Isolated Current Probe Tip Takes on Temperature Extremes in EVs

Tektronix introduced a new probe tip for its IsoVu series of isolated current probes rated for extreme temperatures. This will be relevant for teams working on electric-vehicle (EV) power systems, aerospace and defense electronics, satellite systems, and other industrial applications exposed to harsh temperatures.

The company rolled out the TICP series of IsoVu isolated current probes in late 2024. The current probes use robust RF isolation to achieve high-bandwidth, low-noise current measurements, particularly in power electronics, such as fast-switching SiC and GaN power converters proliferating in high-voltage systems. While it is primarily targeted at high voltages, Tektronix said the series is also well-suited for testing low-voltage, high-current systems such as multi-phase voltage regulators prevalent in AI data centers.

The new probe tip is designed to address a persistent gap in power electronics validation: accurately measuring current in extreme temperature environments. High-temperature measurement solutions are often optimized for voltage, requiring engineers to infer current. This can introduce noise and reduce accuracy, especially with faster switching devices such as GaN and SiC.

Tektronix showed the new product, which provides galvanic isolation between the probe tip and oscilloscope, for the first time at APEC 2026.

The probe tip enables direct current measurements from –40 to 125°C, allowing engineers to capture real behavior during thermal cycling and reliability testing rather than relying on room-temperature assumptions. Optional 6-ft. tip cables provide convenient connectivity between the device being tested — in these cases, typically positioned inside a temperature chamber — and a Tektronix oscilloscope and isolated current probe located outside the chamber.

While it requires interrupting the circuit with a shunt, Tektronix said the TICP series can operate at high bandwidths. Thus, engineers can accurately measure fast-changing currents ranging from microamps to kiloamps and capture them across a wide voltage range in nanoseconds. The new probe tip comes in three attenuation configurations, delivering high-bandwidth performance of up to 700 MHz.