Electronics > Beginners

My purchase list for my new lab -- budget $1000+, thoughts?

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rstofer:
I use both genders of BNC <-> Banana adapters.

Most meters come with cheap cables and probes.  It's the cable that is a PITA.  It isn't flexible enough and ultimately applies a force to the circuit end of the connection.

http://probemaster.com/

GreyWoolfe:

--- Quote from: AnyNameWillDo on July 29, 2018, 10:20:36 pm ---I have a dumb question that just dawned on me.

What exactly is the purpose of buying more leads if we already get some leads that come with our multimeters?

--- End quote ---

Cheap meters, like the 2 Aneng that sit in my company van, work better with a set of better leads.  I replaced the leads with a set of Brymen leads that I bought off of Frankie's site-- https://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-Silicone-Gold-Plated-Test-Leads-Probes-for-Multimeters-CAT-IV-1000V-/171162377470  Some like the Probemaster leads-- http://probemaster.com/8000-series-test-leads-only/

Also none of the used meters I bought came with leads.  I have purchased a total of 6 sets of leads from Frankie and am very happy with them. 

AnyNameWillDo:
I guess I am just trying to understand the types of scenarios where I'd need to use a different type of lead. For example I can't even tell when I'd need BNC or spade or minigrabber or alligator, etc. I think the Rigol oscilloscope is BNC? Power supplies often banana plug? So for example I'd do banana plug -> alligator clip from the power supply and then clamp these onto the end of a male dupont wire and then stick the other end into a breadboard or something?

Like I am really lost as to how I'm supposed to be using everything.

And how do I know which ones are worth picking up exactly? I know a few were linked earlier but they either had 0 reviews or were totally out of stock or super expensive.

Banana plus to banana plug: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=banana+plug+to+banana+plug

Minigrabber to banana plug: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=minigrabber+to+banana+plug

Alligator clip to alligator clip (I know, I know): https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=alligator+clip+to+alligator+clip

Minigrabber to minigrabber: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=minigrabber+to+minigrabber

rstofer:

--- Quote from: AnyNameWillDo on July 30, 2018, 12:00:04 am ---
Banana plug to banana plug: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=banana+plug+to+banana+plug


--- End quote ---

Probably not useful unless you are working with analog computers where the equations are patched using banana jumpers.  You might need 1 to jumper the two outputs of a PS to add the outputs in series.  It would need to be a stackable type.  Usually this is done with a wire jumper on the binding post leaving the banana jacks accessible for test leads.

If the leads from your PS are stackable, you could always use these to tie in a DMM.  Not necessary but workable.  I'm not sure how this would apply to a real lab supply which already has instrumentation.  But maybe...


--- Quote ---
Minigrabber to banana plug: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=minigrabber+to+banana+plug


--- End quote ---

This might be useful with a DMM instead of the more appropriate shielded type banana plug.  They could also be handy as PS leads.  They're stackable so that handy.


--- Quote ---Alligator clip to alligator clip: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=alligator+clip+to+alligator+clip


--- End quote ---

I would prefer the minigrabber and, FWIW, nearly ALL of these are junk.  They aren't even soldered.


--- Quote ---
Minigrabber to minigrabber: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=minigrabber+to+minigrabber

--- End quote ---

Always useful for jumping things together.  I prefer them to alligator clips.

tooki:
I build my own banana-to-dupont cables, it's far more convenient and reliable than alligator clips to dupont jumper wires. I've done that in the past, and it's hella ghetto, you end up with stuff coming loose, or shorting out… it's OK in a pinch but you'll be happier with properly made cables. Making test leads is a great way to practice your cable termination/splicing/dressing, by the way.

Forget alligator clips, everyone here is telling you "I have 'em and practically never use 'em". Go minigrabber instead.

I couldn't even tell you when I last used spades on test leads.

Forget the no-name ones on amazon. Go with top quality name brand (Fluke/Pomona, Mueller, Probe Master, Cal Test, Stäubli, Hirschmann). There's another thread on here from someone asking about this, because it turns out the cheap banana plugs on his Amazon-sourced no-names are wiggly and caused problems.


BNC is for high-frequency (but low current!) stuff, which is why your oscilloscope will use it (as do signal generators and the like). For now, don't buy any extra BNC stuff, the probes with the scope are more than enough to get started.

Lab power supplies use one of two things, generally: safety banana jacks (accept sheathed or unsheathed banana plugs), or banana jack binding posts (accept unsheathed banana plugs, large spades, and bare wire, but not sheathed banana plugs).


But ultimately don't sweat this too much. Start with the basics (banana-banana, banana-minigrabber,  and minigrabber-minigrabber; I suggest 18"-24"), and buy yourself some flexible wire and some quality banana plugs (any of the brands I listed above is great) and make additional cables as you discover the need for them. I highly recommend the Pomona 1825 banana plugs, because they're solderless with a set screw that requires no disassembly, so you can easily and quickly build a custom cable with them for a specific purpose, and later reuse the plugs for some other cable as your needs change. (Many other plugs hide the set screw under a sheath that you have to wrestle off first.)

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