Small Kelvin clips that actually grab?

[precaud]

All of the small (2" or less in length) Kelvin clips I have tried are practically useless, their contact surfaces don't have serrations deep enough to hold onto anything. Most larger clips are pretty good in this respect. But the small ones for some reason are all very smooth.

I've tried generics from China (see pic below), and domestic-branded ones. No difference. Except price...

Does anyone know of a small Kelvin clip that actually has usable teeth?

[precaud]

Bump...

[Stray Electron]

  I bought these and I'm happy with them https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071SL6PQS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 They're not Kelvin clips but they can be used in a Kelvin arrangement. Just clip the two leads from the voltage sense circuit as close to the body of the DUT as possible and connect the two leads from the current source out beyond those two.

[precaud]

Thanks, but that wouldn't work for me. I need a Kelvin clip arrangement with small contact area, not separate leads.

[tautech]

Dremel mods time ?

[Martin72]

Hi,

You could use these ones:

https://www.distrelec.de/Web/Downloads/_t/ds/BU-30C_eng_tds.pdf

And solder/crimp two leads at the same point of the clip.

[precaud]

Dremel mods time ?

Yeah, I've considered that and similar, but didn't want to bugger the plating.

You could use these ones:

https://www.distrelec.de/Web/Downloads/_t/ds/BU-30C_eng_tds.pdf

And solder/crimp two leads at the same point of the clip.

Not a true Kelvin, but a fallback...

[Martin72]

Not a true Kelvin

Here they did the same I suggested and call it kelvin clamps:

https://www.sourcetronic.com/shop/de/kelvin-test-clips-st26027a.html

You get the "best" results, when you´re measuring the voltage as near as possible to the point you feed in the current.

[Electro Fan]

I tried a few inexpensive Kelvin clips - these grab ok and seem to measure reliably:

https://www.tequipment.net/BK/TLDK1/Kelvin-Test-Leads/?Source=googleshopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIubrx_Y326wIVDb7ACh3bAQs_EAQYAyABEgLdZ_D_BwE

Others might grab ok but didn’t seem to measure as reliably:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/4-wire-2-wire-resistance-tests-various-cheap-kelvin-clips-various-meters/msg3227316/#msg3227316

Experience with BK Precision Kelvin Clips:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/4-wire-2-wire-resistance-tests-various-cheap-kelvin-clips-various-meters/msg3240888/#msg3240888

[precaud]

Those are the large clips, of which I have several. I want the small ones for this.

[Electro Fan]

Those are the large clips, of which I have several. I want the small ones for this.

Oh, that's what 2" or less means in length means 
I should have read your post more closely

None of the ones I tried were close to 2"; all were about 3.5" in length.  Only other idea is to try 4 small (~2") Pomona or Pomona-like (E-Z Hook) mini grabbers - just not sure how much "grab" you need.

These E-Z Hook grabbers are the shortest (~2.25") single mini-grabber types I've seen that have some sorta/kinda semi-decent (but not real great) "grab", and the molded housings on the stackable banana plugs are better than the screw on plastic cover version.  They come in various lead lengths.

If you find small, good grabbing, reliable measuring Kelvin clips let us know.

[precaud]

I definitely will post if I find something. I don't wanna mess with individual grabbers. Sometimes there woudn't be enuf room for them anyway. The 2" clips I have would be fine if they didn't slip off so easily.

[precaud]

Here they did the same I suggested and call it kelvin clamps:

https://www.sourcetronic.com/shop/de/kelvin-test-clips-st26027a.html

Those look real enough. The sense terminals are probably on the other side of the insertions. GenRad and Wayne Kerr made clip sets that attached like that.

[tautech]

Dremel mods time ?

Yeah, I've considered that and similar, but didn't want to bugger the plating.

File a little of the metal off where it doesn't matter to check what's under the plating.

[Martin72]

Well.....I´ve totally forgot that I´ve already got small clips with good grip...

