Siglent SP5050A Probe Durability

[ComradeXavier]

What do people think about the durability of the SP5050A probe?

I bought one of the beige SDS2104X HD scopes when they were discounted a couple years ago. My channel 1 probe broke recently at the point where the flying ground lead clips on.



This is my most-used probe, but I only use the scope occasionally and I'm pretty gentle on equipment. I'm not using the probe as a prying tool. The most force this ever sees is what it takes to clip or unclip the ground lead.

Since this is well outside the 1 year accessories warranty, I'm looking at buying a replacement. Siglent NA sells the SP5050A for $125. That seems expensive if I'm expecting them to last only a year or two of light use.

I don't need 500 MHz probes for my 100 MHz scope. For similar money, I could get a 250 MHz probe from Probemaster. I have (and trust the durability of) their multimeter probes. Of course, then I wouldn't have a matched set of probes, which would bother me a little, if only for aesthetic reasons.

[KungFuJosh]

I used to have that scope. I used the ProbeMaster 4905-1RA probes with it. You can buy a couple of them for the price of the Siglent probe. If you need a matching set, then buy 4.

I still use the same ProbeMaster 4905-1RA probes that I bought in January 2021.

[kk99]

I think the quality of the Siglent SPA5050A is quite decent, especially when compared to the Siglent PB470. However, in the future, it will probably be worth switching to something from Probemaster or Testec.

[ComradeXavier]

I used to have that scope. I used the ProbeMaster 4905-1RA probes with it. You can buy a couple of them for the price of the Siglent probe. If you need a matching set, then buy 4.

I still use the same ProbeMaster 4905-1RA probes that I bought in January 2021.

Good to know the 4905-1RA is compatible and long-lasting in your experience. That's the model I was comparison shopping.

I think the quality of the Siglent SPA5050A is quite decent, especially when compared to the Siglent PB470. However, in the future, it will probably be worth switching to something from Probemaster or Testec.

I had no complaints about the SP5050A until it broke in half. It's not really a big deal unless it's a common failure.

[KungFuJosh]

Probes are considered "wear and tear" items and they're not expected to last forever. I've primarily abused the same 4905-1RA probe for the past 5 years through 4 scopes.

Some very nice 500MHz TesTec probes came with my Magnova scope, but they live in a case and I haven't felt the need to use them yet.

[tautech]

Some of Siglents higher end passive probes come shipped with a spare probe tip and they just screw in and when removed the probe layers can be dismantled but the SP5000A apparently can't and are not shipped with a spare tip.
https://www.siglenteu.com/download/13262/

I had a look at a 5k probe here and it seems the tip can't be unscrewed on these and being NIB didn't wanna bust it. 

I've never seen a broken probe from normal use so I can only assume something has been dropped on it....do you have cats that might have knocked something heavy on it for the probe to break ?

[ComradeXavier]

I had a look at a 5k probe here and it seems the tip can't be unscrewed on these and being NIB didn't wanna bust it. 

Don't break anything new on my account. I've already got one that's no loss to pull apart if I want to see what's inside.

I've never seen a broken probe from normal use so I can only assume something has been dropped on it....do you have cats that might have knocked something heavy on it for the probe to break ?

No cats. If anything violent happened to this probe, I did it myself and then forgot about it.

[KungFuJosh]

Must have been a stray. 🤔

[ComradeXavier]

I'd probably keep two cats except my brother's wife is allergic and I want her to be comfortable when they visit.

So, I pulled the tip out of the broken probe. It's definitely press fit, not screwed in. I don't think you'd be able to grip this tip hard enough to pull it without mangling it in the process. However, it's not soldered in, so maybe?

I think the break surface looks like brittle failure, based on what I've seen secondhand. (I'm not a metal fracture testing expert, but I've worked with some.)

The only part that surprised me is how uneven the thickness of the tube wall is. Maybe that's normal for how these are made; I have no idea. I'm not going to break another one in half to find out.

Seems like these are generally fine and either I got a weak one or damaged it at some point and didn't notice.

[BillyO]

Unusual failure mode.  In 50 years I have not seen a probe fail there.

Maybe some sort of abrasive got in there?

[tautech]

I'd probably keep two cats except my brother's wife is allergic and I want her to be comfortable when they visit.

So, I pulled the tip out of the broken probe. It's definitely press fit, not screwed in. I don't think you'd be able to grip this tip hard enough to pull it without mangling it in the process. However, it's not soldered in, so maybe?

I think the break surface looks like brittle failure, based on what I've seen secondhand. (I'm not a metal fracture testing expert, but I've worked with some.)

The only part that surprised me is how uneven the thickness of the tube wall is. Maybe that's normal for how these are made; I have no idea. I'm not going to break another one in half to find out.

Seems like these are generally fine and either I got a weak one or damaged it at some point and didn't notice.

Thanks much for the pics. 

Each shows important info, 1 of quality control/poor manufacture by Siglents probe supplier and a slightly bent pin signifying the probe broke from a bending force it was unable to withstand due to uneven tube wall thickness where it would have withstood that force if it was in the opposite direction.
Will forward to Siglent.