Decent kelvin clip leads? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 20, 2015, 11:13:56 pm
content: Anyone have any suggestions on decent quality Kelvin clip leads? Intended for use with my new Agisight bench DMM.Asks:prefer small-ishprefer sub $150 for the pairdual shrouded 4mm banana plugs on each clip leadI really like the DIY clips made by robrenz here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/video-of-making-the-ultimate-kelvin-connection-(major-hacking-of-a-pomona-clip)/But I don't think I could pull that off. If someone sold these, I would be all over the mini grabber version.* I found these on Mouser, but I have never heard of SilverTronic and they are huge:http://www.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=129141virtualkey55150000virtualkey835-129141* This set from Probemaster seems ok (and I have found Probemaster to be decent, not excellent, quality), but they are also huge:http://www.probemaster.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_15&products_id=195I prefer smaller clips. I am also content with supplying the lead DIY style if someone can offer a source on high quality clips alone?Thanks in advance for any responses.

author: ManateeMafia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2015, 12:35:29 am
content: How about a Pomona 6283-C cable cut in half and terminated with Mueller BU-75K clips? The Pomona is made with RG-58 cable. It might be a little to bulky for the test clips.http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=bu-75khttp://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=6283-c

author: ManateeMafia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2015, 12:50:25 am
content: Looking again at the cable, it is probably not the best choice since the force and sense are on opposite cables. My bad.The clips are still a good choice. I have some and the only complaint is that they don't always stay on the component leads. If they had deeper grooves they would hold better.

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 21, 2015, 09:56:44 am
content: I bought these for my Keithley 2000:http://www.ebay.de/itm/261267737565Despite their very low price, they are relatively good quality and tick all the boxes for my needs. They are also quite short (about 60cm), which was on my wishlist too. The only complaint I could have is that they claim to be CAT III when they most certainly aren't. Mine didn't have the heatshrink on them as shown in the picture (not that that would have made them CAT III anyway), but that doesn't bother me as I only intend using them for 4-wire resistance measurements and low-voltage stuff.McBryce.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 21, 2015, 08:13:36 pm
content: Quote from: McBryce on March 21, 2015, 09:56:44 amAt thanks for the link! those look decent and pretty compatible with my needs--just low voltage 4-wire resistance measurement. I might try out a set.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 21, 2015, 08:15:28 pm
content: Quote from: ManateeMafia on March 21, 2015, 12:35:29 amAh thanks for these links. I found the Mueller clips before, but they looked huge. I've never seen this brand of clips in person. I realize now they are only 1.6" long, which is small-ish.

author: LaurenceW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2015, 07:51:57 pm
content: I've recently bought some REALLYCR@PCHEAP costing (and looking) Kelvin clips of Ebay. Whoever assembled them DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT THEY WERE DOING, which only became clear when the probes arrived.The normal trick for Kelvin "aligator-type" clips is to have each side of the jaw of each clip separated, electrically, so that they only contact one another VIA the lead of the component under test, so ensuring true four wire V and I contact. The probes I bought only had one jaw wired! The same design fault was evident on both connectors. I am convinced this was a design fault, and not a one-off manufacturing fault.Anyway, I learned, not for the first/last time, that cheap cr@p off ebay is always just that.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 22, 2015, 07:56:29 pm
content: Look at forum member ROBRENZ for DIY versions.https://www.youtube.com/user/ROBRENZ/videosHere is his version of DIY Kelvin clips.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2015, 12:18:30 am
content: Quote from: SeanB on March 22, 2015, 07:56:29 pmThanks. I actually mentioned these in my first post, just don't think I could pull off this level of DIY. He has really nice tools.

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2015, 09:32:54 am
content: I can upload close-up pictures of the €20 kelvin clips I bought on ebay (http://www.ebay.de/itm/261267737565) if anyone wants to take a closer look. The wires definitely go to opposite sides of the clipsMcBryce.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 23, 2015, 07:45:45 pm
content: Quote from: McBryce on March 23, 2015, 09:32:54 amI would appreciate that If you wouldn't mind!I am tempted to order a set of these, although I am a bit concerned about the longevity of the interesting elastic spring mechanism:http://www.ebay.com/itm/400486938037

author: DanielS
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2015, 08:16:32 pm
content: Quote from: dadler on March 23, 2015, 12:18:30 amThose do look pretty neat. The construction is far more complex than it could have been though: if he could manufacture a die set (or two for rough-cut + finish), he could simply stamp the replacement leads out of sheet metal. That would scale much better beyond a small one-off batch.It always makes me smile to see a DIYer beats established manufacturers at their own game.

