Funny Uni-T probe

[lpc32]

[mariush]

Nothing funny about it (other than the possibility of losing that extension). 

It's a perfectly legitimate way to make your probes compliant with higher specs. Fluke does it as well:

[lpc32]

So a cap and you're upgraded from II to III? Odd.

[electr_peter]

Sharpness of the tip may be funny, but otherwise it is one of ways to make probes compliant with lower and higher CAT ratings. Extension hides most of probe tip metal when employed, thus preventing potential shorts on high voltage buses. For lower voltage application, open probe tip is preferred.

[electr_peter]

So a cap and you're upgraded from II to III? Odd.

Essentially, yes. Open probe tip poses danger of short circuting voltage terminals (or touch with finger), so open and long tips are not considered CAT III or CAT IV worthy. Also, cable and probe handle construction should be certified to CAT III/CAT IV rating.
Keep in mind that only certified and well fitted probe extensions increase CAT rating.

CAT rating issue is not very trivial, try searching this forum for topics on "cat rating","dmm cat rating" etc.

[SArepairman]

those shrowds are very useful IMO. especially if you are prototyping some kind of power components that are dead bugged.

[calexanian]

Those AC172 alligator plug extension grippers are great. I just got a pair recently and have already lost them and need to get more... I wish they had a thread on type for the standard fluke probes cause I loost them cause they get pulled off in the tool box or snagged on something.

[Neverther]

AC175 is threaded and should go fine with TL175 probes.
CEM also has probes with thread at the base and threaded alligator clips for it, cheaper and not too bad in quality.
Ive also bought bunch of 2mm slip on types, but CEM seems to have problem with materials as the silicone sometimes has hard spots and will crack.

[XOIIO]

Those fluke probes with the tip that drops from twisting look great cool, any idea if you can get them separately?

I ordered the UNI-T UT71C yesterday, however I am thinking of getting some separate silicon probes. Never used a pair but I figure a better set might be worth a bit of extra money.

[miguelvp]

Those fluke probes with the tip that drops from twisting look great cool, any idea if you can get them separately?

I ordered the UNI-T UT71C yesterday, however I am thinking of getting some separate silicon probes. Never used a pair but I figure a better set might be worth a bit of extra money.

No silicon probes with the UT71B (assuming they are the same as the UT71C but mine came with these, not too bad and you can attach the alligator clips to the probe.
The USB for data logging is opto coupled.

[XOIIO]

Those fluke probes with the tip that drops from twisting look great cool, any idea if you can get them separately?

I ordered the UNI-T UT71C yesterday, however I am thinking of getting some separate silicon probes. Never used a pair but I figure a better set might be worth a bit of extra money.

No silicon probes with the UT71B (assuming they are the same as the UT71C but mine came with these, not too bad and you can attach the alligator clips to the probe.
The USB for data logging is opto coupled.

Yeah the one I ordered comes with all of that as well.

Sadly I watched  teardown of the UT71D, the next model up and saw that the IR is only one way, I was hoping there would be some serial commands I could find for it that might enable more data logging space (The C has 100, the D has 10000 apparently)

[miguelvp]

Sadly I watched  teardown of the UT71D, the next model up and saw that the IR is only one way, I was hoping there would be some serial commands I could find for it that might enable more data logging space (The C has 100, the D has 10000 apparently)

That's in the actual meter, once you press the send button and you have the software running it just keeps on logging once a second, not the best software and at the beginning I thought it wasn't setup right but it does work. I still have to figure out the limits and the graph, but you can save the data into an excel file. Don't mind the data quick ohms test of my fingers



Edit: but they have a different program for the C,D,E models but should work about the same.

[XOIIO]

Sadly I watched  teardown of the UT71D, the next model up and saw that the IR is only one way, I was hoping there would be some serial commands I could find for it that might enable more data logging space (The C has 100, the D has 10000 apparently)

That's in the actual meter, once you press the send button and you have the software running it just keeps on logging once a second, not the best software and at the beginning I thought it wasn't setup right but it does work. I still have to figure out the limits and the graph, but you can save the data into an excel file. Don't mind the data quick ohms test of my fingers

True, I was just a bit disappointed to see the difference in the internal memory, I'm wondering if it is just software limited, it would make sense.

I am also going to pop it open when I get it and see if they still use the piddly glass fuses, if so I think I'm going to swap the holders out for some that can hold proper HRC fuses.

edit: I saw that because the board I saw had a footprint for those larger fuses and holders by the way.

[miguelvp]

Just opened mine and you are right, glass fuses, might do the same mod too.

[XOIIO]

Just opened mine and you are right, glass fuses, might do the same mod too.

Yeah the only thing the other guy had trouble with during the teardown (mjlorton, just found him through that vid) was the optical sensors for the banana jacks, he couldn't get it out but I will probably try anyways.

Any idea what to search to find those fuse holders? I think I have some I could salvage but I'd rather just get some new ones.

The ones I have are from a big 220v power supply that I couldn't power since houses here only have 120, and it has the biggest fuses I've had my hands on, I mean damn, 1000 amps? I just wish I could have used that thing.

[lpc32]

Also, cable and probe handle construction should be certified to CAT III/CAT IV rating.

That's what I was expecting; perhaps cable insulation material that's more durable or something of the sort. But then, I guess if the base probe is already Cat III+ and the only last requirement is the tip cover, the above photo makes sense.