New test leads for an old standard.

[7ransist0r]

Way back in the stone ages, my dad had a pretty good job as an Electronic Engineer at good ol' Hewlett Packard. Now, with working alongside monks and worrying about the black plague, one thing that HP evidently did back in those days was keep your own test equipment, and as a result, my Pa has given me hand-me-downs from his work now that I'm going into the same profession.

Here's my problem, he gave me an old modular style 34702A multimeter, which is awesome, but we have no clue where the probes went. Usually, that isn't a problem, just order new cheapie leads off of Amazon, right? Well, being such an old piece of equipment, it uses the banana plug style of probes without the plastic safety shrouding...

And I can't seem to find any that don't have the plastic shroud around the banana plug while not looking extremely dodgy, any suggestions?
Also if you have anything to share about the old HP 34702A equipment then please do!

Thanks!
-7ransist0r

[tautech]

Welcome to the forum.

Retractable shrouded banana plugs are the solution.

[7ransist0r]

Any tips on where I can find those? I can only see one set on Amazon and they're horribly expensive.

Thanks!

[tautech]

Any tips on where I can find those? I can only see one set on Amazon and they're horribly expensive.

Thanks!

If you have good gear don't skimp on quality probes. Good gear costs money, period !
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/pomona-electronics/6366/501-2281-ND/737690

Or you can get the same from Pomona themselves, plenty of other members would recommend their gear too.
http://www.pomonaelectronics.com/index.php?i=prodmain&getDetails=2&parent=TESTKIT

[Candid]

I would go for http://probemaster.com. There you will find all kinds of probes with different plugs. And they are of very good quality and not expensive.

[CustomEngineerer]

I second probemaster.com . The retractable shrouded plugs are great, they can be used in meters that expect either shrouded or non-shrouded plugs.

[tooki]

Third vote for probe master with retractable sheaths.

Of course, you can also buy retractable sheath banana plugs and mount them to any probe wires you want. They also make adapters to put sheathed plugs into non-sheathed sockets, both temporary and permanent adapters.

[GreyWoolfe]

Third vote for probe master with retractable sheaths.

Of course, you can also buy retractable sheath banana plugs and mount them to any probe wires you want. They also make adapters to put sheathed plugs into non-sheathed sockets, both temporary and permanent adapters.

I have a set of the adapters that Frankie sells.  The fit is very good at both ends but boy, do they stick out from the meter.  I was thinking of trying the Probemaster 8000 series with unshielded banana plugs but now, Tooki has me looking at options-- Pomona 122505A/122506A retractable plugs to put on a couple of my Brymen leads so I don't have to have separate leads for my HP 3466A meters.  The price works out about the same either way.

[tooki]

If it’s the same price then I suggest trying the Probe Master - they’re just great test leads! Get them with retractable sheaths, no need to go for unsheathed.

[GreyWoolfe]

If it’s the same price then I suggest trying the Probe Master - they’re just great test leads! Get them with retractable sheaths, no need to go for unsheathed.

The pricing is based on the 8000 series and they don't use retractable sheaths, I would go for the standard unsheathed plugs.  The 9101 starter set is $20.50 USD and can be chosen with retractable plugs.  Then again, there are the the electronic test lead sets with more stuff for more money that might be money well spent.  Time to ponder and ruminate.

[Terry01]

I've seen the Probe Master leads mentioned quite a few times now but can't find a source for them in the UK...anyone know where I can get a set? Everyone seems to be delighted with them, no bad reports at all!

[jasonbrent]

Any tips on where I can find those? I can only see one set on Amazon and they're horribly expensive.

Thanks!

If you have good gear don't skimp on quality probes. Good gear costs money, period !
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/pomona-electronics/6366/501-2281-ND/737690

Or you can get the same from Pomona themselves, plenty of other members would recommend their gear too.
http://www.pomonaelectronics.com/index.php?i=prodmain&getDetails=2&parent=TESTKIT

This advice is going to, at some point, cost me $1-2k or more... my GAS has so far added a Keithley 238, 2015, 2231A(meh), Valhalla 2701C, + misc. scope/awg. ... Triax is darned expensive. Good quality cabling for all of this is non-trivial.

[nanofrog]

If it’s the same price then I suggest trying the Probe Master - they’re just great test leads! Get them with retractable sheaths, no need to go for unsheathed.

The pricing is based on the 8000 series and they don't use retractable sheaths, I would go for the standard unsheathed plugs.  The 9101 starter set is $20.50 USD and can be chosen with retractable plugs.  Then again, there are the the electronic test lead sets with more stuff for more money that might be money well spent.  Time to ponder and ruminate.

Scroll down, and it gives you the correct P/N for the banana connector you want. In the case of an 8000 series set of leads only, the correct P/N would be 8018S. Great for field work as they're very comfortable to use for long periods.

Personally I would recommend going with a 9000 series set for bench use however, as you don't have the entire probe mass hanging off of your test point (bad habit of slipping off IME). For the Electronic Deluxe Test Lead Kit, they offer 2 versions, and it's the 9104S you want (most cost effective set). Smaller sets too of course, and add to it as you need to.

One addition I would recommend is the Spring Loaded Micro-Tip Test Lead Kit (8151 = retractable banana). You'll save money on shipping, and they're of better quality than the Fluke or Pomona offerings (no wire strain relief  ).

To gauge what the flexibility of the wire is like, it's the same as a freshly cooked spaghetti noodle (right out of the water). 

I've seen the Probe Master leads mentioned quite a few times now but can't find a source for them in the UK...anyone know where I can get a set? Everyone seems to be delighted with them, no bad reports at all!

