Banana plugs don't fit in positive sockets - Rigol DP832 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: equilibrium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 23, 2014, 06:56:24 pm
content: Dear All,I recently bought a Rigol DP832 and I'm starting to feel like an idiot: the banana plugs don't fit inside any of the 3 positive sockets while they do fit in the three negative sockets and the green chassis socket. As you can see in the attached picture, it only goes in that much and with no amount of force was I able to push it further.Some things I verified:My banana plugs are 3.88mm in diameter according to my calipersAs far as I can see, there is no obstruction in the terminals; a thinner cylindrical object can enter fullyThere is no mention of a similar thing in the official manualI'm completely stumped, can you help me?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2014, 07:11:21 pm
content: Chinese tolerancing, they shrunk the positive ones to make you buy the "special" red positive leadsets, made from ultra pure finest recycled copper and the finest woven scrap wire.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2014, 07:13:42 pm
content: Nothing a 4mm reamer cant cure

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 23, 2014, 07:16:35 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on November 23, 2014, 07:13:42 pmFailing that a 4mm drill bit, or even a 4.1mm one...............

author: equilibrium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 12:26:32 pm
content: This is outrageous, I will mail them and ask them to send me adapters for standard jacks/pluggable jacks themselves for free.Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 01:00:34 pm
content: They are a tight fit that's for sure.Furthermore, perhaps it's just me, but I'd much prefer -ve on left and +ve on right. Already once I had a near miss, unbelievable I know as they're colour coded, and I always use red and black leads, but I must've been on autopilot at the time.

author: equilibrium
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 01:02:11 pm
content: No actually they don't fit at all. If I hit the plug that you see in the image slightly from the side, it will loosen and pop off.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 01:12:26 pm
content: IMO, your banana plugs also have crap tolerance. Just as coincidence, plus terminal have smaller inside diameter too, so they cannot fit.

author: m100
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 01:24:45 pm
content: They look like they are made by Multi - Contact. Not had an issue with the 4mm ones fitting equipment but have had oversized 2mm ones that wouldn't even stack to themselves without a huge amount of force.

author: ovnr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 01:36:24 pm
content: It really annoys me when new products these days don't have banana sockets that you can also use shrouded plugs on. It's not like they don't exist.

author: _Sin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 02:05:54 pm
content: Apply the appropriate tool?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 05:58:36 pm
content: RobrenZ mentioned reamers, and I actually have 2 adjustable ones on order. Would love to buy the set of 12, but that comes in at $2500, less VAT. So have ordered the 2 sizes I need now, and they should be here before the end of the year. Still expensive at $200 each, but I need them, a file is not really the right way to get the new bushes to tolerance on the shaft. the bushes themselves are being made to sample, as the nylon ones I get as spares have too much play. Using more off of the 1kg of Vesconite Hilube rod I bought to do another one. Getting a fitting tool made as well to gently persuade them in as well.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 06:02:34 pm
content: I cannot get rid of a feeling i should stay away from Rigol products.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 08:32:23 pm
content: Compared to other stuff I've had from the same neck of the woods, Rigol are positively luxury.At least the firmware's near enough finished in the Rigol devices I have, and the UIs generally aren't a dog's dinner.

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 08:48:47 pm
content: Mine measure 3.84mm to 4.01mm internal.

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 24, 2014, 08:53:32 pm
content: I have a DP831A and I have no problems with it.I am however using Fluke brand leads and the quality of the plugs is exceptional.

author: witec
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 08:43:38 pm
content: Hi, was consulting google and found this topic i bought my unit just a week ago, and have exactly the same problemi using hirschmann cable never had a problem like this! only my red sockets don't fitting. should i return the unit?

author: Lightages
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 20, 2014, 10:17:09 pm
content: The problem with drilling or reaming is that if there is a nickel plating it will get removed. If the base metal is not brass but rather some ferrous metal then you will get corrosion problems and poor contact.

author: motocoder
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 05:25:20 am
content: Quote from: Bud on November 24, 2014, 06:02:34 pmThat's the conclusion I have come to after my recent experience with their service/support. Maybe some day they'll be good, but they still have some maturing to do before they get there.

author: asteroidz
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 08:36:57 am
content: My DP832 is fine.Are you using brand name test cords like Pomona?I got a different problem for my fluke 8505. The cheap Chinese made 20 pcs banana plugs ($5) from Ebay are too small, and half of my 20 adapters wobbles inside the 8505 socket. The plugs I bought are called "GTI - 20 Pcs 4mm Musical Speaker Wire Cable Connector Screw Banana Plug N20 US"

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 08:46:52 am
content: I must say that the Chinese Ebay dealers are very inventive, is there a product they do not srew up ?I have around 40 instruments that have banana jacks an even more leads with banana plugs and they all fit. The tolerances used by Rigol are not tight enough, I hope for you their metrologic tolerances are better

