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Measuring microamps with an oscilloscope

Jack Loop
Guru 17870 points
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2530, OPA334

Hello,

How can I measure the current going through a low powered CC2530? The board supposedly consumes 1 microamp, but that was only according to my multimeter. I wanted to view more details of the current consumption through an oscilloscope. So are there any current probes that can measure as low as 0+ microamps or if there are any other methods to do so?

  • 0
    TI__Genius 15760 points
    Hi Jack,

    The Precision amplifiers group work with very low current measurements. I will move your post to their forum to see if they can help you further.

    Regards
  • 0
    TI__Mastermind 25805 points
    Hello,

    Please understand that most of our engineers are out for the holidays. It is most likely that we won't address your question until early January 2017.
  • 0 in reply to Pete%20Semig
    Prodigy 70 points
    Just poking around here and thought I would offer a suggestion. The cheapest solution is to add a current sense resistor in your circuit on the order of 1K ohms. Then get a very low offset chopper stabilized op amp like the OPA334 and use that to amplify the voltage across the current sense resistor by a factor of 100 or so. Your 1uA becomes 1mV across the 1K, then the gain of 100 makes it 100mV which any normal scope should be happy with.

    Non contact current probes are VERY expensive and I am not aware if they go down this low.

    Dave