Floating Oscilloscope Measurements ... And Operator Protection

• Safety Engineering Principles
• Safety - A Shared Responsibility
• Table 1. Methods of Making "Floating" Measurements Using Tektronix Instrumentation

Safety Engineering Principles

Tektronix has adopted many safety principles in the design of their products. Of particular concern to making electrical and electronic measurements are these principles:

• When the instrument is used properly, accessible parts shall not become hazardously live, even in the event of the single worst-case fault.
• Electronic devices (those devices employing conduction in a vacuum, gas, or semiconductor) shall not be relied upon for providing operator protection from electric shock.
• Products should not develop insidious hazards during proper operation (an insidious hazard is a hazard which can develop in a way as to be well established before becoming apparent).
• The operator shall not need to defeat a protective system to make the measurement.

Safety - A Shared Responsibility

The operator and employer share in the responsibility of meeting these principles - through proper operation and measurement techniques.

WARNING

Never attempt to defeat the protective grounding system of your oscilloscope by using an isolation transformer (top) or disconnecting the ground connector on the power plug (bottom). Failure to follow safety warnings can result in serious injury or loss of life.