Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
|
Superior MK3 Kit with 42 Unique Parts Including a Probe Body!
As seen on YouTube and commented on many other sites, Paul Carlson designed a very useful non-contact
very high gain electronic probe for investigating just about any kind of electrical signal from audio to RF.
The design is well proven and open-sourced. There are also several open-source PCB designs for the probe and
amplifier, but most of them are SMD designs. This is likely the primary barrier to building a one-off
implementation of this design.
To address this, we used an open-source version of the PCB design by Yannick99 at www.instructables.com.
These 2 PCBs are well designed and reliable, and used in many DIY probes.
In this Limited Availability
kit we have added a stainless steel probe body, PCB carrier and probe tip wire. All pieces are CNC machined
to fit our probe PCB.
New and improved probe PCB with mounting holes and better grounding pads.
Anyone interested in building the probe should first review:
Mr Carlson's YouTube video @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVkJqqZroN0
Yannick99 @ https://www.instructables.com/Carlsons-Super-Probe/
Web search for many other reviews and assembly hints.
Here is a great UT video of Carlson using the SuperProbe to locate a noisy component inside a complex transceiver.
He makes it seem so easy, and with the SuperProbe it is!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiK1BD7HILo
The Kit:
This MK3 kit includes the main PCBs and nearly everything else but a case for the amplifier, a battery and a speaker.
See the parts list for what is included.
The kit includes all of the through-hole and SMD components to assemble the PCBs as well as the 2 pots (with knobs) used in the amplifier,
protective lamp#22Ga teflon hookup wire, heat shrink tube, power switch & LED, probe-to-amp wire, 3.5mm stereo plug and jack
for interconnecting the probe.
The black ABS case shown in the pictures (NOT INCLUDED IN KIT)
is made by Hammond, part #1593LBK 3.6" x 2.6" x1.1". Nothing smaller is really suitable,
but anything bigger will certainly work.
The Assembly:
While there are a few through-hole & panel mounted components, all of the remaining parts are 0805/1206 SMD parts.
Soldering such components requires specific equipment, soldering tools, solder, tweezers, optics, skill and patience.
Follow the included instructions in detail. Schematic details are included and are identical to the original design.
Some of the listing photos show a particular implementation in a very compact package. Such compactness is not necessary, but demonstrates what can be achieved.
I recommend cleaning flux after assembly. This is a very sensitive device and leakage is undesirable. If water soluble flux/water is used, be careful
cleaning the switch & POT.
The SuperAmp/Probe uses several polarized solid Tant capacitors (bag #2 22uF). Confirm polarity prior to soldering. (Band is POSITIVE end).
The probe is assembled last by attaching the 3-conductor signal wire to the PCB and feeding through the back of the SS probe. Then attach 3.5mm stereo plug.
Make note of wire colors so that you wire the 3.5mm jack in the SuperAmp correctly.
Trim and attach the probe tip to the front of the PCB using the photos as a guide.
Fasten the PCB to the carrier with the provided #0-80 screws and attach the copper strip to the bottom of the carrier and up to the probe end ground
where it is soldered the front ground shield. Slide the carrier into the front of the probe ( carefully adjusting the probe coax)
and fasten the carrier with a 4-40 screw, piercing through the copper foil. Slide the rear probe body onto the front. Trim the probe tip as disired about 1/8"".
The SuperAmp/SuperProbe PCBs Kit:
- 2 PCBs
- All PCB components
- 3-wire probe cable
- Probe jack/plug
- Pot knobs
- Power LED
- Power tooggle switch
- 22ga wire
- Heat shrink tube
The SS Probe Body Kit:
- Machined stainless steel telescoping probe body
- Machined acetal PCB carrier
- Copper adhesive grounding tape
- 3 #0-80 x 1/8" PCB mounting screws"
- 1 #4-40 x 1/4" carrier screw"
- 3" x 50 ohm coaxial probe wire
- Heat shrink tube to optionally insulate the metal probe
NOT INCLUDED
- Amp case
- Speaker
- Batteries or battery pack
- Amp mounting hardware
|
|
