What probes / leads will I need for this Siglent meter, power supply, and scope? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: merk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 31, 2019, 08:45:31 pm
content: Hey!I am looking for general advice and through looking at online manuals I have not found a good answer. I'm sure many of you will have answers for this easy question. Just so you understand my use case. I am a hobbiest audio / synthesizer enthusiast. I am interested in building modular synthesizer type circuits. This will be 99% of my use case. I plan to use the power supply for -12V, G, and +12V. The oscilloscope will be for audio rate frequencies.I purchased 3 pieces of Siglent equipment and they are all in shipping right now. I immediately began to wonder what (if any) test leads / probes they will come with and whether I should buy my own leads.The items I purchased are:SPD3303X-E Power Supplyhttps://amzn.to/37nkBFySDS1104X-E Oscilloscopehttps://amzn.to/2ZCpDeOSDM3055 Bench Multimeterhttps://amzn.to/2ZEg1jCAm I right to assume the Power Supply uses "banana" plugs and will those attach to the posts on a breadboard?Will the Oscilloscope come with 4 probes? If so, are they of decent quality?I assume the multimeter will have test leads, but are there better leads for probing tiny IC legs (SMD)?One final question that occurred to me after my purchase. When using the power supply to deliver -12 and +12 for an op-amp circuit - Do you connect channel one's positive terminal to ground and channel two's negative terminal to ground? That leaves channel one negative as the -12 and channel two positive as the +12? Then do you also connect the ground over to the circuit also?Thanks to anyone that takes the time to read and answer!- merk

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2020, 02:10:38 am
content: Your audio frequency use case is not at all stressful on the scope, so I’d stick with the stock probes there.You might consider buying a few nicer multimeter probe cables (Pomona or similar), but mostly don’t go crazy buying stuff ahead of your needs. That’s the recipe for having hundreds of dollars tied up in stuff that isn’t what you needed or never got used.It’s very easy to turn into a collector/hoarder in this hobby. Resist. Buy what you’re 75+% likely to need; then buy more as you need it. It’s so tempting to get yourself “all kitted out” on day 1; I think it’s a bad idea. (Full disclosure: I did similar and many times wished I hadn’t, especially since now I don’t want to throw away a bunch of stuff that I won’t likely use, but that I paid good money for...)

author: ve7xen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2020, 02:29:49 am
content: The power supply will not include leads. Standard 2.5mm banana plugs or spade lugs will work with it. Since the quality of the cables you can find almost anywhere is questionable (and nearly all of them use PVC insulation, which is awful), I recommend building your own. I use Belden 8899 test lead wire and for power supplies I prefer Pomona 4555 MiniGrabbers for low current DUTs. Whatever power connectors are common on modular synths, you might want to get something compatible with that too. I use Mueller BU-16 banana plugs. Or you can just buy them premade, Pomona makes them which you can get at Mouser etc, and there are probably eBay sellers making custom ones with decent quality cable and such.The oscilloscope will include 4 probes. They won't be HPAK quality, but perfectly usable. I wouldn't replace them, and you may find replacements aren't well matched to the 'scope's frontend anyway and might not have enough tuning range to equalize. You might want to pick up some BNC to MiniGrabber cables, buy/build some BNC to <insert common modular synth connector here>, or BNC to banana adapters; at audio frequency and low impedance you can use them as 1X probes.The multimeter will include leads. I haven't purchased this unit (you can probably find a YouTube unboxing...) so I don't know the quality, but I'd expect them to be on the upper end of the Chinese brands (which is to say usable but not nice). Probemaster probes come highly recommended by anyone that's used them, as far as I can tell, but I haven't used them myself (they don't seem to use distribution and their shipping rates to Canada seemed exorbitant). I use Pomona 5519A. They're nicer than most Chinese leads, proper rubber sleeving and such, but on the lower end.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2020, 02:33:35 am
content: @merkSPD3303X-E comes with 2 sets of leads, one banana to croc clips and the other spade terminal to croc clips.All the binding posts support 3 types of connection; Banana, Spade terminals and and the post is cross drilled to accept ~1.5mm dia wire.SDS1204X-E comes with four 200 MHz switchable 10:1/1.1 probes and they're quite reasonable quality. They're certainly 200+ MHz rated probes.SDM3055 has nice supple silicone leads with detachable croc clips and IIRC probe condoms that cover most of the probe point to just leave the tip exposed. I've seen less sharper and lesser quality ones on DMM's and for now I'd recommend you try them and get a sharper set for fine/precise work.IMO there's NO need to supplement the supplied probes/leads with anything better until you've tried the ones provided and find their limitations for your needs.....even then you might find they're quite fit for purpose.

author: BillB
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 01, 2020, 02:56:37 am
content: +1 for sokoloff's, ve7xen's, and tautech's comments.I also have the units you listed, and the SPD3303X-E cables - spade to alligator clips or spade to banana plug are a tad on the short side IIRC. You might want to eventually pick up some banana patch cables (ebay quality is fine) or as mentioned below, make your own.The SDM3055 probes are of decent quality, but the tips are large and aren't very useful for fine pitch parts. You may want to pick up a set of nicer Probe Master or Pomona probes. I've got a Probe Master 8043SK set that is really nice and the Pomona 6341 set. If you need to do four-wire measurements, a set of ebay quality kelvin clips might be useful for you.The SDS1104X-E probes are fine for basic use. You'll eventually collect various BNC to whatever cables, micrograbbers/minigrabbers, and connectors/adapters.

