Author Topic: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.  (Read 796 times)

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Offline paulcaTopic starter

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Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« on: April 07, 2023, 09:02:34 am »
I've been looking for these for ages.  I've bought two different types and both turned out to be for making your own leads soldering them.

I am looking for the type which you push your existing probe into the back of and it adds a hook.  A little bit like scope probes.

I'm willing to go to a new set of probes if they supprt that functionality, with a sensible budget <£30.
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Offline BillyO

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2023, 03:13:13 pm »
Like these?

https://probemaster.com/8000-series-kits/

Well within your budget and they are very nice probes.
Bill  (Currently a Siglent fanboy)
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Offline mwb1100

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2023, 03:20:22 pm »
If you're talking about for a multimeter, it's pretty easy to find versions that replace the usual probes instead of slipping over the probe tips.  Search for "4mm Banana Plug to Test Hook Clips" or similar.  A set on Amazon US:

  - Goupchn 2PCS 4mm Banana Plug to Test Hook Clips Test Leads Copper Soft Cable Wires for Multimeter Electrical Testing 500V 5A

And here's a set that does slip over the tips of the usual probes:

  - 25cm Silicone Leads w/ SMD Mini Grabber Hook & 2mm Probe Tip Socket (Red+Black)

That variety are a little more difficult to find for some reason, but they are often in the cheap sets of multimeter probe kits on Amazon that have a variety of of different adapters along with the usual multimeter probes.

I'm willing to go to a new set of probes if they supprt that functionality, with a sensible budget <£30.

Probemaster sells a version that screws onto the threads on their probe tips.  Separately (if you already have probemaster leads) or in a kit with the leads.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2023, 03:22:13 pm by mwb1100 »
 

Online Ian.M

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #3 on: April 07, 2023, 03:23:09 pm »
I don't like the weight of a whole multimeter probe hanging off mini or micro grabber/hook test probes.  However, as I don't have a multi-channel bench DMM, I don't want dedicated full length test leads with hook/grabber ends as swapping leads just to check some non-grabbable test point is a PITA, and storage space in the DMM case is usually at a premium by the time I've thrown in some alligator clip adaptors. 

Make up short (3") test lead extensions with *whatever* test hook/clip at the business end and 'Molex' contacts* for the meter probes, with enough layers of heatshrink bonded with a drop of runny superglue as you shrink them in place to form a shell to fit the ends of your probes.  Prevent any risk of the glue sticking to the meter probe with a thin smear of petroleum jelly (Vaseline) over the probe tip and nose of its body.

* The contacts from a Molex style (5 1/4") PC disk drive power connector fit most meter probe tips.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2023, 03:28:29 pm by Ian.M »
 

Offline tooki

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #4 on: April 07, 2023, 03:34:41 pm »
I've been looking for these for ages.  I've bought two different types and both turned out to be for making your own leads soldering them.

I am looking for the type which you push your existing probe into the back of and it adds a hook.  A little bit like scope probes.

I'm willing to go to a new set of probes if they supprt that functionality, with a sensible budget <£30.
You mean like Pomona 4826 or Hirschmann KLEPS 2 BU?
https://www.pomonaelectronics.com/products/test-clips/minigrabber-test-clip-pin-tip-jack-availible-black-or-red
https://www.sks-kontakt.de/en/test-measurement/products/product?nr=9735011

With that said, I have never understood why anyone would prefer doodads that slip onto their probes, because then you have the whole probe dangling off your part. I far, far prefer dedicated micrograbber-to-banana leads.

The Keysight U1163A solve this by being little cables, but they’re absurdly priced at around $70. You can buy (or make) a lot of dedicated minigrabber leads for that…
« Last Edit: April 07, 2023, 03:42:50 pm by tooki »
 

Offline alm

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #5 on: April 07, 2023, 03:43:40 pm »
Multimeter probe tips are not a universal standard, especially the plastic adjacent to the tip. I would look for grabbers made by the same company as the probes.

I don't like the weight of a whole multimeter probe hanging off mini or micro grabber/hook test probes.  However, as I don't have a multi-channel bench DMM, I don't want dedicated full length test leads with hook/grabber ends as swapping leads just to check some non-grabbable test point is a PITA, and storage space in the DMM case is usually at a premium by the time I've thrown in some alligator clip adaptors. 
If I'm swapping to grabber a lot, then I prefer a set with modular banana leads that I can plug either probes or grabbers in, like the Probemaster 8000 series or similar Pomona or Hirschmann parts (I like the Hirschmann spring loaded probes more than the competition). For me leads with fixed probes, with a grabber adapter, just get too heavy and bulky to be usable. Having clips stay attached is enough of a struggle without having a heavy, long probe hanging off of them.

If I'm using mostly grabbers with the occasional probing, than the Parrot Clips are a decent compromise for me. Pretty strong and light grabbers that can grab to most through-hole components (though useless for SMT), and a tip that is sharp enough for not too fine-pitched probing: DIP and discretes are fine, I wouldn't try SOIC or anything finer.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2023, 03:49:31 pm by alm »
 

Offline kripton2035

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #6 on: April 07, 2023, 03:52:45 pm »
 

Offline paulcaTopic starter

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #7 on: April 07, 2023, 04:04:11 pm »
Those look like they will do nicely. 

That said, these are 2 sets for the same price.  Taking on board the points about probe weight.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32908600661.html
"What could possibly go wrong?"
Current Open Projects:  STM32F411RE+ESP32+TFT for home IoT (NoT) projects.  Child's advent xmas countdown toy.  Digital audio routing board.
 

Offline tooki

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #8 on: April 07, 2023, 04:22:29 pm »
Those look like they will do nicely. 

That said, these are 2 sets for the same price.  Taking on board the points about probe weight.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32908600661.html
Ample experience on the forums says that cheap hooks and cheap banana plugs end up sucking big time. Don’t waste your money on junk, buy proper ones and they’ll last you forever.
 

Offline kripton2035

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #9 on: April 07, 2023, 04:23:35 pm »
these are not the same, you don't plug them at the end of your existing probes.
but yes it does the same job in the end...
the probes I linked are smaller too.
 

Online Ian.M

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Re: Generic probe "hook clip" adapters.
« Reply #10 on: April 07, 2023, 07:12:19 pm »
Multimeter probe tips are not a universal standard, especially the plastic adjacent to the tip. I would look for grabbers made by the same company as the probes.

Which is why, when describing making my DIY probe extensions I said:
... as you shrink them in place to form a shell to fit the ends of your probes. ...
Red emphasis added

I don't like the cheap 2mm socket probe extensions because the cables are generally too long and they usually leave exposed metal where the probe plugs into them.
 


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