Help finding long j-hook grabber test lead for multimeter? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: guy232
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 02:20:42 am
content: tl:dr: Trying to find long 6-8" grabber lead j-hook style for plugging into multimeter banana [picture 2 below]. Only able to find bulkier ones with pincer hooks [pic 1]. Anyone happen to know a source for these? Doesn't have to be professional lab quality, just a home gamer who won't be using these much.Ever since I seen one on a youtube video I was interested in finding a place to buy these. I've used dozens of differently worded search strings but the best I could find were pincer hook style ones like this:I recently seen a video on a youtube channel called Frank-tech and asked him about them, he said they were old fluke leads and mentioned he couldn't find any ones for sale aside from shorter ones. This one looks approx ~8" (~200mm):Everything I found online are either discontinued or much shorter. I find that they are often named different things and wondering if i'm overlooking them so I thought i'd ask.Thanks for any help, if I find a source in the meantime I will update.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 03:00:00 am
content: Look here and follow your nose to similar products:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000065045712.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6c7515795EB4Oa&algo_pvid=09530881-0c65-4cfb-a7c9-1a063f1e3f68&algo_expid=09530881-0c65-4cfb-a7c9-1a063f1e3f68-23&btsid=25331d59-e558-4c45-b65a-7494ef22eade&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_53

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 03:27:44 am
content: I have a pair like the one in the video. They're about 5.5" long. There are no markings on them, but they might be from E-Z Hook. Mueller also makes something like that, but I can't figure out if the tip is a J-hook or a pincer-type. Digikey etc. has them both.They're in the range of 5 - 7 inches long.Ed

author: guy232
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 03:50:26 am
content: Thanks fellas,Looks like the EZ-Hook models XL1 RED & XL1 BLK at 5.1"(129mm) are the longest j-hook style, small diameter barrel in stock according to their catalog. I probably poorly estimated the length of the one shown in the vid. Will probably go with those.Cheers and thanks again, much appreciated

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 09:35:42 am
content: Not cheap but maybe what you're looking for:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32735932740.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.19.7830411aQwPoBHOther discoveries:Got a pair that I've had for years but beware the thumbscrews can strip on these:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000183608639.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6c7515793Nn31r&algo_pvid=a404c7ff-a24a-4be3-98f7-965fab4980a1&algo_expid=a404c7ff-a24a-4be3-98f7-965fab4980a1-59&btsid=0326642f-b294-434e-8384-d546b5c32df2&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_53Bit small but they might be handy:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32885437480.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6c7515793Nn31r&algo_pvid=60a1ff80-2b2b-4921-b660-6cadc3ca6874&algo_expid=60a1ff80-2b2b-4921-b660-6cadc3ca6874-5&btsid=b3eb93a0-4dd0-48f1-8fae-47ba632d7b79&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_53A selection of leads and probe types:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32844306237.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.6c7515793Nn31r&algo_pvid=60a1ff80-2b2b-4921-b660-6cadc3ca6874&algo_expid=60a1ff80-2b2b-4921-b660-6cadc3ca6874-1&btsid=b3eb93a0-4dd0-48f1-8fae-47ba632d7b79&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_53Insulation piercing:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32831657444.html?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000014.25.7f7739b2CJAJKj&gps-id=pcDetailBottomMoreOtherSeller&scm=1007.13338.128125.0&scm_id=1007.13338.128125.0&scm-url=1007.13338.128125.0&pvid=bd140453-8b48-4aa5-a05b-118e493e0cee

author: alm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 11:29:32 am
content: Pomona used to sell them under the name Maxigrabber. That's likely where the one in the video came from. Fluke used to sell a lot of Pomona leads, even before they were both part of Danaher. Models 4225 and 4565 for the loose grabber, and 4996 for an assembled lead. All seem to have been discontinued, however.

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 12:01:27 pm
content: EDIT: Please ignore that. They also have only short J-hooksUnless the KLEPS 2700 is working for you.Here some different types from SKS Hirschmann, from my experience they have some decent quality:https://www.sks-kontakt.de/en/test-measurement/products/clamp-type-test-probe

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 05:13:45 pm
content: Tautech, your second link shows the ones I've got. It's an exact match - right down to the knurling at the top of the shaft. I never use the thumbscrew. The hole that the wire goes in is a perfect fit for a banana plug so I use it like that. I have both red and black clips.Ed

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 08:04:09 pm
content: Quote from: edpalmer42 on October 03, 2019, 05:13:45 pmYes they've been OK here too despite the small melts from too much current through a poor connection.Still these look nice and I might put a pair in my Aliexpress basket:https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32735932740.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.19.7830411aQwPoBH

author: 2N3055
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 08:11:47 pm
content: Quote from: edpalmer42 on October 03, 2019, 03:27:44 amYou are right they are EZ hook Macro hook:https://catalog.e-z-hook.com/viewitems/test-hooks/e-z-macro-hook-test-leads

author: guy232
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2019, 11:38:52 pm
content: Wow, thanks everyone for all the great info and links. Looks like I need to get better at searching aliexpress toon didn't find many of those tautech linked. Definitely squared away now with all these options!I had purchased the ones with pincer hooks (like the first pic I posted) they work pretty good after snipping a bit off each pincer to make them a bit more agile in tight spots. I didn't know a j hook model existed, will probably pick them up.The pincer ones that I bought can be found cheap on ebay at this linkPincer Hook Grabbers on ebayfor a bit cheaper than allie, usually stocked by various sellers

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2019, 12:15:38 am
content: Quote from: guy232 on October 03, 2019, 11:38:52 pmThe trick is to use keywords from sellers descriptions in order to find more sources.Perseverance normally gets results.