I have a problem, I only have two hands and the newer oscilloscopes come with four probes. This leaves me with zero hands to press the trigger button (even if I hold three probes with one hand I still can't use four). I usually have to ask a colleague to press the trigger button, in a cubicle this can get awkward.
What is a specific way I can hold the probes and press the trigger button, Without biological modification?
Without biological modification
Haha.
Does your oscilloscope come with probe hooks ?
If so, the next pcb you make, you can create some wire loops on the PCB.
Alternatively, you can build a DIY probe holder such as this (Make it open source so people with 3D printers can replicate your ultra helpful probe holders)
This probe holder is another cool idea for you to try.
In modern electronics and multi-point probing you do not hold probes. There are three options:
(1) If the signal is low-bandwidth (<100MHz), you solder a piece of flexible (multi-stranded) wire to points of interest, 0.5 - 1" long, and then connect (passive) probes that usually have hooks/clips.
(2) If signals are high bandwidth (500MHz - 8 whatever -12 GHz), you use attachments like this ZIF tip, and solder tiny (AWG 38-40) wires to test points;
(3) Alternatively you can use probe holders/positioners, with probe tips of pogo-pin style. But they are really not cheap.
After seeing comment from @Passerby about using clothepins, I thought I'd give it a try using common wooden laundry line clothepins. One isn't enough, but two seem to give a stable configuration:
Amateurs. I present you THE holder
There are common several methods of getting scope probes to stay in place.
These include:
Use the probe grabber clip that comes with the probe.
Use bare bus wire wrapped around both the ground sleeve (for ground) an the tip (for the signal).
Solder they bus wire to the appropriate places. The probes will stay nicely in place.
Other people have suggested various mechanical solutions, which are always a good thing. But if it is too late for you to implement them, I'd like to propose a different method.
Most oscilloscopes can be configured to trigger once on a certain level on a specific channel. If you know your signal is 3V sin wave, for example, you can set the trigger level at 2V. You then change your trigger to the one off mode (it is called manual on my scope).
You then place all your probes except the trigger channel. When you place the trigger channel probe the scope should display the waveforms. It triggers only once, and you will need to reset it to trigger again.
If you've got a spare (or trigger) channel you can connect it to a footswitch (ebay link for picture). This could be connected to the square-wave calibration output, but I'd sling an AA holder (probably with 10K in series just in case) inside the footswitch and set the trigger voltage to about 1V. Just chop off the 1/4" mono jack plug these swicthes generally come with and replace with a BNC.
Maybe a little bit late but for the record:
We use the following tool from probeHolder.com in our lab and we are very satisfied with it. It works well with oscilloscope probes but also with multi-meter probes.
It depends on if this is for personal or professional use. If its professional use, this is what we use.
https://www.tek.com/datasheet/ppm203b-ppm100-articulated-arm-datasheet
The PPM203B works really well even in very tiny components. And I mean tiny. Not just tiny like a 2000+ pin BGA package, but tiny like the DIE removed from the carrier of thatoff that 2000+ pin BGA package
Actually, over the years, this is the best one I've found:
I recently used a probe holder and felt sorry for the efforts to solder to pins (No affiliation)
Suppliers:
please google "probe holder" for more up-to-date sources.
Spider board looks promising for smaller PCBs. google "spider board".
https://blog.acelab.eu.com/pc-3000-flash-spider-board-adapter-how-to-use-it.html
No affiliation still holds true.