They came with my Ascel milliohm meter and got a nice building quality.
Grip is good, a small resistor with 0.8mm diameter leads they can handle it with no problems.

[Electro Fan]

Ascel are just about 4”, OP is looking for 2” or less.  Kind of hard to find such mini Kelvins so far....

[precaud]

File a little of the metal off where it doesn't matter to check what's under the plating.

I bought them a couple years ago from China via eBay. IIRC, they were advertised as "solid brass" with gold plating. But since a magnet picks them up, it's obvious what they really are...

These ones are new since I last looked:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283109177832

They are described as "pure copper", gold-plated. The teeth actually look like they could bite. So I ordered a couple sets. If they're steel, he can eat them.

[Electro Fan]

File a little of the metal off where it doesn't matter to check what's under the plating.

I bought them a couple years ago from China via eBay. IIRC, they were advertised as "solid brass" with gold plating. But since a magnet picks them up, it's obvious what they really are...

These ones are new since I last looked:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283109177832

They are described as "pure copper", gold-plated. The teeth actually look like they could bite. So I ordered a couple sets. If they're steel, he can eat them.

Hard to beat that price with free shipping.

[precaud]

Hard to beat that price with free shipping.

I think they both may be an error.  But then, this seller looks like he sells closeouts/overstocks, or just about anything he can get his hands on

[tautech]

File a little of the metal off where it doesn't matter to check what's under the plating.

I bought them a couple years ago from China via eBay. IIRC, they were advertised as "solid brass" with gold plating. But since a magnet picks them up, it's obvious what they really are...

These ones are new since I last looked:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283109177832

They are described as "pure copper", gold-plated. The teeth actually look like they could bite. So I ordered a couple sets. If they're steel, he can eat them.

Don't be too judgemental until you pull one completely apart.
The spring of course should be steel as too the pivot and any fastenings.
You'll need a small mechanics pickup magnet to find which bits are and which bits aren't.

Then just to throw another apanner in any conclusions, some stainless is magnetic too.

[Electro Fan]

All of the small (2" or less in length) Kelvin clips I have tried are practically useless, their contact surfaces don't have serrations deep enough to hold onto anything. Most larger clips are pretty good in this respect. But the small ones for some reason are all very smooth.

I've tried generics from China (see pic below), and domestic-branded ones. No difference. Except price...

Does anyone know of a small Kelvin clip that actually has usable teeth?

Why all the wires with these clips?  What is the wiring strategy?

[precaud]

You'll need a small mechanics pickup magnet to find which bits are and which bits aren't.

That's what I used. My hamhandedness requires that I keep it handy...

Why all the wires with these clips?  What is the wiring strategy?

That particular set was for an HP 4328A. Using multiple wires to lower the inductance allowed me to use a longer lead length than they specified. I have a similar setup that I use for HP 4800A. But it's not a 4-wire setup.

[Electro Fan]

You'll need a small mechanics pickup magnet to find which bits are and which bits aren't.

That's what I used. My hamhandedness requires that I keep it handy...

Why all the wires with these clips?  What is the wiring strategy?

That particular set was for an HP 4328A. Using multiple wires to lower the inductance allowed me to use a longer lead length than they specified. I have a similar setup that I use for HP 4800A. But it's not a 4-wire setup.

http://www.testequipmenthq.com/datasheets/Keysight-4328A-Datasheet.pdf
cool!

[precaud]

http://www.testequipmenthq.com/datasheets/Keysight-4328A-Datasheet.pdf
cool!

Yes, I like it. Fixed 1kHz, so not useful for capacitor ESR, though...

[Electro Fan]

http://www.testequipmenthq.com/datasheets/Keysight-4328A-Datasheet.pdf
cool!

Yes, I like it. Fixed 1kHz, so not useful for capacitor ESR, though...

Not as cool as the 4328A but for that there is this...
https://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/esr70-capacitor-esr-meter.html