Checking power supply ripple on a budget

[Talior]

I’m looking at my power supply, wires all connected, and I can’t help but wonder if the ripple is acting right or if it’s up to something sneaky.
So, how do you check the ripple accurately when you’re working with just a budget scope?
I’d love to hear your tips

 

[OhmMy]

As a budget scope user, I like to clamp a probe on the output and take a closer look at the waveform. If those spikes are all over the place, it’s time to add some filtering. A little patience and some fine-tuning can make a budget scope feel like a high-end tool

 

[theOhmcoder]

I keep things straightforward.
I set the scope to AC coupling, tweak the time/div to capture the ripple’s frequency, and just eyeball the amplitude.
You’d be surprised at what cheap scopes can do if you know what to look for no complicated math required.

 

[Tovaren]

When my budget scope arrived, I quickly realized that focusing on the shape of the waveform was more important than just staring at the numbers. If the ripple looks smooth and low, you’re in the clear. But if it resembles a roller coaster, it’s a sign that you might need better filtering or that your power supply is acting up