EEVblog Electronics Community Forum

Products => Other Equipment & Products => Topic started by: pmrlondon on May 06, 2011, 09:28:28 am

Title: Amprobe 37XR-A - standard test leads now have removable probe shrouds
Post by: pmrlondon on May 06, 2011, 09:28:28 am
My new multimeter arrived this morning, and I noticed that only the very tip of the probes was visible.

On closer inspection, there are shrouds screwed on to the alligator clip threads. I wondered how I was to use the clips, at first. Hadn't heard about these shrouds before.

From the testing I have done, it seems fine. Not tried AC current - rarely use that through the meter anyway as I also have a clamp probe - or measured anything sensible capacitance or inductance wise, but I am sure I will soon.

One thing I only half expected... error beep when connected to current terminals even covers wrong terminal for selected current range.
Title: Re: Amprobe 37XR-A - standard test leads now have removable probe shrouds
Post by: saturation on May 08, 2011, 06:04:13 pm
Great!  Can you give us photos and a detailed review, if you can?  Thanks and enjoy.
Title: Re: Amprobe 37XR-A - standard test leads now have removable probe shrouds
Post by: pmrlondon on May 09, 2011, 09:39:59 pm
Well, of course, reviewing the whole meter would be a bit superfluous, as Dave did such a good job of it in episode 6. There are no significant changes that I have found - it even looks the same.

(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011018.jpg)

What I saw of the test leads when I unpacked it:

(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011019.jpg)

It turns out they are fitted with removable shrouds.

(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011020.jpg)

These leads are clearly marked, on the probe handles, with their part number.

(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011021.jpg)

These leads are rated without the shroud...

(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011023.jpg)

... but seemingly rated higher with...

(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011028.jpg)

They are CE marked, as indeed I think they would have to be here...

(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011025.jpg)

Finally for pictures, three views of the rating on the lead.

(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011029.jpg)
(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011030.jpg)
(http://topdeck.tinsleyviaduct.com/images/09052011031.jpg)

I have now tried out the capacitance and inductance functions and am quite impressed. The only thing I don't like and will probably never use is the "HOLD" function, as it is simple "push hold" and not "touch hold" or anything equally useful. However, on the whole, my verdict is the same as Dave's.
Title: Re: Amprobe 37XR-A - standard test leads now have removable probe shrouds
Post by: gobblegobble on May 09, 2011, 10:27:10 pm
What I saw of the test leads when I unpacked it:

It turns out they are fitted with removable shrouds.

These leads are rated without the shroud...
... but seemingly rated higher with...
It's one of the newfangled "safety features" they stuff down our throats. You can't manufacture/sell CAT III/IV cables anymore with too much exposed metal so either do it like that, or in a more elegant approach Fluke has taken to:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=3306.0 (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=3306.0)
Title: Re: Amprobe 37XR-A - standard test leads now have removable probe shrouds
Post by: saturation on May 10, 2011, 12:28:23 pm
Thanks for the photos.  Those test leads are interesting, got me looking at the new Fluke retractable shroud TL175 leads.