Description
Big DC loads are hard to see on a scope. A voltage probe shows the rail, but not the amps that flow through it. The Tektronix TCP303 current probe fills that gap. It is an AC/DC current probe with a split-core clamp, so the jaw opens, closes around one wire, and reads the steady DC level plus the ripple on top. Lost in HCM lists it for rental and sale in Vietnam.
The figures that define the TCP303
Tektronix specifies the TCP303 from DC to 15 MHz. Its headline figure is 150 A DC continuous, and the system DC accuracy is ±3% of reading. These figures hold only with the TCPA300 amplifier in the chain. Real limits also shift with frequency, pulse width and conductor voltage. So read the derating curves in the Tektronix manual before a long high-current run.
A two-part system: clamp plus TCPA300
The TCP303 does not plug straight into a scope. Instead, it feeds the TCPA300, a separate amplifier that powers the clamp and conditions its signal. The amplifier output then goes to a scope input with the right termination. Lost in HCM quotes the TCPA300 as its own item, so add it to your request if you do not own one. Also name the scope you plan to use.
Where a Tektronix TCP303 current probe earns its place
- Battery packs and chargers, where you need the DC draw and the ripple at once.
- Motor drives and DC bus lines during start-up and sudden load steps.
- Welding and plating supplies that hold high current for long periods.
- Large DC-DC converters on R&D and QA benches.
Good habits at the bench
First, degauss and zero the clamp with its amplifier before each session. Next, put the clamp on a single wire. Around a full cable, the outgoing and return currents oppose each other, so the trace shows almost nothing. Then pick a range for the DC level you expect, with headroom for peaks. Finally, wipe the mating faces of the core now and then, since grit can keep the jaw from shutting fully.
Rent it for a project, or buy it for the lab
A short battery or drive project suits a rental. On the other hand, a power lab with regular high-current work may prefer to own the Tektronix TCP303 current probe. Either way, request a quote from Lost in HCM with your scope model, current range, signal frequency and wire size. You can also compare other clamps in the oscilloscope probes category, read more at Tektronix, or contact SMK Vietnam with questions.
TCP303 questions from buyers
Does the Tektronix TCP303 current probe work without an amplifier?
No. It needs the TCPA300, which powers the clamp and scales the output. Ask Lost in HCM to quote both if you need the full set.
Can it read AC as well as DC?
Yes. It covers DC and AC up to 15 MHz, so one trace shows the steady level and the ripple together.
Is 150 A a peak or a continuous figure?
Tektronix gives 150 A as a DC continuous rating. Pulse limits depend on pulse width and frequency, so check the manual for your waveform.
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