The PCBITE kit arrived today from Germany
It is excellent quality and exactly as shown in the pictures. The probe mounting is a good weight to keep the sprung probe tip in place and the probe tips are of good quality. Replacement gold plated pogo pins are easily obtained from China so different tip styles can be used if desired. The kit comes with an extra set of pogo pins with fork tips.
The insulating rings that protect against shorts on PCB’s are not fitted to the PCB support towers. The user must fit them, if desired. You get enough self adhesive rings for the four towers, plus two spares. I advise the following procedure for fitting the rings as the 3M adhesive is very strong !
1. The rings are split so fit them to the towers in the correct orientation with the adhesive backing sheet still attached. You will end up with the yellow upper surfaces facing each other and the adhesive sides facing their respective contact surfaces when stuck.
2. Pull the tower spring mechanism down and hold the two rings down with it. With tweezers, remove the adhesive backing strip whilst holding the edges of the ring only.
3. Gently allow the tower plunger to rise whilst keeping the ring even with its edges. Allow the tower plunger to press the ring onto the contact surface whilst using your fingers to keep its edges in alignment with the contact surface edges.
4. Repeat the exercise on all for towers.
5. Now attach the lower rings in the same way as the upper ones were fitted. This time hold the plunger down and hold the ring against the upper ring before removing the adhesive backing. Then carefully release the plunger and allow it to press against the adhesive of the ring. Repeat the process for all four towers.
Note that the 3M adhesive is strong and pressure activated so it is hard to remove a ring to reposition it unless done very soon after application. Hence the two spare rings.
Hope this helps
Fraser