Send Simon a PM; he sells some probemaster leads (he has an online shop, but it's currently down).

If he doesn't have what you need, Probemaster does ship internationally (used to be expensive, but I recall reading that they've fixed this).

[GreyWoolfe]

If it’s the same price then I suggest trying the Probe Master - they’re just great test leads! Get them with retractable sheaths, no need to go for unsheathed.

The pricing is based on the 8000 series and they don't use retractable sheaths, I would go for the standard unsheathed plugs.  The 9101 starter set is $20.50 USD and can be chosen with retractable plugs.  Then again, there are the the electronic test lead sets with more stuff for more money that might be money well spent.  Time to ponder and ruminate.

Scroll down, and it gives you the correct P/N for the banana connector you want. In the case of an 8000 series set of leads only, the correct P/N would be 8018S. Great for field work as they're very comfortable to use for long periods.

Personally I would recommend going with a 9000 series set for bench use however, as you don't have the entire probe mass hanging off of your test point (bad habit of slipping off IME). For the Electronic Deluxe Test Lead Kit, they offer 2 versions, and it's the 9104S you want (most cost effective set). Smaller sets too of course, and add to it as you need to.

One addition I would recommend is the Spring Loaded Micro-Tip Test Lead Kit (8151 = retractable banana). You'll save money on shipping, and they're of better quality than the Fluke or Pomona offerings (no wire strain relief  ).

To gauge what the flexibility of the wire is like, it's the same as a freshly cooked spaghetti noodle (right out of the water). 

I missed the 8018S.  I think I will try a set before I commit to going for the deluxe set.  I want to see how they feel in hand.  I don't want to spend that much money if they aren't comfortable for me.  $17 is one thing, $80 is something else.  I just need a basic set of probes to fit the HP3466A on the company side of the bench.  I don't need any attachments, just basic probes for my use there.

[tooki]

If it’s the same price then I suggest trying the Probe Master - they’re just great test leads! Get them with retractable sheaths, no need to go for unsheathed.

The pricing is based on the 8000 series and they don't use retractable sheaths, I would go for the standard unsheathed plugs.

Look at the website a bit closer. You can get them with around 8 different banana plugs. I assure you I'm not inventing this in my head, because I own these.

[nanofrog]

I missed the 8018S.  I think I will try a set before I commit to going for the deluxe set.  I want to see how they feel in hand.  I don't want to spend that much money if they aren't comfortable for me.  $17 is one thing, $80 is something else.  I just need a basic set of probes to fit the HP3466A on the company side of the bench.  I don't need any attachments, just basic probes for my use there.

On that logic, you'd need to get leads only in both series' in order to try out fairly.

That said, I've used Fluke, Pomona, Probemaster, Brymen, and too many cheapies I don't care to remember. And I'd take EITHER of the Probemasters ANY day of the week over the lot. They're that good IME in both comfort and performance.

The 8000 series probe bodies will feel a bit short initially, but it doesn't take long to get used to them. The reason IME is the thick portion behind the finger guard of the softie body has a hard plastic tube inside it. But as it tapers back down (say last 1/3rd or so), the hard plastic stops and the remaining gray rubber serves as the strain relief.

The 9000 series are hard plastic with large diameter finger guards, and the handle gets longer once the straight retractable banana is plugged in (makes a very nice and stable probe). Feels like a more robust version of a typical decent probe.

For me, the biggest difference is in terms of fit-for-purpose. For example, the 8000 series' Test Lead Master Kit would be ideal for HVAC repair IMHO (vibrating equipment tested live = threaded accessories make a lot more sense from a safety POV & multiple length options on the order page).

Where as the 9000 series stuff seems primarily for bench use (faster accessory changes, fixed standard length). Need an accessory instead of the probe? Just unplug it and attach the appropriate end you need. Quick and easy. No heavy weight hanging off your test point to pop off on you in the middle of a measurement either (royal PITA when this happens IME).

You might also note that the 9000 series kits only offer rt. angle or straight retractable banana's on the meter end as those are all that's needed for bench gear. They offer others as custom leads only.

Look at the website a bit closer. You can get them with around 8 different banana plugs. I assure you I'm not inventing this in my head, because I own these.

Exactly. 

It's only the 9000 series kits that only offer rt. angle & straight retractable banana's as standard options (even the rt. angle use retractable ends for the opposite ends of each test lead, as that's what what will mate with their accessories).

If for some reason you need a an end on a 9000 lead that's not available, they will make them custom for you (no MOQ either).

[neo]

Way back in the stone ages, my dad had a pretty good job as an Electronic Engineer at good ol' Hewlett Packard. Now, with working alongside monks and worrying about the black plague, one thing that HP evidently did back in those days was keep your own test equipment, and as a result, my Pa has given me hand-me-downs from his work now that I'm going into the same profession.

Here's my problem, he gave me an old modular style 34702A multimeter, which is awesome, but we have no clue where the probes went. Usually, that isn't a problem, just order new cheapie leads off of Amazon, right? Well, being such an old piece of equipment, it uses the banana plug style of probes without the plastic safety shrouding...

And I can't seem to find any that don't have the plastic shroud around the banana plug while not looking extremely dodgy, any suggestions?
Also if you have anything to share about the old HP 34702A equipment then please do!

Thanks!
-7ransist0r

My personal favorite,

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=dual+banana+to+bnc&_blrs=spell_check

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=bnc+test+leads&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=bnc+test+hook&_sacat=0

Not perfect, but it is cheap and very very useful and works very very well. At least for me.