Electronic – How to you check battery cell noise using oscilloscope

batteriesoscilloscope

I want to power a photodiode and it outputs current in the region of nA. I am using Rigol DS4034 oscillator but I am having noise issues generated by ground loop. To solve this I want to power the photodiode using battery cells.

How can I test noise of LiPo or 9V batteries?

Can I just hook positive and negative sides of battery to the oscilloscope using BNC and crocodile cable? Can this generate high current in the ground of oscillator?

After checking isolated oscilloscope questions asked by others, I want to test batteries without blowing the oscilloscope.

Best Answer

You won't likely be able to see any noise from the battery on an oscilloscope because the noise floor of the oscilloscope is too large.

To actually make a useful measurement, you'll likely need to use (eg. SR560) or make a low-noise AC-coupled amplifier that covers the bandwidth of interest.

Provided you stay within the limits the oscilloscope is rated for (typically marked on the oscilloscope front or back panel) you won't damage the oscilloscope.