Properly & Safely Made Alligator\Crocodile Clip Jumper Leads - Who Makes Them? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: KJ-90
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 02:48:46 pm
content: I was wondering if anyone knows a brand of properly and safely made alligator ( in the UK and Europe they are called crocodile ) jumper clip leads. A number of brands that I have seen ( including a well known name that is withheld out of ethics ) don't have the wires properly connected to the clips, under the clip sleeve. In the poor quality and very unsafe designs, the wire end is merely stripped of insulation, and a single crimp on the clip serves to hold the cable insulation and stripped wire against the clip metal. This is really dangerous in circuits using high voltages, because the wire can easily pull out. Also, the connection is VERY unreliable. The dangerous design I've just mentioned appears to be used by the well-known no-name Hong Kong and Chinese eBay brands as well, which I won't even go near.In the United States, Radio Shack with its Archer brand used to make in the past an excellent safe design.These leads were made in Korea or Taiwan. Firstly, one crimp on the clip held the wire insulation down. Then another crimp was for the copper conductor itself. It was made for many, many years. The current Radio Shack brand is one step down, because only one crimp exists for the wire insulation. The conductor itself is soldered to the clip instead. However, this is still quite well made, and I thank them for that.Although their leads are now made in China, someone is making them quite well.The problem is, Radio Shack is now only a US operation. In the past, they were also located in Canada, but were purchased by Circuit City, and rebranded "The Source" before Circuit City went bankrupt. Circuit City quickly converted the Source stores to consumer electronics, and much of the US RadioShack items vanished. After Circuit City failed, Bell Canada purchased the Source stores. But, they are now almost all a consumer electronics store, and all of the American Radio Shack items are no longer available.Often, you can find vintage Archer test leads in a sealed package on eBay. While the shipping is steep, the cost is worthwhile for a good product. Does anyone out there know of a good quality brand of jumper leads with proper wire terminations?Update: I forgot to mention the jumper leads in question have small alligator\crocodile clips, about 1" long, and have wire gauges less than 20, such as AWG 24-26 ( about ). They normally come in the following colors: red, black, green, yellow, and white. They're designed either for signal voltages\currents, or for power leads, currents of 2A or less, and voltages less than 300V.

author: prasimix
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 03:02:01 pm
content: Just received yesterday for testing a pair of Hirschmann T&M crocodiles. They offer it in various colors this one isblack, rated for 60V, 6A fully isolated pluggable on 4 mm banana. Looks and feel pretty solid. You can order it from TME directly (I know that they are shipping to North America). More selectionhere.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 08:28:27 pm
content: In careful usage (based on biological prototypes), an "alligator clip" has left and right edges of top and bottom coincide, while a "crocodile clip" has the edges of the top half go inside the bottom half when the clip is closed. In the US, Mueller makes both types. This link shows a crocodile clip:http://www.neobits.com/mueller_bu_85c_crocodile_clip_copper_mueller_p6218770.html?atc=gbs&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&scid=scplp6218770&sc_intid=6218770&gclid=CKTPz4uMhNMCFQqIaQodYfADlw

author: slurry
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 08:46:34 pm
content: My favourite manufacturer with a good variety of high quality testleads are Pomona, the leads will set you back a fair amount of money but treaten right they will last you a lifetime.Pomona 6356-12 and/or 6356-36 are the ones you are looking for

author: timb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 08:53:30 pm
content: Cal Test also makes *very* high quality leads, but you'll pay for them! (They OEM scope probes for Tektronix, etc.)

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 08:59:11 pm
content: +1 for Pomona. I like to buy the individual parts from them and their silicone rubber test lead wire and make my own custom lengths. It costs a bit more, but you are ensured quality.

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 09:06:49 pm
content: Mueller makes a broad line as well and based on the rest of what they make should be of excellent quality. Have not used them personally though. Additionally we once bought a brand I did not recognize from Mouser that came from Japan and I remember how much i liked them, but could not remember the brand name.http://muellerelectric.com/product-category/alligator-clips-insulators/

author: calexanian
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2017, 09:10:58 pm
content: And a little further searching reveals that Muller actually invented the Alligator Clip as we know it.http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/08/alligator_clip_was_invented_by.html

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2017, 12:50:04 am
content: Quote from: TimFox on April 01, 2017, 08:28:27 pmOh man, you should see thekerfuffle about this on wikipedia, which (IMHO incorrectly) has the article titled "crocodile clip", with the text being a failed attempt at describing what the different kinds are.