Author Topic: Decent test leads  (Read 14200 times)

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Offline ytech15Topic starter

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Decent test leads
« on: May 01, 2016, 08:22:43 am »
Hey,
After a while using the TL75 leads that came with my fluke, I am looking forward to upgrade them, I ordered some uni-t leads (UT-L16) which are kind of ok.. But I would like to hear some recommendations for a decent set of test leads...

Thanks
 

Offline cs.dk

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2016, 08:40:40 am »
For small stuff, i like Fluke TL910. They are rather expensive though.

My allrounder is Fluke TL-175, works fine and they are much lower price.
 

Offline tautech

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2016, 09:12:51 am »
Avid Rabid Hobbyist
Siglent Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SiglentVideo/videos
 

Offline ytech15Topic starter

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2016, 10:07:00 am »
My allrounder is Fluke TL-175, works fine and they are much lower price.
Does the TL-175 have silicon wires?
 

Offline tautech

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Online newbrain

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2016, 01:24:24 pm »
My allrounder is Fluke TL-175, works fine and they are much lower price.
Does the TL-175 have silicon wires?

Yes
TwistGuard™ is really handy, especially to probe in cramped spaces (at low voltages!) where you risk to short to something in the way.
I always ended up losing the removable caps other leads have...
Nandemo wa shiranai wa yo, shitteru koto dake.
 
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Offline ytech15Topic starter

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2016, 02:31:21 pm »
Try Franky
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/franky's-sales-thread/
http://stores.ebay.com/99centHobbies

Thanks. This is very useful.
My allrounder is Fluke TL-175, works fine and they are much lower price.
Does the TL-175 have silicon wires?

Yes
TwistGuard™ is really handy, especially to probe in cramped spaces (at low voltages!) where you risk to short to something in the way.
I always ended up losing the removable caps other leads have...
Thanks.


After looking in Franky's eBay store, I found the Brymen BL21S2-T4SC... How are they compared to the TL-175?
 

Offline alank2

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2016, 02:35:45 pm »
These are my favorites for my good meters:

http://probemaster.com/8000-series-standard/
 
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Offline r4ptor

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2016, 03:07:00 pm »
I can really recommend frankys test leads. Silicone, gold coated tips, screw on adapater for banana plugs. All for a reasonable price with fast shipping.

Really satisfied with them.
 

Offline joeqsmith

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2016, 03:38:59 pm »
I like the Probemaster products as well for my bench meters.   I'm not sure they offer ones that fit the standard holders you find on most handhelds.   

These are my favorites for my good meters:

http://probemaster.com/8000-series-standard/

Offline noidea

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2016, 03:58:32 pm »
My allrounder is Fluke TL-175, works fine and they are much lower price.

Hi cs.dk
Do you mind measuring the diameter of the probes on the TL175's are they any good for backprobing into connectors with the shrouds wound back?
 

Offline switcher

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2016, 04:12:45 pm »
I find most Fluke leads/probes far too large for electronics work.

Since I bought a couple of sets of each of these, I haven't used any Fluke probes.

http://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/mueller-electric-co/110012/314-1057-ND/304621

http://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/pomona-electronics/6235/501-1246-ND/737585
 

Offline georges80

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2016, 05:23:39 pm »
I like the Probemaster products as well for my bench meters.   I'm not sure they offer ones that fit the standard holders you find on most handhelds.   

These are my favorites for my good meters:

http://probemaster.com/8000-series-standard/

Probemaster for the win :)

I have their 9104 probe set -> http://probemaster.com/9000-series-modular/

Pricey, but you get quality and a great kit of various modular probes/clips/etc that go well with a decent meter. I use them on my Fluke 87III and Fluke 8845A. Nice sharp tips for probing small components.

I put the straight/standard probes into my lathe to remove the 'high voltage shroud' so I can get them closer (without clashing with each other) when probing all the signal level stuff they are used for. Anything mains related I use the original shrouded versions if necessary.

cheers,
george.

 

Offline nanofrog

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #13 on: May 01, 2016, 08:01:54 pm »
I like the Probemaster products as well for my bench meters.   I'm not sure they offer ones that fit the standard holders you find on most handhelds.   

These are my favorites for my good meters:

http://probemaster.com/8000-series-standard/
Another Probemaster user.  :-+

Regarding fitting probe holders, the modular 9000 series probes would be more appropriate (standard shape). The finger guard is on the larger side however, so they may not fit a particular meter. For example, they don't fit the back of my Brymen BM857a (older model), but have no issues fitting my Agilent U1252B.
 

