The automotive industry relies heavily on accurate diagnostics for efficient vehicle repair. Automotive Test Solutions Scan Tools play a crucial role in this process, providing technicians with the necessary data to pinpoint issues. This article compares two popular automotive test solutions scan tools: the ATS Escope and the Pico Scope, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. We’ll delve into their features, usability, and performance based on a user’s firsthand experience.
Key Features and Functionality Comparison
The ATS Escope offers three primary modes: Dual Scope, Stacked Scope, and Measure and Deep Record. Dual Scope displays two different time bases in separate windows, showing all active channels in each. Stacked Scope provides individual sweep windows for each trace, allowing for clearer visualization. The Measure and Deep Record mode fills a buffer with data, enabling detailed zoom analysis. Additionally, a “Meter” mode provides digital voltage readings and bar graphs for each channel. Setup is straightforward – connect the leads and start recording, with the screen auto-scaling to the highest voltage. The Escope also boasts convenient features like “Mark Cam Shaft” and “Mark Cylinders,” which automatically mark key engine timing points, simplifying diagnostics. It also offers automated frequency plotting and crank misfire analysis based on the crankshaft signal. Furthermore, the Escope includes a 5V output with adjustable duty cycle and a ground-switching port with adjustable duty cycle.
One notable difference is grounding. The Escope utilizes a common ground for all channels, while the Pico Scope offers independent grounding for each channel, providing more flexibility in certain testing scenarios. A significant drawback of the Escope is the lack of individual channel scaling in Deep Record mode. All channels share a single voltage scale, making it difficult to analyze signals with vastly different amplitudes simultaneously. For instance, visualizing a 400V primary ignition signal alongside a low-voltage sensor signal can be challenging. While zooming helps, it prevents a comprehensive view of both signals. The Pico Scope, however, allows for individual channel scaling, addressing this limitation.
The Pico Scope excels in sampling rate and waveform manipulation. Boasting a significantly higher sampling rate (400 Mega Samples per second/channel compared to the Escope’s 1 Mega Sample per second/channel), the Pico Scope captures more detailed waveforms, crucial for analyzing fast transient events. It also offers advanced features like math channels and reference waveforms, functionalities not found in the Escope.
Performance Analysis: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Direct comparison using simultaneous captures of the same signals reveals significant performance differences. While the Escope handles 500V input without attenuation (a cost advantage over the Pico Scope, which requires external attenuation for such voltages), its lower sampling rate results in aliasing, especially with complex signals like simultaneous primary ignition firing events. The Pico Scope, with its higher sampling rate, captures these events with greater clarity and accuracy, revealing consistent voltage spikes for each firing event while the Escope shows inconsistent peak voltages. Zooming into individual firing events further highlights the Pico Scope’s superior resolution, capturing finer details and subtle variations missed by the Escope. The images below illustrate the differences in capturing a snap-throttle event and multiple coil firing events.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Automotive Test Solutions Scan Tool
Both the ATS Escope and the Pico Scope offer valuable features for automotive diagnostics. The Escope, with its user-friendly interface, automated functions, and high-voltage handling capabilities, is a practical solution for quick diagnostics, especially for mobile technicians. The Pico Scope, while requiring additional investment for high-voltage applications, provides superior sampling rate and advanced features, making it ideal for in-depth analysis and complex diagnostics. The choice ultimately depends on individual needs and budget. For users prioritizing ease of use and speed, the Escope provides a solid foundation. For those requiring high-resolution data capture and advanced analysis capabilities, the Pico Scope delivers superior performance. Understanding the specific requirements of your diagnostic tasks will guide you towards selecting the automotive test solutions scan tool that best fits your needs.
