Where have the Archer J-hooks gone? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: jdutky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 12:06:23 pm
content: I used to be able to get (at Radio Shack, of course) these J-hook adapters for multi-meter test leads, but I can't seem to find them anymore. The were sold under Radio Shack's Archer house brand as "Mini Test Clip Adapters", and they slip onto the end of standard test leads. I've searched for (and purchased) a couple of sprung-hook and J-Hook clips I've seen advertised on Amazon and DigiKey, but they don't slip on the end of test leads, and I was sad.My stash of these is running quite low, and I mourn the day when I will lose my last one. Am I just not searching on the right terms, or these really not made anymore?Here are two pictures of what I'm talking about:

author: Ground_Loop
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 12:31:44 pm
content: I picked up a bag of these original MJ-033s off ebay.

author: MosherIV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 12:37:15 pm
content: Just search ebay for multimeter leads and filter with price: low to high.They come in 2 sizes : small and large.Not sure these chinese knock offs are going to be same quality.The ones I got in multimeter leads set seem to be ok

author: nfmax
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 12:46:53 pm
content: I think the OP is asking about hooks which have a built-in 4mm shrouded socket. I can't find any, and I would dearly like to buy some myself!

author: MosherIV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 01:01:37 pm
content: Ok, sorry not clear from the image.You can get the j hook to 4mm socket with a short lead pre made.Or there are thesehttps://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VN59XQ9?tag=picclick02-21&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

author: jdutky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2020, 11:59:46 pm
content: I'm not looking for 4mm banana plug adapters, but for an adapter that fits on the end of a regular multi-meter probe. Here are some pictures demonstrating how the adapter attaches to a set of leads

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2020, 11:51:56 am
content: Radio Shack sells them, but they are just currently out of stock.Put in a notification and buy them when they come in.https://www.radioshack.com/products/mini-test-clip-adapters

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2020, 01:01:09 pm
content: I haven't seen those, but RadioShack always had some quite unique items on their portfolio. The one I got just before their demise was their mini test set. I had a feel that I should have gotten another one, but oh well...https://uedata.amazon.com/RadioShack-Micro-Scale-Test-Lead/dp/B007Z7T4NU

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2020, 01:33:54 pm
content: Quote from: rsjsouza on October 03, 2020, 01:01:09 pmRadio Shack is like a zombie, it's always dead and always coming back to life.In my travels this year in the US I've hit a brand new standalone Radio Shack and a few new Radio Shack departments in hardware stores.There are even some new products that I've never seen before.One store had two versions of RS branded Caig brand flux, no-clean and regular.(I had previously ordered some flux from DigiKey but they said they couldn't ship that by US Postal Service!)A bunch of stores are stocking Steren brand electronic accessories.https://commercial.sterenusa.com/main

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2020, 05:21:33 pm
content: Looks similar with test leads attached:https://uedata.amazon.com/TOTOT-Security-Banana-Minigrabber-Multimeter/dp/B01MXYS51Z/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=mini+grabber&qid=1601745595&s=hi&sr=1-6Pomona alternative:https://www.amazon.com/Pomona-3782-36-02-MINIGRABBER-Banana-Plug/dp/B005T63B9C/ref=sxts_sxwds-bia-wc-drs1_0?cv_ct_cx=pomona&dchild=1&keywords=pomona&pd_rd_i=B005T63B9C&pd_rd_r=022c952a-61fc-4d9d-9133-7ef7d3505f4b&pd_rd_w=hbBaE&pd_rd_wg=KEQ8K&pf_rd_p=99c7ce93-69a7-402a-ba4e-be326f866b88&pf_rd_r=NHRB4B37TM3P80029VQM&psc=1&qid=1601745263&sr=1-1-f6b8d51f-2c55-4dc3-89ad-0c3639671b2dsimilar?https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/tpi-(test-products-international)/A038/290-1514-ND/1628541?utm_adgroup=Test%20Clips%20-%20Grabbers%2C%20Hooks&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping_Product_Test%20and%20Measurement_NEW&utm_term=&utm_content=Test%20Clips%20-%20Grabbers%2C%20Hooks&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_LSdqfmY7AIVzMDICh3goQSVEAQYByABEgLwcfD_BwEmight be the Fluke version?https://www.amazon.com/Fluke-HC120-Piece-Hook-Clips/dp/B000LE96CSHC-120 GenII ?https://www.tequipment.net/Fluke/HC120-II/Hook-Clips/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiJqZsPuY7AIVmIrICh0kIgZyEAMYASAAEgJjIPD_BwE

author: jdutky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2020, 05:49:03 pm
content: Electro Fan: none of those slip on the end of a normal multi-meter test lead, unfortunately. I may just have to resign myself to swapping the entire lead out when I want to use the J-hooks (the Pomona leads are, admittedly, very nice). I just got used to keeping J-hooks on the tips of my leads and only pulling them off when I need the sharp tip, just like you do with the sprung hooks on scope probes.

