Do some Tektronix current probes require a separate amplifier?

Yes. Certain TCP series probes are designed to work with dedicated amplifiers: the TCPA300 is the amplifier for probes such as TCP303 and TCP312 (the TCPA300 specification lists TCP303, TCP305A and TCP312A as compatible), while the TCPA400 is the designated amplifier for the high‑current TCP404XL.

How do I match a probe to my oscilloscope interface?

Match the physical/power interface: TekVPI probes (TAP1500, TAP2500, TAP3500, TCP0030 series) are powered and controlled over TekVPI; TekConnect probes (P7225, P7240, P7260, P7350, P7516 and others) require a TekConnect‑equipped scope; TEKPROBE BNC/Level II probes (P6243, P6245, P6249, P6205) either draw power from compatible TEKPROBE inputs or use an external 1103 supply when the host lacks probe power.

When should I choose a differential or TriMode probe?

Choose a differential probe when the signal of interest is floating or differential in nature. TriMode probes (for example P7516, P7513A) provide differential, single‑ended and common‑mode measurement modes in one probe head, which is useful when you need to switch measurement topology without changing probes.

Which probes are appropriate for high‑voltage measurements?

Use probes specified for the required isolation and attenuation: options include passive and active high‑voltage models. Examples in the line are P6015A for very high peak voltages, P5100 for up to 2.5 kV peak, and P5210 which supports differential mode up to 5.6 kV.

Tektronix Oscilloscope & Test Probes

53 models with full specifications in Probes.

This page summarizes how Tektronix organizes its oscilloscope probes and related test probes so an engineer can match probe features to measurement tasks. Tektronix offers active single‑ended and differential voltage probes, passive high‑voltage probes, a range of current probes (some needing dedicated amplifiers), and high‑density logic‑analyzer heads. The line is divided by host‑interface (TekVPI, TekConnect, TEKPROBE/TEKPROBE BNC/Level II), by signal domain (voltage, differential, high‑voltage, current, logic), and by target bandwidth (from low‑frequency current clamps up to the highest‑bandwidth TekConnect differential probes). Below are the structural distinctions and practical guidance for choosing among Tektronix probe options.

Common probe interfaces: TekVPI, TekConnect, TEKPROBE BNC / TEKPROBE Level II
Bandwidth coverage: Low‑frequency current probes to 16 GHz (P7516)
Probe types: Active voltage, differential, high‑voltage passive/active, current clamps, logic/analyzer
High‑voltage examples: P5210 to 5.6 kV differential; P6015A to 20 kV peak

All models

Model	Type	Bandwidth	Dimensions (W×H×D)	Interfaces
TCP305	Oscilloscope	DC to 50 MHz	200 mm × 16 mm × 32 mm (probe head)	TCPA300 custom probe interface
TDP0500	Differential	500 MHz	106.7 mm x 41.1 mm x 31.8 mm (compensation box)	TekVPI
TDP3500	Active	3.5 GHz	Comp. box: 41 mm × 26 mm × 107 mm; Probe head: 4.9 mm × 7.8 mm × 56.6 mm	TekVPI
THDP0100	Differential	100 MHz	207 mm × 38 mm × 22 mm (probe head)	TekVPI
THDP0200	Differential	200 MHz	207 mm x 38 mm x 30 mm (probe head); 111 mm x 41 mm x 81 mm (compensation box)	TekVPI

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How the Tektronix probe range is structured

Tektronix groups probes primarily by host interface and by measurement class. Interface families matter because many probes are powered and recognized automatically by the oscilloscope: TekVPI probes such as the TAP1500, TAP2500 and TAP3500 draw power and settings from supported TekVPI scopes; TekConnect probes such as the P7225, P7240, P7260 and high‑bandwidth differential models (for example P7350, P7380, P7313, P7313SMA, P7380A, P7516) use the TekConnect physical and power interface; and TEKPROBE BNC / Level II probes such as P6243, P6245, P6247 and P6249 rely on TEKPROBE power/encoding or an external 1103 supply. Current probes are split between those that connect to a dedicated amplifier (for example TCP303 or TCP312 used with the TCPA300) and TekVPI/TEKPROBE current probes that connect directly to the scope (for example TCP0030 / TCP0030A / TCP0150).

