Looking for stackable banana plug test leads (silicone wire preferred) - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: aiq25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2021, 09:23:48 pm
content: I'm starting to build my new home lab and am looking for stackable banana plug test leads (silicone wires preferred). Any recommendations would be nice. I'm looking for good quality connectors, silicone wire is preferred. I can build my own cables from connectors as well.So far I found these (Frank's eBay store), which seem to be of reasonable quality at a good price:https://www.ebay.com/itm/4mm-Stackable-Banana-Plugs-1-Pair-Red-Black/171062979200?hash=item27d425ea80:g:F0gAAMXQkN5RDelZhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/4mm-32A-Rated-Stackable-Unshrouded-Banana-Plugs-1-Pair-Red-Black/172588238483?hash=item282f0f8693:g:Jf4AAOSw4A5Y0iVHhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/Silicone-Leads-14AWG-with-Stackable-Banana-Plugs-on-Both-Ends-1-Pair/172002582714?hash=item280c2720ba:g:GOoAAOSwLzdWTCArhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/18AWG-50cm-Silicone-Test-Leads-w-28mm-Copper-Crocodile-Clips-1-Pair-Red-Black/201043948015?hash=item2ecf2731ef:g:yrgAAOxyJX1TD0~K(I know not what the intent of this post is but I wanted to check since I need some, I made some custom ones but the wires are not silicone thus not very flexible)I never purchased from Franky but I see good reviews of his products. Does anyone have experience with the above items?

author: S. Petrukhin
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2021, 09:48:08 pm
content: Crocodiles are a complete mess - they slide in the hands, tight, they can not be clung to.I bought on Aliexpress good silicone wires, on LCSC various plugs, probes, crocodiles and made myself.

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 18, 2021, 09:48:28 pm
content: Most of my stackable banana plugs come from Pomona, excellent quality but not cheap.

author: Matt Coates
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2021, 12:10:32 am
content: RS 3469294 and 3469317 are great. Silicon and stackable.

author: aiq25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2021, 12:19:45 am
content: Quote from: S. Petrukhin on January 18, 2021, 09:48:08 pmIf possible can you share the LCSC part numbers you used? In particular which brands you would recommend, I know they have a variety of options. I just placed an order with them yesterday but forgot I could've purchased it from them.

author: aiq25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2021, 12:21:25 am
content: Quote from: bob91343 on January 18, 2021, 09:48:28 pmWe use Pomona at work. For the most part I really like their plugs but the cables we have are not very flexible. Not sure if they make silicone wired ones though. But yeah like you said they are expensive. Realistically I know I will have to spend some money to get decent quality ones, so looking for the best bang for the buck I guess.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2021, 12:23:04 am
content: Hirschmann. Affordable and good. Like this one:https://www.newark.com/hirschmann-testmeasurement/934091100/test-lead-4mm-banana-plug-to-4mm/dp/97K5152With some shopping around you can get these much cheaper.

author: aiq25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2021, 12:23:47 am
content: Quote from: Matt Coates on January 19, 2021, 12:10:32 amIt's strange, I see them in the UK RS website but not the American website. They look great and I would prefer something like this.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2021, 10:34:42 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on January 19, 2021, 12:23:04 amI agree.If you're planning a large enough order to make the shipping (~$25) worthwhile, reichelt.com (in Germany) has excellent prices on Hirschmann. Absolutely top quality for barely more than Franky's price. (E.g. 1m silicone banana cables about $6.50 each, vs. $10/pair plus $4 shipping for Franky's.) Excluding shipping, Reichelt is less than half the price of Newark: the cable linked there is just$4.60 at Reichelt.

author: myf
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2021, 02:10:20 pm
content: Hello,First banana plugs you post on ebay must be soldered and aren't easy to clip on.With low tensions I prefer these ones : they are screwed and have no clip-on cap.https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001072043961.htmlI use its with awg14 and awd16 silicon wire.Compare carefully with these bad ones :http://www.aliexpress.com/item/32873402290.htmlContacts aren't the same. In this second case they are too low.

author: aiq25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2021, 01:14:16 pm
content: Quote from: myf on January 19, 2021, 02:10:20 pmThanks. Do these ones work well over time?https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001072043961.htmlI can make my own and it seems like this might be the best solution. I really like the other connectors others have posted but unfortunately it will cost a lot in shipping and not really feasible for me. I looked on Digi-Key and found some similar connectors, might order from Digi-Key as they should be better quality (I hope).

