What chip clamp/probe to use? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: eTobey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 06:38:19 pm
content: Hi,havent found much in this forum using these terms. What would be the proper terms for these? I want to probe a LQFP64.Also:Which one would be better?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 07:59:48 pm
content: Couldn't decide which was better so got bothI think if I really had to choose I'd go for the first one (the flag style). The photo is wrong, BTW - to get them next to each other they should be alternatively flag up, flag down.

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 08:42:50 pm
content: I have tried a bunch of different styles and they all are pretty bad. The first picture shows TSSOP package and there is no way you can grab TSSOP pins. SOIC is probably the smallest those can handle.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 06, 2024, 09:51:55 pm
content: QuoteSorry to disappoint you, but you can. I am sure I've done before, so I tried just now and did. But there are caveats: you can't probe adjacent pins on TSSOP, and if there is just slightly too much solder you can't get behind the pin to latch on.As it happens, we don't know what the OP wants to probe, just which of the two are better. They are equally capable or not on the same chips, so even if they didn't do TSSOP it's kind of irrelevant to the question

author: BennoG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 06:41:43 am
content: I have both of them and found both not working like I would work with them.Ended up scraping eBay for HP 5090 probes (if you are patient you get them for about $2 a pece)Benno

author: ataradov
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 06:52:30 am
content: Tek SMG50 are a bit better. I would say the best out of that class. But they are not equivalent to the OP mini-grabbers, they are nowhere near as fine.NOS SMG50 are still available on eBayhttps://www.ebay.com/p/1910243527. There is seemingly modern equivalent (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083PRVPCR), but I don't know how they compare to the original ones in quality and action.

author: squadchannel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 06:58:22 am
content: I've heard rumors that chinese (copy)SMG50 has a thicker pipe section.

author: BennoG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 07:00:59 am
content: Quote from: ataradov on November 07, 2024, 06:52:30 amYou are right.Quote from: ataradov on November 07, 2024, 06:52:30 amThe amazon version is garbage (the spring parts are far wider than the tec or hp version and not usable on dense chips.They look the same but the tip is almost double the width of the HP / TEKBenno

author: eTobey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 07:21:57 am
content: I wanted to probe a LQFP64. And i have already modified a probe/grabber/clamp (my question has not been answered about the term), from the DS Logic plus so that i could actually hook to a pin of it. But it is a very tight fit. Reading the posts here, it seems to me that there are no clamps for this?Is there then a "thing", i can mount on top of the chip, that has pogopins on it?

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 09:30:39 am
content: There is a much better quality version of the clips in your original post (they are no doubt a copy of this):https://www.rapidonline.com/pjp-6800-8-smd-test-probe-set-17-2576Fantastic clips, but expensive - I got the cheap ones for general wear and tear and use these PJP when it's a serious job. But they only go down to 0.6mm (just too large for LQFP64).Is this for production-style where you need to probe several boards, or a one-off debug-style? If not many pins maybe soldering a short length of fine wire would be quicker and simpler (and perhaps more robust).

author: eTobey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 11:44:40 am
content: I managed to modify one of these, to fit onto the chip:But there wasnt much air gap left, as the metal is too thick. Also the tip is still quite big.

author: BennoG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 12:35:49 pm
content: Yes that are the imitation clips they are almost double the width of the original clips.See photo of the original and the clip you haveBenno

author: eTobey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2024, 03:57:30 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on November 07, 2024, 09:30:39 amIts only debugging (i hope so ;-)).Has anyone ever used some sort of clips on caps or resistors for probing?