Cause of Fluke 17B continuity fault is the probes.  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: diracshore
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2012, 11:18:21 pm
content: Hello,Recently got a good deal on a fluke 87 3 but the probes were a mess. So I picked up the a TL71 set to replace them. I also have a Fluke 17B here and the continuity is awful on it as is well documented. But on changing the probes this problem disappeared. Just thought I would get that on the record because the 17B is seems to be a very nice bit of kit.

author: AndyC_772
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 01:19:41 pm
content: Not so long ago I made the mistake of buying a cheap set of probes from a local retailer. Despite being their top-of-the-range "professional" probes, they were a disaster. I actually don't know how to make a metal probe tip that makes such poor, intermittant connections.I took them back and ordered a set of Fluke TL71-1 - problem solved.

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 01:30:48 pm
content: There have been some postings on these forums that some poor-quality probes have some kind of lacquer-like coating on them. I think they could remove it chemically or by scraping (maybe steel/copper wool?).

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 01:59:30 pm
content: A tissue with IPA on it.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 03:13:24 pm
content: IPA cleans them up, i had a mastech looking probe that was only 4USD at the local store ...Had intermittent continuity ( Yes,yes doesn't compare to the UT-L21 )Used a cotton bud with some weird alcohol and that did the job (I don't know where to buy IPA in my land ... pharmacy stores maybe?)goes to show that UNI-T put in real effort into their probes man

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 03:50:22 pm
content: So the UT-L21 probes are good? I'm looking for some new probes. I have some meters that were supposed to be "industrial use" meters, though they are fully adequate as an electtronics meters...but they came with funky probes that aren't quite suited for electronics.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 04:26:04 pm
content: Quote from: FenderBender on August 18, 2012, 03:50:22 pmUT-L21 are the ones that come with the UT61xhttp://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/563640736-UNI-T-UT-L07-Double-Insulation-Banana-Plug-Tip-Test-Cable-Line-12332-wholesalers.htmlhttp://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/564562466-UNI-T-UT-L23-Accessories-100V-600V-10A-12376-wholesalers.htmlhttp://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/UNi-T-Muilt-Meter-test-lead-length-116cm-UT-L21-1160mm-12375/405418_564564339.htmlhttp://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/UNI-T-UT-L16-UNIVERSAL-LONG-PROBE-EXTENSION-CAT-III-1000V-10A-12373/405418_564569686.html

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 04:42:53 pm
content: I mean, are they good?

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 04:46:38 pm
content: Well they are good.Good enough.

author: WorldPowerLabs
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2012, 11:45:51 pm
content: Slightly off-topic, but I bought a Protek 608 DMM, and it came packaged with UNI-T probes. Weird -- as far as I know, there's no connection between the two companies. Protek is owned by GS Instruments in Korea, according to the manual.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 19, 2012, 07:15:30 am
content: Quote from: WorldPowerLabs on August 18, 2012, 11:45:51 pmAnything can happen, especially when korea is born from chinaBut ah well, you know, they decided not to make their own probes and third party from UNI-T