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 23, 2015, 09:11:47 pm
content: Here's some close-ups. The connector is protected (caps are included). The clip plastic is pretty well dimensioned. It feels very solid in the hand and I'd say they will last quite a while. The only complaint I might have is that the core of the banana connector isn't solid, it's a folded steel type. But these can easily be swapped. They're no hi-end product, but you get what you pay for.McBryce.

author: rosbuitre
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2015, 11:01:57 am
content: HiAnyone have these Extech 380465 Test Lead Set?Will be compatible with my Keysight 34461A?RegardsUpdate, TestEquity responseHello Osvaldo,They are not compatible.Best RegardsTestEquity

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 08:49:05 pm
content: Quote from: rosbuitre on March 31, 2015, 11:01:57 amHow could they not be compatible?http://www.amazon.com/Extech-380465-Kelvin-Milliohm-Models/dp/B004WN5HEKThey look perfectly compatible with any DMM using 4 separate banana jacks for current/voltage sense.I almost ordered a set until I saw your updated post. Maybe they mean not "officially compatible" or something-or they have some bizarre proprietary connector (?).Anyways I did order a set of the eBay Kelvin clips (with the translucent rubber band 'springs') that I linked above. Will report on quality when I receive them.

author: rosbuitre
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 10:48:54 pm
content: Quote from: dadler on April 02, 2015, 08:49:05 pmMaybe they mean not "officially compatible" or something-or they have some bizarre proprietary connector (?).That must be the reason, should change the banana connectorsRegards

author: bson
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 04:47:19 am
content: Quote from: McBryce on March 23, 2015, 09:32:54 amThey can also be found on ebay.com...http://www.ebay.com/itm/261267733426I just ordered a set.

author: rosbuitre
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 11, 2015, 01:19:51 pm
content: Quote from: bson on April 03, 2015, 04:47:19 amHiThe received ?, are they good?Regards

author: bson
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 06:44:51 am
content: Quote from: rosbuitre on April 11, 2015, 01:19:51 pmJust received them today. They work great, especially for low resistances. On my 34465A after a bit of warmup and a thermal calibration and nulling, a Dale .1ohm .1% 5W resistor reads 000.1004 ohm on 4W. The same probes, nulled, on 2W read 000.0988 ohm. Looks good to me!By comparison my handheld LCR meter (calibrated and nulled) reads 0.087ohm and my various handheld DMMs are so off I'd frankly rate them as useless for such a small value.So, yeah, mechanically okay - good grip, good lead contact, good plugs, good maws, practical test lead length, soft and pliable, first impression is they're probably going to work fine. Not much of an opinion on durability yet of course.A bit light and plasticy, not Flukely/Tek/Keysight, no rubberized grips or anything else fancy. But they seem to do the job...

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 12:55:24 pm
content: Regarding durability, I've had mine quite a while now and I've had no problems with them breaking/bending/falling apart. For €20 they're an absolute bargain, at least for the measurements I need to do.As bson said, "They're not Fluke / Tek / Keysight" but then again, neither is the price.McBryce.

author: rosbuitre
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 14, 2015, 11:46:18 pm
content: HiThanks for the infoRegards

author: eas
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 04:47:49 am
content: Quote from: dadler on March 23, 2015, 07:45:45 pmFor what it is worth, those "springs" look like short lengths of silicone lab tubing.

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 05:17:45 am
content: I did end up ordering a set of the "elastic band" Kelvin leads and they actually work rather well. The spring force could be a tad higher, but certainly usable and good quality. I guess silicone tubing will make a good replacement if the originals wear out

author: JBaughb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 05:59:50 am
content: I am a fan of these stackable ones.http://www.ebay.com/itm/1pair-1M-Gold-Kelvin-Clip-to-Insulated-Stackable-Banana-Plug-Silicon-Test-Cable/400486938037

author: dadler
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 06:00:48 am
content: Quote from: JBaughb on April 27, 2015, 05:59:50 amThose are the ones I am referring to

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 06:11:52 am
content: I still have 2 sets of these to offer if anyone's interested:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/franky%27s-sales-thread/150/

author: JBaughb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 07:07:21 am
content: good deal there.

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2015, 01:39:44 pm
content: Quote from: iloveelectronics on April 27, 2015, 06:11:52 amSold out for now. I will make them a regular item in my eBay store soon as there seems to be some demand there. Pricing on eBay will be slightly higher though as I will need to factor in the commission.