Proper
grounding
is an
important
step
when
setting
up to
take
measurements
or work
on a
circuit.
Properly
grounding
the
oscilloscope
protects
you from
a
hazardous
shock
and
grounding
yourself
protects
your
circuits
from
damage.
Ground
the
Oscilloscope
Grounding
the
oscilloscope
is
necessary
for
safety.
If a
high
voltage
contacts
the case
of an
ungrounded
oscilloscope,
any part
of the
case,
including
knobs
that
appear
insulated,
it can
give you
a shock.
However,
with a
properly
grounded
oscilloscope,
the
current
travels
through
the
grounding
path to
earth
ground
rather
than
through
you
to earth
ground.
To
ground
the
oscilloscope
means to
connect
it to an
electrically
neutral
reference
point
(such as
earth
ground).
Ground
your
oscilloscope
by
plugging
its
three-pronged
power
cord
into an
outlet
grounded
to earth
ground.
Grounding
is also
necessary
for
taking
accurate
measurements
with
your
oscilloscope.
The
oscilloscope
needs to
share
the same
ground
as any
circuits
you are
testing.
Some
oscilloscopes
do not
require
the
separate
connection
to earth
ground.
These
oscilloscopes
have
insulated
cases
and
controls,
which
keeps
any
possible
shock
hazard
away
from the
user.
Ground
Yourself
If
you are
working
with
integrated
circuits
(ICs),
you also
need to
ground
yourself.
Integrated
circuits
have
tiny
conduction
paths
that can
be
damaged
by
static
electricity
that
builds
up on
your
body.
You can
ruin an
expensive
IC
simply
by
walking
across a
carpet
or
taking
off a
sweater
and then
touching
the
leads of
the IC.
To solve
this
problem,
wear a
grounding
strap
(see
Figure
1). This
strap
safely
sends
static
charges
on your
body to
earth
ground.
