Before
using a
passive
probe,
you need
to
compensate
it - to
balance
its
electrical
properties
to a
particular
oscilloscope.
You
should
get into
the
habit of
compensating
the
probe
every
time you
set up
your
oscilloscope.
A poorly
adjusted
probe
can make
your
measurements
less
accurate.
Following
Figure
shows
what
happens
to
measured
waveforms
when
using a
probe
not
properly
compensated.
The
Effects
of
Improper
Probe
Compensation
Most
oscilloscopes
have a
square
wave
reference
signal
available
at a
terminal
on the
front
panel
used to
compensate
the
probe.
You
compensate
a probe
by:
Attaching
the
probe
to
an
input
connector
Connecting
the
probe
tip
to
the
probe
compensation
signal
Attaching
the
ground
clip
of
the
probe
to
ground
Viewing
the
square
wave
reference
signal
Making
the
proper
adjustments
on
the
probe
so
that
the
corners
of
the
square
wave
are
square
When you
compensate
the
probe,
always
attach
any
accessory
tips you
will use
and
connect
the
probe to
the
vertical
channel
you plan
to use.
This way
the
oscilloscope
has the
same
electrical
properties
as it
does
when you
take
measurements.