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 10:59:02 am
content: Not Rigol, but I have same problem here, with my Tektronix power supply and hirschmann connectors.If someone is kind to tell me how to post pictures I will.

author: witec
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 11:20:56 am
content: Quote from: sotos on December 21, 2014, 10:59:02 am

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 11:30:22 am
content: Quote from: witec on December 21, 2014, 11:20:56 amThey big, over 1000KB and I cannot upload them.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 01:26:09 pm
content: I had some good quality test leads, made by Hirschmann - Germany, and they did not fit in to an Agilent PSU.These 4 mm plugs had one of these plastic tips in the front and their diameter was too large. I managed to get one of these plugs in to the PSU but when I pulled the plug out, this stupid red plastic tip stayed inside the binding post. After that I removed all plastic tips from all of these connectors. Kind of ridicules, if you think about it. Buying German made quality and it still sucks from time to time.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 01:50:51 pm
content: Quote from: sotos on December 21, 2014, 11:30:22 amFlickr account, post the BBcode of the image and it will appear like magic irrespective of size.Otherwise resize with something like PS, GIMP or WHY and post under the size limit.

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 01:54:06 pm
content: Quote from: sotos on December 21, 2014, 11:30:22 amJust useimgur.com. Click upload images. No need to sign up. No annoying adverts. Paste the links into your message. It couldn't be simpler.

author: Nerull
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 02:27:14 pm
content: I've got a set of american-made probemaster leads that don't fit in my american made fluke sockets, must be that damn american junk.

author: thn788
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 02:53:24 pm
content: I've used two different DP832 and four different DP832A PSUs, so far, bought over the course of more than one year from three different suppliers. Never paid any attention to the brands of power-cables or banana plugs and I've used lots of different cables from different manufacturers with the power-supplies. Haven't had any problems with plugs not fitting in any of the sockets of the PSUs.Maybe Rigol bought a batch of slightly out-of-spec positive-plugs and missed this in quality control?Hm, makes me wonder when Chinese manufacturers start getting quality problems because they accidentally buy relabeled/counterfeit components without knowing... (or when the first counterfeit Rigol products start appearing on eBay...)

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 03:23:17 pm
content: Thank you for the help for how to post images.Tektronix power supply and hirschmann connectors also bad.IMG_1284bysotron100, on FlickrIMG_1286bysotron100, on FlickrIMG_1283bysotron100, on Flickr

author: thn788
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 21, 2014, 04:30:31 pm
content: What do you consider so bad about your Tektronix/Hirschmann combination?Ok, the plugs apparently don't go all the way in but leave a few millimetres of bare metal open between plug and socket, but your photos look like you still get a proper stable connection without the plugs falling out of the sockets at the first touch?! I've seen such combinations with lots of different brands of cables and power-supplies (and multimeters); Rigol as well as Tektronix, Agilent/HP/Keysight, Fluke. Nothing I've ever worried about or ever caused any problems for me.equilibrium's photo, instead, looks like the plugs don't fit in the red-sockets, at all. Such sockets should certainly be replaced by proper ones.

author: witec
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: December 22, 2014, 12:02:04 pm
content: i spoke to my distributor there is a known issue with the positive sockets. he will replace the unitand i think its to do with the room temperature but the left side is now fitting

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2014, 04:17:17 pm
content: Orgy

author: radiomog
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2015, 03:19:48 am
content: Quote from: asteroidz on December 21, 2014, 08:36:57 amI came here to see if I was alone.. guess I'm not.I only ordered two pairs of cables.My Pamona and older banana plugs work just fine."you get what you pay for", but you'd think they'd be pretty easy to make right.

author: Dave Turner
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2015, 06:53:01 pm
content: Have to say that I've had no problems with my DP832.

author: devanno
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2015, 07:31:57 pm
content: I'm still building my bench, but have a brand new DP832... so on seeing this went and checked. My Pomona and even cheap Banana plugs fit just fine... a bit snug, but that's how they should fit... no excessive force necessary. So if it is temperature-related, my plugs and the sockets contracted at the same rate. :-)

author: Michael@de
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 14, 2015, 07:32:19 pm
content: I had the same problem with banana plugs I´m using for years!So I ordered these 4 mm pole clampsand replaced the original clamps.See more pics of replacing the clamps here:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7gmdj80a4hjjtks/AAB5hegwL9HK89Dutgn21AB6a?dl=0MichaelP.S.: My first post here - inserting pics is really weird!

author: smgvbest
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 14, 2015, 10:59:39 pm
content: I've had my DP832 for a few months now and ever pair of banana plugs I have fit perfectly fine. one pair took a little more force to go in but not much. So it do not think it's every unit with the problem

author: Zkronk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 01:37:08 pm
content: Same problem here, all the red banana sockets is too tight for any of my banana plugs to fit properly.Too bad I ripped the "Waranty void" sticker on the unit first day and replaced the fan with a silent one, so I guess it's impossible to get the unit replaced nowI will probably go the same route replacing the banana sockets like Michael@de did.