Offline blacksheeplogic

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #14 on: May 01, 2016, 09:37:03 pm »
Try these guys range:
http://www.pomonaelectronics.com/

Pomona from memory are/were part of fluke. They produce the Flukes test leads and apart from branding and a minor change in the plug are identical at a lower cost. At least some of Keithly's test leads are also built by Pomona.

Test leads are somewhat subjective and application specific, there's no 'the best'.
 

Offline nanofrog

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #15 on: May 01, 2016, 11:03:09 pm »
Pomona from memory are/were part of fluke. They produce the Flukes test leads and apart from branding and a minor change in the plug are identical at a lower cost. At least some of Keithly's test leads are also built by Pomona.

Test leads are somewhat subjective and application specific, there's no 'the best'.
They are.

The parent company is Danaher, which owns Fluke, Pomona, Keithley, and Tektronix.
 

Offline alank2

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #16 on: May 02, 2016, 01:00:23 am »
I just found that Probemaster has free US shipping now - I ordered another set of test leads for my new bench meter.  I'm going to try out one of those $3 hanging lead wall accessories too.
 

Online Someone

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #17 on: May 02, 2016, 01:52:50 am »
The parent company is Danaher, which owns Fluke, Pomona, Keithley, and Tektronix.

Looks like Keysight 34133A is also a Pomona OEM. Keysight 34144A=Pomona 6341=Fluke TL910 to my eyes.
All those are the same part with Pomona as the OEM, but the Keysight package doesn't come with the spare tips? The Fluke markup is "interesting".

As with many others experience of these miniature probes, they don't have a particularly good lifespan and breaks in the fine cable occur far too often (around 1 year was typical). Since the tips and sockets are standard parts a more robust version that terminates into generic banana leads could be popular if there is an enterprising person out there with access to overmolding.

Fluke have their own surge-grip line of cables, probes, and grabbers/hooks. Most of it is targeting industrial electricians but they have a wide range of probes and grabbers suitable for electronics if you can get a chance to play with them in person before purchasing. For anything smaller I switch to logic analyser style pin header clips and probes wired onto RG316 coax.
 

Offline MrSlack

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #18 on: May 02, 2016, 11:18:13 pm »
I don't have enough hands for probes. I didn't realise this until I got rid of the damn things.

I use a selection of random Pomona minigrabber to 4mm and 4mm patches. Plus Pomona 3788's from function generator at anything under about 5MHz on the end of a short bit of RG58/U. Anything upwards of 5MHz is soldered in circuit or BNC only.
 

Offline cs.dk

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #19 on: May 05, 2016, 06:57:17 am »
My allrounder is Fluke TL-175, works fine and they are much lower price.

Hi cs.dk
Do you mind measuring the diameter of the probes on the TL175's are they any good for backprobing into connectors with the shrouds wound back?

Sorry for the delay;
They are not good for connectors, you know the type found in vehicles, etc. Much to thick, that where the TL910 comes in.
TL175 OD 2,0 mm - TL910 OD 1,0 mm.
 

Offline D3f1ant

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #20 on: May 05, 2016, 08:32:42 am »
TL910 are made by Pomona I think as pomona is oem for many brands. Mine are Keysight branded and cost less than Fluke TL175, so pays to shop around. They come with sprung, unsrung and stainless tips. I love crown spring tips for probing 0.4mm pitch chips, they lock/stick into the legs nicely and dont slip off.
 

Offline TinkerFan

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #21 on: May 05, 2016, 08:41:44 am »
Dave did a short "review" of a pair of probemasters a while ago in the Mailbag. They looked pretty awesome, but I've never tested them for myself:
"The Gold probes" by Probe Master, Made in America (around minute 22):



"A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering." - Freeman Dyson
 

Offline alank2

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #22 on: May 05, 2016, 12:40:15 pm »
I got them in from the order I placed - another awesome set of 8043S.  My 8845A is now happy.  One of the best things about these is the gold plating, it is on the probe ends, on all the attachments, and the attachments screw into place.  You can't go wrong with these things.  $15.90 shipped for just the leads, but I always get the set for $27.90 that comes with alligator clips, spring hook clips, and large spade terminals.

 

Offline macboy

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #23 on: May 05, 2016, 01:20:55 pm »
alank,
How sharp are those probes? Are the wires silicone and super flexible or PVC/etc. and not so much.
 

Offline TheAmmoniacal

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Re: Decent test leads
« Reply #24 on: May 05, 2016, 01:32:36 pm »
Very sharp probes and soft flexible silicone leads.
 


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