author: myf
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2021, 06:00:58 pm
content: Hello,The item you show seems perfect (with shipping fee). They convince me, but you must test one set for your own use.Last time I bough this lot of 5x20 colors for about usd40 (without any shipping fee) :http://www.aliexpress.com/item/32842989554.htmlPrice is about usd0.4 per banana plug. Red and black ones are a little less expensive. More lower prices may be crappy : you must search the error on the photos...An other time I bough theses same banana plugs from ebay :about 40% little screws was missing, and ebay delays for complains finished during too numerous exchanges with seller !Screws are M3x4mm at about usd5 for 25 screws, a set may be useful to replace missing or lost one.awg14 and awg16 silicon wire are at about usd15 each 10 meters. I bought theses wire in Europa because Chinese awg isn't always real awg :awg number is often about 2 or 4 unit lower... and one black 50 meters roll seems to be 30 meters. A precise scale help to test !Hope this help you (in my poor english).

author: Xav101
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 20, 2021, 08:03:24 pm
content: QuoteI've been looking for banana plugs recently and came across them on a few different distributors. Also came across "Cal Test Electronics" on digikey/mouser/etc. Does anyone have any opinion on them vs Pomona plugs? They seem to be mentioned on the forums some for probes.

author: aiq25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2021, 08:34:17 pm
content: QuoteWe use that at work a lot but I am not a big fan of them. They are noted as "stackable" but when you insert the second one, it doesn't go all the way in due to the set screw. Also I don't like the wiring come out at a 90 degree angle.These are the ones I'm referring to in case anyone is interested:https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/pomona-electronics/1825-2/603384?utm_adgroup=Banana%20and%20Tip%20Connectors%20-%20Jacks%2C%20Plugs&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_Product_Connectors%2C%20Interconnects&utm_term=&utm_content=Banana%20and%20Tip%20Connectors%20-%20Jacks%2C%20Plugs&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuZfBwa2r7gIVi8DACh0jNABqEAQYBSABEgJxl_D_BwEQuote from: Xav101 on January 20, 2021, 08:03:24 pmI'm also very curious about this because I found Cal Test at Digi-Key but didn't see much reviews about them.I also found some different ones at Newark. These ones in particular seem to be on sale (they are not what I'm looking for but for now it could work):https://www.newark.com/deltron-components/555-0500/banana-plug-16a-screw-red/dp/45M6882I would like to try these ones but I'm a big fan of soldered connections though because, at least for couple of the cables, I will be running maximum around 30A and I feel like soldered will be the best option, not entirely sure though.https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cal-test-electronics/CT2013-2/5398776Similar one at Newark from "Multicomp", never heard of them:https://www.newark.com/multicomp/25-403-1/banana-plug-stackable-screw-red/dp/80P3585?st=stackable%204mm%20bananaIf anyone has more information on these, please let us know. Would really appreciate some feedback.

author: notsob
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2021, 02:52:48 am
content: If you can, then go for "safety measuring leads" these are double insulated, flexible 1000V, Cat II. Something likehttps://au.element14.com/hirschmann-testmeasurement/934088103/test-lead-yellow-1m-1kv-32a/dp/1854671?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlK3C1YGs7gIVIilyCh1cRwOoEAQYBSABEgI9G_D_BwE&mckv=s_dc|pcrid|432287894103|pkw||pmt||slid||product|1854671|pgrid|102205443324|ptaid|pla-899351910226|&CMP=KNC-GAU-GEN-SHOPPING-TEST-AND-MEASUREMENTSorhttps://www.elpro.org/gb/982-safety-measuring-leads-4mm-cat-ii

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2021, 08:50:06 am
content: A lot (most?) of Cal-Test’s products seem to be rebadged Electro-PJP. Haven’t used much of it but seems ok.Multicomp is Newark’s (Farnell) house brand.

author: fbpicsous
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 21, 2021, 04:26:52 pm
content: Hello,At work, we use Staubli (Multi Contact) isolated plugs.Buyed at Farnell store or direct with Staubli salesman.Their silicone wire (Silivolt-E) is ultra flexible (For example, 1.5mm² is made with 392*0.07mm wire)For private customers, in Europe, TME works fast and well... (I think the shipping fee is lower than Mouser)I don't know if it is the same for USA.Plugs :https://www.tme.eu/be/fr/details/sls425-se_q_n-21/prises-bananes-4mm/staubli/22-2657-21/Silivolt-ehttps://www.tme.com/us/en-us/details/61.7555-22/test-leads/staubli/

author: aiq25
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2021, 08:15:58 pm
content: Quote from: fbpicsous on January 21, 2021, 04:26:52 pmThanks for the links. They do sound and from pictures look great. Unfortunately I cannot seem to find USA based supplier. Shipping from EU/UK to USA is too much for me at the moment.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2021, 09:53:13 pm
content: Newark carries them. Stäubli is absolutely top notch, I can wholeheartedly recommend their stuff, I use it a lot. (Nearly all the test leads at work are made with Stäubli plugs, and I’ve made about a dozen leads at home using them.)