N314:
My second question is: What is an oscilloscope used for? I know what they do, how they work, and what to use them for, but I am curious as to how a scope fits on your workbench. Do you use it often? What aspects of a project require it? Why does it seem to be such a quintessential tool for working in electronics? I want to know how a scope fits in to your bench and when and how you use it.Thanks in advance for your input!
-Nick
You use it when you have to watch how the signal changed over time. Like audio signals, or fast control signals. For example, if you measure a short 5v impulse, with a DVM you won't see 5v because it's too fast for it, you will see a few mv. Unless it has a peak function.
It's not as essential as a DVM.
I use it a lot for audio and to measure multiple timing events and see if they're in sync