| North Star manufactures 2 types of high voltage probes - the PVM series designed for portability, and wide bandwidth, and the free standing VD series designed for long life. Both types of probes can be used with 1 Megohm input oscilloscopes (standard) or with meters of various input impedance's (specify meter type when ordering).
A major advance embodied in the design of the probes is the use of standard 50-ohm or 93-ohm coaxial cable to connect the probe to the oscilloscope or digitizer. Since standard cable is used, the probe can be placed some distance away from the recording instrument while retaining the wide bandwidth capability. The probe can be placed at the test device while the recording instrument is placed in a screened room, or in a low noise location far from the device.
Low temperature and voltage coefficient resistors and capacitors are used throughout the probe to provide maximum measurement accuracy. The probe has a rugged nylon housing, and it is filled with dielectric oil for maximum high voltage stability.
PVM Series
The PVM series provide a unique, versatile and portable high voltage measurement capability for use with oscilloscopes, digitizers and voltmeters. The probes have a standard sensitivity of 1000:1, and an input resistance of 400-600 Megohms. The probes feature a rugged nylon housing, and are either air or oil insulated depending on voltage.
Custom and OEM versions of the probe are available in the 100:1 to 10,000:1 range and usually the probes can be supplied with several "tap-off boxes" for different sensitivities.
In addition, probes can be supplied with flanged mounting for permanent installation.
| Model Number |
PVM-1 |
PVM-2 |
PVM-3 |
PVM-4 |
PVM-5 |
PVM-6 |
PVM-10 |
PVM-11 |
PVM-12 |
| Max DC/Pulsed Voltage (kV) |
40/60 |
40/60 |
40/60 |
40/60 |
60/100 |
60/100 |
10/12 |
10/12 |
25/30 |
| Max Frequency (MHz) |
80 |
80 |
40 |
110 |
80 |
80 |
90 |
90 |
90 |
| Cable Impedance (ohms) |
50 |
50 |
50 |
93 |
50 |
93 |
93 |
93 |
50 |
| DC-2Hz Accuracy |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
<0.2% |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
| 2Hz - 200Hz Accuracy |
<1% |
<1% |
<1% |
<1% |
<1.5% |
<1.5% |
<1.5% |
<1.5% |
<1.5% |
| 200Hz - 5MHz Accuracy |
<1.5% |
<1.5 |
<1.5% |
<1.5 |
<2% |
<2% |
<2% |
<2% |
<2% |
| 5MHz Accuracy |
<3% |
<3% |
<3% |
<5% |
<4% |
<4% |
<4% |
<4% |
<4% |
| Input R/C (Megohm/pf) |
400/13 |
400/13 |
400/10 |
400/10 |
400/12 |
400/12 |
50/7 |
50/7 |
150/7 |
| Cable Length (ft/m) |
15/4.5 |
30/9 |
100/30 |
15/4.5 |
15/4.5 |
30/9 |
15/4.5 |
15/4.5 |
15/4.5 |
| Standard Divider Ratio |
1000:1 |
1000:1 |
10,000:1 |
1000:1 |
1000:1 |
1000:1 |
100:1 |
1000:1 |
1000:1 |
| Length (inches/cm) |
15/38 |
15/38 |
15/38 |
15/38 |
19/45 |
19/45 |
7/18 |
7/18 |
9/23 |
VD Series
The VD series are self-supporting mechanically robust units which use compensated RC voltage division to reach voltages to 400kV, while retaining a bandwidth of 20MHz. Offering higher precision than the PVM series they are all supplied with toroids to suppress stray capacitance effects. 10,000:1 is the standard attenuation factor but other ratios are available and smaller probes with voltages to 1 megavolt can be built for immersion in oil.
| Model Number |
VD-60 |
VD-100 |
VD-150 |
VD-200 |
VD-300 |
VD-400 |
| Max DC/Pulsed V (kV) |
60/120 |
100/180 |
150/240 |
200/300 |
300/420 |
400/550 |
| Max Frequency (MHz) |
20 |
20 |
20 |
16 |
12 |
8 |
| Cable Length (ft) |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
| DC Accuracy |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
<0.1% |
| 10Hz - 1MHz Accuracy |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1% |
1.5% |
1.5% |
| 1MHz - 20MHz Accuracy |
3% |
3% |
3% |
3% |
4% |
4% |
| Resistance (Megohms) |
800 |
1600 |
2000 |
2800 |
4500 |
7000 |
| Height (inches/cm) |
20/50 |
24/60 |
30/75 |
40/99 |
54/135 |
72/180 |
| Diameter (inches/cm) |
11/28 |
11/28 |
12/29 |
16/40 |
24/61 |
24/61 |
| Capacitance (approx pf) |
27 |
25 |
27 |
24 |
20 |
16 |
| Base Diameter (inches/cm) |
10/25 |
10/25 |
12/30 |
20/50 |
30/76* |
30/76* |
| Standard Divider Ratio |
10,000:1 |
10,000:1 |
10,000:1 |
10,000:1 |
10,000:1 |
10,000:1 | * Square |
