| Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff |
| Which probes don't stink? |
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| txNgineer:
I'm sure this has been discussed a bunch, but getting quality (and what you pay for) seems to be a moving target today. Even among "blue ribbon" manufacturers. I seem to remember Dave talking about his favorites, but I cannot find the video to get the brand. What brand(s) should I look at to avoid the problems I describe below? Like most people who have been doing electronics work for a few decades, I am serious about what probes are between my appendages and various circuits. Plus I want something that is suitable to as many tasks on the bench as practical. I have bought many sets of meter probes/leads and have been unhappy with most. For example, my new Fluke portable DMM has rounded tips that make them worthless on most PCBs. A number of the less expensive ones (bought through authorized retailers) are flimsy or have suspicious CAT ratings or poor connections and strain relief. Shielded cable is often poor with suspicious voltage ratings. I expect I will need 3 or 4 different sets to accomplish what I want. My budget is not huge, but up to US$50-125 per set seems reasonable for the quality I want. But I cannot afford to drop $75 on a set that don't meet most of my needs. Which is why I need your suggestions and experiences. My desires would be: A. Good silicone wire that is soldering iron resistant and flexible B. Good internal wire (tinned copper) that is capable of handling up to 10 amps C. Sharp enough points to measure legs on an 0.65 pitch smd package D. Sharp enough to pierce thin conformal coating on a PCB E. Trustworthy voltage ratings (600v or better). F. Shielded cable probes for sensitive 4 wire measurements or using on old analog VTVM (hard to beat for some alignment/peaking adjustments) G. A set good up to 1000v since I still work on some tube equipment H. Either an attachment or probe set with mini-grabber end(s), especially for the ground lead I. Banana plugs on the meter end J. 4 wire probe(s) with different colors for the sense leads (e.g., green, white, blue, yellow, etc.) K. Low enough overall resistance to not mess with highest sensitivity measurements using Dave's uCurrent Gold L. Enough quality and repeatability to not be a factor when used on my 7.5 digit DMM If I could find the parts, I would even build my own. But getting proper quality parts is an even bigger problem. So much of this stuff is counterfeit now. Thanks in advance for your suggestions and letting me have this little "semi-rant". |
| coromonadalix:
Buy officials leads tests from say : Fluke, Keysight or any reputable company, you'll avoid thoses pesky china stuff |
| coppercone2:
uni-t was good impedance wise but it was not great in terms of flexibility. Try going to 100+ strand count silicone wire to get a good probe. It will be like spaghetti. And your requirements are not really met by one probe. For probing digital pins real sharp you want steel tips that are long, which will have high impedance (0.2 ohm vs typical 0.03). That is if you want a real thin probe that is also stiff. And the requirements are also complicated by high voltages. With high voltages you want as little exposed contact area as possible and you want a big finger guard to prevent your fingers from getting near the PCB (you gotta be really focused and on top of your shit if you are live probing 1000V circuits too). With low voltages and tight pin densities (you just wont have 0.65mm pin pitch on a 1000V circuit) you want smaller probes possibly without finger guards etc. All the molecularity and interconnects if you want something like a fluke probe kit is great but it all adds resistances, drifts and ware elements. It's better in a fixed laboratory to have separate probes for each function rather then 'addons' . Not to say the fluke pouch is great, but its a field tool, if you are sitting infront of a 34401A constantly messing with accessories and shit its going to be very obnoxious compared to a probe arsenal hanging on the wall. Keep this in mind: with a well functioning DC power supply connected to a low voltage precision circuit, you don't need CAT III protection which comes with alot of industrial stuff. That means thicker insulation and stiffer bends etc. |
| _Wim_:
These multimeter test leads are highly recommended around here (I have them also, and can confirm the recommandation) https://probemaster.com/dmm-multimeter-test-leads/ Other leads should also be of nice quality, but haven't used those myself. |
| HighVoltage:
--- Quote from: blueskull on July 07, 2019, 08:23:05 am --- The only probe that I'm aware of that can measure 0.65mm or even 0.5mm reliably yet can pierce coating is TL910 and its Pomona OEM, which won't take 10A, and will cost you $75. --- End quote --- Look at the very small and pointy Hirschman tips for 2mm banana plugs. They work very well for 0.65mm or 0.5 mm. https://www.reichelt.de/miniatur-pruefspitze-spitze-2-mm-rot-mps-1-rt-p13109.html |
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