author: merk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 01, 2020, 07:52:01 am
content: Thanks so much for the answers to my questions. I'll have to properly process all this at NOT 3 am tomorrow and NOT after 3 or 4 IPAs on New Year's Eve (actually New Year's Morning).....The oscilloscope came today and I built a quick Attack / Release envelope circuit with a 9V battery. I have to say that I am very happy with purchase. I feel like a blind man that can suddenly see for the first time. It's truly incredible.The four probes that came with it are perfectly adequate and I can't imagine any reason to replace them at the moment.I will definitely look into making some leads for the power supply.Sounds like the multimeter will come with pretty good test leads.Thanks again!

author: klausES
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 06:59:18 pm
content: Hi there,desperately looking to buy the original test cable included with the Siglent DMM3055 (the newer version).None of the two Siglent dealers here sell DMM cables. So none at all, especially not from Siglent, even though they sell the devices.Bought several not very cheap ones on ebay/amazon, tried them, but these are actually unbearable junk.The handles are crooked, the tip is cast in at an angle, the plugs are lousy quality,many do not fit in the Cat instrument sockets because of the wrong dimensions of the sleeves ...The only ones that are available here and are good from Hirschmann.(I still have some of these, but I would like to have others).Would like to buy the original ones of the SDM3055 again (they are really good) but from where?Or who can make suggestions for other DMM measuring cables with good quality from their own experience (but not for $ 40 or more).

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 07:41:36 pm
content: Probe Master. Best multimeter probes out there.Don’t bother looking for Siglent probes and test leads. They’ll be fairly cheap stuff. Go for a proper brand like Probe Master, Pomona, Hirschmann, Stäubli, or Schützinger. (My favorite probes are probe master, cables I like Pomona and Stäubli best.)

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 08:00:34 pm
content: Quote from: klausES on February 17, 2020, 06:59:18 pmYes they are quite reasonable leads.I have never bought these exact leads as replacements as customers have not asked for them however other Siglent leads despite not having a part# are available directly from them and quite cheap.I suggest you have your supplier get you 2 sets of SDM3055 test leads in their next stock order but they may take some weeks to arrive. Now some at Siglent have returned to work I can ask for their part# for the leads and message you with it. Now it is 5 hrs until they open so later I can get the # for you. My guess is they will be ~$15 each retail.

author: pixelkind
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 08:46:01 pm
content: The Brymen test leads are very nice as well. Probe Master cost a bit more but are even nicer.In Germany you can get them both from Welectron:https://www.welectron.com/Multimeter-Leads

author: klausES
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 08:53:45 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on February 17, 2020, 07:41:36 pmPerhaps this opinion comes from earlier days by Siglent. The sets bought by Siglent were not the best.Meanwhile, those supplied by Siglent at DMM (at least when I look at my delivery of the DMM from the end of 2019) are good.In comparison to the goods with roughly the same prices, which I had now tried, even very good.No bending handles, slim seats, good cables and high-quality plugs (no scratching when plugged into the instrument).The Probe Masters are not so much my case now. Very short handles and quite bulky guard rings.If the Siglent are really not available I will buy a few more from Hirschmann.Only the PL 2600 S (W) are suitable for me.Strangely enough, they are only available in PVC and difficult to get in silicone (although there were, I had them from 10 years ago).

author: klausES
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 17, 2020, 08:57:25 pm
content: Quote from: pixelkind on February 17, 2020, 08:46:01 pmCan I buy them individually (without DMM ...) ?Edit: Sorry, I didn't see the link at first.PS.You also have to keep in mind that many things are only available in the USA or Asia.This takes time and costs more shipping and maybe customs fees.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2020, 01:47:03 am
content: Found the leads as an accessory on the US site:https://siglentna.com/product/multimeter-probes/Not sure if they come with the slip on croc clips or not but I guess they would.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2020, 10:33:03 pm
content: I often use banana plug to mini-grabber cables for my DMM. Especially when using more than one meter.You will want a selection of banana cables for both the power supply and multimeter.These would be good to get started:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FZV589P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JJU3C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JJU1O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002JJU4Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

author: klausES
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 12:04:02 am
content: Quote from: tautech on February 18, 2020, 01:47:03 amThe image on the Siglent link page is out of focus.It could be older ?!?The ones on my SDM3055 (in December) look slightly different and there were also alligator clips (spring-loaded 2mm Lab Standard) for the tips.(Perhaps Siglent is unable to keep its website up to date.On some Siglent sites, firmware from 2016/2017 is still listed as current for many devices ...)The current ones on the SDM3055 look like this (I have removed the protective covers from the alligator clips,otherwise they cannot be used (CATxxx as a hindrance as a knight's armor ...).

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 01:52:03 am
content: Quote from: klausES on February 19, 2020, 12:04:02 amYes it's possibly an old image and yes alligator clips and probe tip condoms have been standard fare for a while.I'll check with the factory if the SDM-PB replacement probes come with those accessories too.QuoteSome owners still have never updated their firmwareand there's important freeze recovery updates and some that need be done in stages/steps on order to get to the latest version so it's necessary these old FW updates remain accessible. It's all listed in the FW Release notes.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 05:10:52 am
content: Word for word reply from Siglent:Yes, the new SDM test leads Pt # SDM-PB replacement probes have been supplied with clips and the probe pin sleeve since last year.

author: klausES
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2020, 09:51:37 am
content: Yes, that must be exactly the same as from my new SDM3055 and the one I meant.