That's funny - we just threw out a bunch of cheaper gold-plated probes in the trash yesterday - just about 100% crap compared to Keysight / Fluke probes for what we do. We should have sent them to Dave for a "squiz" as he puts it.
You'll probably never use a probe on its side as Dave was demonstrating. The very tip is the business end, and might last a while as long as you're not trying to weld with it on high current range. We make the young lab techs pay for the good probes when they try that....
Which is why I qualified with saying electronics use.
For high current use, yes, stick to regular probes. The same thing with relays and high current switches, you get gold plating on the low signal level ones and a silver alloy or some such on the high current ones. Basic switch engineering. Again, why people think this is different for probes is beyond me.
Did you consider that this may not be the same group? I, for one, have zero intention of buying a BM235 or 121GW meter, so why would I complain about the BM235 probes? I have never handled them.
What does switch engineering say about the wiping action on gold-plated contacts? I believe gold plated contacts are generally used on contacts with little wiping action, since wiping contamination is not as necessary. But I would argue that probe tips (the very tip) see a lot of wiping/rubbing action, so corrosion is not as much an issue and contact wear is. Gold plated relays are often rated for a very low current. A too high current will vaporize the gold plating. Does not sound good for general purpose probes that might see the occasional amps.
Also you could have done better with the demonstration.
If you have two oxidised surfaces you are trying to touch then you have two oxide layers you have to pierce in order to get your good contact. If you one contact that is perfect and not oxidised then you only have one oxide layer to pierce.
Basic contact engineering.
Dave,
Gold plating or not, I think you just found out how many people pay attention to your vids
And Fluke does, in fact, offer gold-plated probes. The TL910 has replaceable probe tip
I noticed that the beeper in my Fluke sounds much more authentic and 3D when I am using gold coated probes!
A better version of the video would have had some new probes with and without gold compared as well as the aged ones.
Yes, but you are missing the point entirely.
If you have two oxidised surfaces you are trying to touch then you have two oxide layers you have to pierce in order to get your good contact. If you one contact that is perfect and not oxidised then you only have one oxide layer to pierce.
Fyi the probes with my 34461a and u1282a both trigger the continuity beeper constantly under there own weight like your gold probes do.
I like gold plated stuff, but as others have said the gold on the tips will be gone in no time.
A better version of the video would have had some new probes with and without gold compared as well as the aged ones.
(1)I was "brought up "on analog meters which don't "beep".Do they not have audio feedback from the needle hitting the end stops?
Fyi the probes with my 34461a and u1282a both trigger the continuity beeper constantly under there own weight like your gold probes do.
I like gold plated stuff, but as others have said the gold on the tips will be gone in no time.
A better version of the video would have had some new probes with and without gold compared as well as the aged ones.