High-resolution differential USB oscilloscope
The PicoScope 4444 and its accessories offer accurate and detailed measurement for a multitude of applications.
Key features
- 4 fully differential high-impedance inputs
- 20 MHz bandwidth
- Flexible 12 and 14-bit resolution
- 256 MS deep memory
- Rejects common-mode noise
- Interface for intelligent probes and clamps
- Low-voltage probe for millivolts to 50 V
- 1000 V CAT III voltage and current probes for mains measurement applications
Typical applications
- Non-ground-referenced measurements
- Safe probing of single-phase and three-phase voltages and currents
- Measuring power drawn by mobile and IoT devices
- Mains quality testing
- SMPS design
- Hybrid and electric vehicle design
- Motor drives and inverters
- Biomedical electronics
- Measuring differential signals (CAN, balanced audio) with a single channel
High-end oscilloscope
At the heart of every PicoScope 4444 is an advanced oscilloscope that offers everything you would expect and much more, including:
- 10 000 waveform circular buffer
- Up to 100 000 waveforms per second update rate
- Serial bus decoding
- Mask limit testing
- Advanced math and filtering
- Measurements with statistics
- Advanced digital triggering
- USB 3.0 connected and powered
More details on the above and many other options can be found under the Features tab.
Intelligent differential inputs
With a traditional oscilloscope probe, single-ended measurements are made between a high-impedance input and a low-impedance ground.
With a differential oscilloscope, measurements are made between two high-impedance inputs, allowing measurements to be made across components and test points where neither side is grounded. Differential inputs also reject common-mode noise: noise picked up equally on both high-impedance inputs is rejected.
Each of the four input channels on the PicoScope 4444 features an intelligent probe interface that detects and identifies compatible probes, and powers them where necessary. Each channel can have its own choice of voltage or current probe.
Non-attenuating probes allow high-resolution, low-noise measurement of signals ranging from millivolts to ±50 V. Attenuating probes allow signals up to 1000 V CAT III to be measured. Current probes are available for currents up to 2000 A, also rated for 1000 V CAT III measurements.
PicoConnect 441: Measure from millivolts to ±50 V
The PicoConnect 441 differential voltage probes are suitable for voltages up to ±50 V (for higher voltages see the PicoConnect 442). The probes are fitted with industry-standard 4 mm connectors and supplied with detachable sprung hook probe tips. Other 4 mm accessories such as multimeter probes and crocodile clips are available separately.
As well as measuring non-grounded voltage signals, differential inputs are ideal for measuring current through sensing resistors. As neither side needs to be grounded, they can make high-side measurements. The sensitive input ranges, high resolution and fast sampling are ideal for measuring fast-changing currents in battery-powered and IoT devices.
The high-impedance, high-resolution inputs are also suited to biological and scientific research, as they allow measurements on low-level millivolt signals (2 mV/div at 12 bits) in the presence of common-mode noise without the need for expensive differential preamplifiers or differential oscilloscope probes. The probe is constructed with twinax cable (twisted-pair inner conductors with an outer shield) to ensure a high common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR). The outer screen of the cable can optionally be connected to a signal ground to improve rejection of common mode voltages and currents.
The PicoConnect 441 probes are also ideal for measuring differential signal sources such as CAN bus and balanced audio on a single channel and can be used to directly measure from bridge-type sensors such as load cells and pressure sensors.
PicoConnect 441 probes are ideal for work with low voltage SMPS, PicoConnect 442 (shown) for voltages up to 1000 V.
PicoConnect 442: 1000 V CAT III probes
The PicoConnect 442 is an attenuating differential voltage probe that increases the input range to 1000 V to allow the safe and cost-effective measurement of single-phase, three-phase and other signals, such as those found in motor drives and inverters.
The PicoConnect 442 probe requires no power supply or batteries. This makes it ideal for mains quality measurement and other long-term measurements.
The differential inputs of the PicoScope 4444 allow each channel to measure signals with different common-mode voltages. As an example, consider the battery pack in an electric vehicle. You can measure across the whole pack using one channel set to an input range of ±500 V, and at the same time set the other channels to ±5 V to measure across individual cells. This arrangement allows you to take advantage of the full resolution of the oscilloscope.
Three current probes with intelligent probe interface
Three different current probes are available with Pico D9 interfaces. TA300 and TA301 use the Hall effect to measure AC and DC currents without direct connection to the cable, and the TA368 uses the Rogowski principle for AC-only measurements. The intelligent probe interface powers the probes, so no batteries are required. It also means that when you connect either probe, the PicoScope software identifies it and configures the oscilloscope to read in amperes.
The TA300 current probe is a 40 A probe suitable for measuring signals from DC to 100 kHz. It is a precision probe for smaller currents and can resolve down to a few milliamps.
Read more about the TA300 40 A AC/DC current probe
The TA301 current probe is a switched-range 200/2000 A probe suitable for measuring signals from DC to 20 kHz bandwidth.
Read more about the TA301 2000 A AC/DC current probe
The TA368 current probe is a single-range 2000 A AC probe suited for measuring signals above DC to 20 kHz, and because the probe is rated to 1000 V CAT III, it is ideal for making mains current measurements.
Read more about the TA368 2000 A AC current probe
In addition to the above probes, Pico stocks a wide range of AC and DC current clamps with BNC connectors that can be connected to the PicoScope 4444 using the TA271 D9 to BNC adaptor.
Powerful and portable
Just load the software, plug in the USB cable and you are up and running in minutes. Saving and printing are easy: PicoScope users can take copying waveforms into reports for granted.
On the bench, a PicoScope saves valuable space and can be placed right by the unit under test.
Laptop users benefit even more: with no power supply required you can now carry an oscilloscope with you all the time in your laptop bag. Perfect for the engineer on the move.
With our scopes, high-end features such as serial decoding, mask limit testing, advanced math channels and segmented memory are all included in the price.
To protect your investment, both the PC software and firmware inside the scope can be updated. Pico has a 26-year history of providing new features for free through software downloads. We deliver on our promises of future enhancements year after year.
Users of our products reward us by becoming lifelong customers and frequently recommending us to their colleagues.