author: OldNeurons
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 19, 2015, 02:08:16 pm
content: And one more here in France !Red one on channel 2only(I'am lucky !!!).

author: Macbeth
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2015, 10:22:30 am
content: Quote from: Zkronk on February 19, 2015, 01:37:08 pmI would have a go reaming out the problem posts with a 4mm bit first. Though you wouldn't want to file through all the plating.If that doesn't work then make sure you get the grey posts with coloured trim,like these.No offence to Michael but his posts look a bit "how yer doin'?"Also take the opportunity to wire the CH2 and CH3 grounds together with some beefy cable behind the panel, to fix the well known current sense issue.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2015, 08:47:05 pm
content: Quote from: Macbeth on February 20, 2015, 10:22:30 amDoes anyone know a US source for these (other than Radio Shack)?

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2015, 09:16:09 pm
content: I've been looking for that type of binding post off and on for years.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/wtb-gray-binding-posts-with-color-trim-rings/Radio Shack only had red and black. I need red, black and green. The last time I looked (about a year ago), Agilent was still selling them as replacement parts but the price was something like $12 each plus shipping. I can't believe there's nobody selling them on eBay. If I end up having to order them from overseas maybe I'll buy a couple hundred and resell them on eBay. By the way, those from Rapid don't have cross-drilled center posts.Quote from: edavid on February 20, 2015, 08:47:05 pm

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 20, 2015, 11:49:40 pm
content: Quote from: rdl on February 20, 2015, 09:16:09 pmI see them (in green) on DigiKey, tin plated or gold plated. Price is a somewhat better.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2015, 12:09:14 am
content: Quote from: cosmicray on February 20, 2015, 11:49:40 pmCare to share a link or part number?

author: cosmicray
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2015, 01:45:26 am
content: Quote from: edavid on February 21, 2015, 12:09:14 amhttp://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/111-0104-001/J371-ND/7352http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/3760-5/501-1506-ND/736554http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/3750-5/501-1787-ND/736543http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/5018-5/501-1843-ND/737103plus there are 2 more that show non-stock.

author: edavid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 21, 2015, 03:04:33 am
content: Quote from: cosmicray on February 21, 2015, 01:45:26 amThose are all the wrong kind... we are talking about gray binding posts with a color ring at the top. DigiKey doesn't sell them.

author: ktm2015
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 06:33:38 am
content: Hello,I had the same problem here with the 30V red banana jacks on a Rigol DP832 purchased new in the United States.My solution was to use a English #24 drill bit (0.152 inch or 3.8608mm). There will be thin shavings of nickel debris removed so thorough vacuuming after drilling/reaming is required.I opted for this solution instead of removal/replacement of the jacks. The jack base metal is a brass alloy so corrosion should not be a problem.I hope this helps.Thank you.

author: kjdotts
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2015, 07:36:52 am
content: My red binding posts are a tight fit with banana plug connections but not too tight. The black and green are a looser fit but still form a trustworthy connection. With the red, I simply perform a few partial clockwise/counterclockwise rotations as I insert the banana plug and they go in smoothly. I actually kind of prefer how the banana plug fit worked out on my particular unit because I can tell just from "feel" if I'm connecting to a (+), (-) or chassis ground binding post.However, with that being said, I would have gladly paid $10-$20 dollars more retail for my unit if it came factory equipped with high-quality binding posts.Particulars for my Rigol DP832 unit:NOTE:My unit is equipped with TopBoard_V02.20 / BottomBoard_V02.20.-Kris

author: SoundTech-LG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2015, 02:16:21 pm
content: So maybe starting a new standard for the red jacks??? Can't plug in the wrong polarity now!!!

author: McBryce
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2015, 09:35:52 am
content: I also (sucessfully) re-drilled the positive posts on my DP832 - Results posted here:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rigol-dp832-firmware-updates-and-bug-list/msg656911/#msg656911McBryce.

author: Spork Schivago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 01:38:16 am
content: I bought the Rigol DP832 as well and have the same problems. For me, it's the red posts on the middle 30V / 3A and the right 5V / 3A that are messed up. Rigol sent me adapters but I don't like the way they look. Also, for the adapters they sent 3 green, 3 red, 1 black instead of 1 green, 3 black and 3 red. I want to fix the problem and I might look into drilling the two out, however, something in this thread caught me eye. What would be considered high quality input jacks? I mean does anyone have any links for some really really nice ones? If I find a really nice set or the original binding posts, I'll replace them myself. Thanks!

author: Mr.B
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 01:43:13 am
content: I have used these numerous times in the past.Very good quality.RED:http://nz.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=7016virtualkey53400000virtualkey534-7016BLK:http://nz.mouser.com/Search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=7017virtualkey53400000virtualkey534-7017