Battery powered digital oscilloscopes for automotive use?

[Chris Wilson]

I work mainly in the automotive field and have been using a USB oscilloscope by Dataman here in the UK http://www.dataman.com/webpages/product ... px?pid=727 It's beginning to be a pain firing up a laptop and having two devices to drop or damage. I am thinking of buying a "proper" `scope, but it MUST be capable of internal battery operation for work in the field. I know little about `scopes, to be honest, but I do know that being able to record or store data to find transient glitches is important, some of the specialist automotive USB `scopes like the those from http://www.picoauto.com/diagnostic-scopes.html make a big play of this. I know some of you guys on here are pretty technically savvy, are you able to recommend any `scopes as being particularly suitable for my needs when working on engines? I may well be unable to afford it, but I would like to see what is available, if anything. It needs to be at least two channel. I would imagine many of the Motec guys use `scopes on a daily basis, but not sure if battery power is something you would need? Thanks.

[Polux RSV]

Look at the DSO QUAD, from Seeedstudio http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/preorder-dso-quad-beta-test-p-736.html?cPath=174. A video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qk_3QGTUsF8&feature=related
It is more on the small tool/gadget side, but for 200$, you have 2 analog+ 2digital which is just what we need to check crank/cam sensors and injection/ignition pulse.

Also at low cost, check the Uni-t UT81B, about 175$ on Ebay. Only one channel, but it is also a full featured multimeter, with ohmmeter to check temperature sensors .

Angelo

[stevieturbo]

Snap On's old vantage is decent, but does not record. So it's mostly for static tests. Not 100% sure if its dual channel, Ive only ever used one channel.

I have a USB Stingray scope which is 2 channel with a signal generator too. Like yourself, I'm not fully savvy with using a scope, but I find it a pain in the hole. But it does work.
But probably down to the fact I dont use it very often and as you say a laptop can be awkward at times.

I get emails from Pico all the time. TBH Ive never read a bad word about them, and any users say it is fantastic. For DIY though, I just couldnt justify the price tag.
For a more regular user though, it could well be worth it.

[Mazi]

I'm using this one with battery, CAN, FlexRay, I2C/SPI options enabled. It is not cheap but it is not a toy.

http://www.home.agilent.com/agilent/pro ... SR.GENERAL