
if a two channel, the two channels can make a 'synthesized
differential' SINGLE channel.  Useful over short distances (inches).
Typically:
  'a' probe to one location of interest.
  'b' probe to other location, may be 'local 'ground''.
  Select 'sum' function on scope and 'invert' function
  on one channel.

  Probes typically have clip on 'ground wires', 2-6" long.
  either clip BOTH to a DIFFERENT CHASSIS ground, or
  clip to each other and leave the cliptogether 
  'floating.'

O, and one can have fun floating the scope from line ground.
Safety ISSUES!

The comment about using inductive pickoffs on 'line ground',
'line neutral', etc to look for/at strays is well made...   

This is an area which takes 'learning' and 'staying in
practice' and is not amenable to simple, rapid explanation...

best

New dwp:     dave_p@xxxxxxxxxxx
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