author: MosherIV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2020, 05:53:06 pm
content: The closest I have seen which clip on to test probes are thesehttps://uk.farnell.com/keysight-technologies/u1163a/grabber-test-smt/dp/1440384

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2020, 07:53:32 pm
content: Quote from: jdutky on October 03, 2020, 05:49:03 pmHi jdutky,These say they work with TL75 test leads:https://www.tequipment.net/Fluke/HC120-II/Hook-Clips/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiJqZsPuY7AIVmIrICh0kIgZyEAMYASAAEgJjIPD_BwETL75 seem to just be normal multi-meter test leads....https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/accessories/test-leads/fluke-tl75I know the HC120-II literature isn't very clear/definitive on what they work with but maybe.....?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2020, 12:43:26 pm
content: Quote from: jdutky on October 03, 2020, 05:49:03 pmHonest question: what is it about slip-on hooks you like? Me, I’ve always hated clips and hooks that slip onto the probe tips, as I find them ungainly. So I prefer to have separate clips and hooks on their own wire, matched to the size of the clip or hook.(And yes, if they made sprung hook scope probes with no handle, I’d buy them in a heartbeat. So far all the BNC to hook cables I’ve found are simple 1:1 wires, not proper scope probes.)

author: jdutky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2020, 05:34:57 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on October 04, 2020, 12:43:26 pmIf I'm completely honest about it I suppose it's just force of habit, but I do find them very convenient when handling loose through-hole components, rather than using my fingers to press the wires to the leads, or pinning the component down to the bench with the leads. I can just clip the leads to the wires with the hooks, and my hands are completely free to work the meter or other bench apparatus. This all probably reflects my age more than anything else because they are certainly of no use when dealing with any kind of surface mount component.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2020, 10:38:59 pm
content: I also find clip-on accessories much more handy than the separate cables. In my day-to-day I find that this approach means one less cable to manage and less space taken (I usually carry probes and accessories inside the DMM holster).The biggest disadvantage is that, over time, they tend to become loose (some of them have hard plastic, which makes more difficult to re-shring them)One compromise solution is the banana-banana cables supplied with my U1273A, where the leads and other accessories tie not to the probe tip but instead to the shrouded banana jack on the cable.Pomona has a similar solution:https://www.pomonaelectronics.com/products/dmm-test-leads-and-probes/multi-use-dmm-test-lead-kit

author: Renate
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2020, 07:25:33 pm
content: So, I'm driving through rural Utah and spot a drug store/gift shop/Radio Shack.Inside, in the back are the Radio Shack parts cabinets.In the "test lead" drawer I found the 270-334 "Mini Test Clip Adapters".Upon your recommendation I bought them.Edit: I saw a nibbler tool there too, stickered (and rung up) as $5It doesn't seem to be on radioshack.com but it was on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/RadioShack-RadioShack%C2%AE-HT-204-Nibbling-Tool/dp/B007Z7PY48It's pretty nicely built, especially for $5

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2020, 08:30:57 pm
content: Quote from: Renate on October 06, 2020, 07:25:33 pmI still have my radio shack nibbler I got as a kid 30+ years ago!

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2020, 10:12:00 pm
content: Quote from: jdutky on October 02, 2020, 12:06:23 pmCheck your PM.

author: jdutky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2020, 06:14:16 am
content: Good catch! I should have raided the local Radio Shacks when the bankruptcy was announced but I didn't. Friends of mine did, and got all sorts of nice kit and fire sale prices.I did just pick up one of the nibblers on Amazon. That's the same nibbler my dad had and that I used a few times as a kid.

author: Electro Fan
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2020, 02:57:55 pm
content: Quote from: Electro Fan on October 06, 2020, 10:12:00 pmHi jdutky, I found 3 new packages of your Radio Shack J-hook adapters. They are yours if you want them. Just let me know and I’ll get them sent to you. Special EEVblog discount pricing too.