Differential Probe - Sapphire SI-9000 DIY

Hi All,

The goal of this thread is to replicate the Sapphire SI-9000 for DIY purposes. I've seen many threads and posts but no actual designs or DIY replications.

This Sapphire SI-9000 has been copied all over and comes in many rebranded versions.

Lecroy AP031, Picotech TA041, Siglent DPB425, Probe Master 4231, Pintech PT8001, Kaltman Creations ADP1, Testec SI9001, TPI ADF25A and probably some more.

After some nice reverse engineering work, it should be fairly easy to get close to an open source DIY version for Hobbyists. With the help of some other people we might be able to design a 3D-printable case for it.

Reversed Engineered schematics
Differential Probe - Reverese Engineered

I want to keep the PCB design as close to original as possible for safety reasons and would like to keep the overall design as it enables it for easy comparison with the sapphire probes (I have a repaired one available). Further I would stick with through hole parts as a first design to keep things simple. However, all unobtanium parts should be revised and replaced if non critical.

If you want to participate, I've created a discord channel where collaboration can be easier. Major updates will still be posted here.

BVKSound

GitHub - bvksound/differentialprobe

See you there.

Cheers.

Bart

Disclaimer: Differential probes are useful but can come in contact with high voltages. I you wish you replicate this, do so at your own risk!
 
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While I can see the uses it can be put to as this is an audio website can you tell me the noise figure ?

I am just trying to see the relevance to the normal poster here and whether a normal non active probe would add more noise than an active one also linearity , I am talking about a quality non active probe like a good Tektronix one.

Of course in working on digital design engineering it could be put to good use I am not criticizing it just looking for the relevance in comparatively low frequency testing ( as compared to a differential probe ).
 
Bjirre,s post has got me interested so here is Tektronix,s point of view on probes -

https://download.tek.com/document/Voltage on Power Supplies_App-Note_51W-60161-3.pdf

Pay particular attention to the advice given when trying to look at very small noise factors and spikes in power supplies and even the output of your audio amplifier .

They state quite rightly that if you are using a probe for this do NOT use a 10:1 probe but a much lower ratio otherwise you will miss very small amounts of noise or spikes ----

Now that is relevant here going by the large number of complaints being posted on this issue.
 
Thanks for the interest and document from Tek!

The first goal is to have a replication of the circuitry and PCB used in the SI-9000 probe and to understand what they are doing and why.

Then the 2nd goal is to see where it can be improved 🙂.

Cheers,

Bart