Key technical distinctions to consider

Bandwidth and rise time identify what you can resolve: Tektronix offers single‑ended active probes (examples: TAP1500 at 1.5 GHz, TAP2500 at 2.5 GHz, P7240 at 4 GHz) and a family of differential/Z‑Active and TriMode probes that reach much higher analog bandwidths (for example P7350 at 5.0 GHz, P7260 at 6.0 GHz, P7380 / P7380A at 8.0 GHz, P7313 / P7313SMA and P7513A at 13 GHz, and P7516 at 16 GHz). Differential probes list differential input resistance, input capacitance and selectable attenuation; TriMode probes (P7516, P7513A) add single‑ended and common‑mode measurement modes in one head. For current measurement, small‑jaw, high‑bandwidth probes such as TCP0030 / TCP0030A cover up to 120 MHz and 30 A ranges, while large‑jaw, high‑current clamp systems such as TCP404XL paired with the TCPA400 amplifier cover DC to 2 MHz at hundreds of amps. High‑voltage measurement is a separate category: passive and active high‑voltage probes (P5100, P5200, P5205, P5205A, P5210, P6015A) trade bandwidth for isolation and safe input ranges up to kilovolt levels.

How to choose the right Tektronix probe

Start by matching the probe interface to your oscilloscope. If your scope supports TekVPI, choose TekVPI probes (for example TAP1500, TAP2500, TAP3500, TCP0030); if it has TekConnect choose TekConnect probes (P7225, P7240, P7260, P7350, P7516); if it supports TEKPROBE BNC or Level II, consider P6243/P6245/P6249 series or use the 1103 power supply when required. Next, choose by domain: use active voltage or differential probes for GHz‑class signals, TriMode or Z‑Active differential probes when you need single‑ended, differential and common‑mode measurements from the same head (examples: P7516, P7513A). For power and high‑current work, pair a suitable probe head with its amplifier when required (TCP303/TCP312 on TCPA300; TCP404XL on TCPA400). For high‑voltage work, select probes rated to the system’s maximum differential or earth‑referenced voltages (P5210, P5205/P5205A, P5100, P6015A). Finally, factor in loading (input capacitance and input resistance), attenuation options, and the probe’s dynamic range relative to the signal amplitude you must capture.

Frequently asked questions

Do some Tektronix current probes require a separate amplifier?: Yes. Certain TCP series probes are designed to work with dedicated amplifiers: the TCPA300 is the amplifier for probes such as TCP303 and TCP312 (the TCPA300 specification lists TCP303, TCP305A and TCP312A as compatible), while the TCPA400 is the designated amplifier for the high‑current TCP404XL.
How do I match a probe to my oscilloscope interface?: Match the physical/power interface: TekVPI probes (TAP1500, TAP2500, TAP3500, TCP0030 series) are powered and controlled over TekVPI; TekConnect probes (P7225, P7240, P7260, P7350, P7516 and others) require a TekConnect‑equipped scope; TEKPROBE BNC/Level II probes (P6243, P6245, P6249, P6205) either draw power from compatible TEKPROBE inputs or use an external 1103 supply when the host lacks probe power.
When should I choose a differential or TriMode probe?: Choose a differential probe when the signal of interest is floating or differential in nature. TriMode probes (for example P7516, P7513A) provide differential, single‑ended and common‑mode measurement modes in one probe head, which is useful when you need to switch measurement topology without changing probes.
Which probes are appropriate for high‑voltage measurements?: Use probes specified for the required isolation and attenuation: options include passive and active high‑voltage models. Examples in the line are P6015A for very high peak voltages, P5100 for up to 2.5 kV peak, and P5210 which supports differential mode up to 5.6 kV.