In other News...
My order of NOS Oldaker Leads, to match my favorite Oldaker modular test probes, which I
bought on eBay stole for a $10 "Make Offer" arrived today. After dismantling one end of a lead to see what was under the molding, I decided to just build the leads with the "craptacular" 4mm banana plugs we were talking about the other day.
1- After soldering the spring and lead in place, I wrapped two full layers of cello tape around the threads to tighten them up; I figured if I was gonna tape it, the tape might as well serve a purpose. When I assembled, the ends got a good bite on 4-5 threads and feel pretty solid.
2 - Both ends presents a 90° threaded connector, meant for use evidently with probe, plug, alligator or jack; I've searched many times over the years, and evidently this is an Oldaker "thing". I've NEVER seen any Modular leads from Oldaker except the #537 & the #598, and they both expect you to use a 90° at the probe. I've seen straight leads on soldered-together probes, but not the modular sets.
3 - Here's what I got; 5 sets of vulcanized rubber 18ga leads in perfect NOS condition; not the least bit stiff or cracky, and not mallowy either. Just a joy in the hand. I also got 2 sets of BNC to Oldaker probe test leads, and a set of screw-on 4mm banana socket adapters. I've tried to use these before; they're too fat for shrouded plugs, and the bottoms have a rim that cracks out if you put them on the probes. I'm still trying to figure out
![WTF? :wtf:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/wtf2.gif.pagespeed.ce.pxLiY5pjs4.gif)
they were thinking there. All leads are old-school 48" long.
![ThumbsUp :-+](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/icon_smile_thumbsup.gif.pagespeed.ce._JElyJQqdB.gif)
4 - Once doctored up, the cheap-ass banana plugs actually seem half-decent; they plug in positively and smoothly with a good ~8mm of engagement, and they look like they belong on the 3478A. I'm no petite flower ("ham-fisted" is the term that comes to mind), so we'll just have to see how well they hold up under my tender ministrations.
![Wink ;)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xwink.gif.pagespeed.ic.cldandycH0.png)
5 - In use: I had my reservations that the 90° angle at the probe would be annoying... it's why I haven't had a massive hard-on to buy the matching leads, and certainly not willing to pay the "collectible" price everybody seemed to want for them. But really it isn't that bad; having the lead draped across the back of my hand does bug me (I've been bit by ignition coils a few times using old-school automotive oscilloscopes), but as long as I turn the probe so the leads points away from my hand it doesn't bother me at all. And it seems it may even be a better arrangement to minimize capacitive/inductive coupling with my body during sensitive measurements.
If you're wondering: from my testing so far, a shorting lead or shorted set of leads measures ~0.1400-0.1800Ω on this meter; so far, I haven't figured out how the "auto-zero" is supposed to work. I really need to read the manual rather than just skimming it like 6 times.
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/xfacepalm.gif.pagespeed.ic.EBDwh1hCfo.png)
So there you have it... one of the last pieces of the 3478A puzzle finally coming together... now all I need is a space deep enough to to be able to use it without it eating up half the workspace on my bench like it's doing here.
![Fighting :box:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/fighting0030.gif.pagespeed.ce.H3HVtgjLEV.gif)
mnem
Ahhh, sweet Hypnos' tender embrace...