Good leads, filters, risistors, and, and... to own? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: FriedMule
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2018, 10:51:38 pm
content: I own right now, only a power supply with the earths worst power "leads".But I am planning on to bye an oscilloscope, functions generator and a good multimeter.But without accessories, they are a little use, so what do a beginner need to have a decent collection to that gear, why and do you know a good brand that are payable? (Yes Fluke are with garanti perfect but one set of leads cost more then what I want to give for a whole scope) :-)

author: dmills
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2018, 11:54:05 pm
content: There is NOTHING more aggravating then dicky test leads, except possibly dicky test gear!For multimeter leads if you are doing anything that involves power then good quality fused ones may just save your life.For scope probes I keep half a dozen cheap 100MHz fixed times 10 jobs around and just chuck them at the fist sign of flakiness as well as a couple of expensive GOOD ones that get used seldom, then there is the can of worms that is current probes, rogowski coils and the like.BNC to BNC and BNC to bare ends and clips are something I make as needed, it is worth also having some BNC to bare ends made up in teflon mini coax, RG316 or such as these are excellent for adhoc solder on probing of fast things in combination with a 50Ohm input on an instrument and are less prone to yank your test lashup off the bench.Pomona make decent quality 4mm plugs and such which are much better then the run of the mill ebay junk.Once you start collecting RF adaptors, and it will happen, it is well worth getting good at spotting the real thing from the "Very shiny and with a thread that is just very slightly the wrong pitch" variety on ebay, generally the slightly matt silver ones are ok, the very shiny nickel plated ones are usually junk.

author: lem_ix
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 12:20:28 am
content: In Europe you can look at Multi Contact and Hirschmann.

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 01:21:39 am
content: Buy what you need, when you need it. Predicting the future is for fools.No one can predict what you might want to do or what you might need to do it. As you identify things you want to do, research what tools are required and set about acquiring them. Don't spend too much. Don't spend too little. If you don't make money from it, keep to the cheap side. If you make money, it's an investment in yourself.

author: FriedMule
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 02:35:40 am
content: Many thanks for all your answers:-)Quote from: dmills on April 12, 2018, 11:54:05 pmThat sounds as a real great advice"Quote from: lem_ix on April 13, 2018, 12:20:28 amOkay ill look there also.Quote from: rhb on April 13, 2018, 01:21:39 amYou are right but there have to be basic things that you cant live vithout, like you cant live vithout solder if you have a solderstation and you cant live vithout leads from your power supply?

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 02:40:22 am
content: For DMM leads, I'd recommend skipping the cheap crap and get decent stuff (with silicone leads as they're very flexible). The reason is chasing down a fault that's actually caused by garbage test leads is beyond aggravating IMHO. If you're only after a decent set of basic test leads, I'd suggest gettingChinese market Fluke TL71test leads (i.e. under 7USD to Denmark).Sets offer a better value, and I'd suggestProbemaster. Much better value than Fluke or Pomona's sets IME, and in the case of their spring loaded probes, are better made. They're a bit unusual in the sense that they sell directly, but they do ship internationally. FWIW, I prefer the 9000 series stuff to the 8000 series for PCB work as you don't have as much weight hanging off of your test point which is far more likely to pull the connector off of the test point. The9104S Deluxe Electronic Setis an excellent value (straight retractable ends will work with pretty much anything). They also make really good quality oscilloscope connectors (Tee's and such), as well as filters.For silicone banana to banana, or banana to crocodile, there are decent offerings on eBay and the like IME.For an oscilloscope, you don't need to spend a lot generally speaking (don't get the cheapest adapters or connectors though; older ITT Pomona can be had as NOS at reasonable prices). In the case of probes, if a 100MHz probe would do, the P6100 models available on eBay, Banggood, or Aliexpress would do nicely, and come in ~6USD per shipped (examples). There are others rated for different bandwidths, as well as high voltage. Even reasonably priced differential probes if you find yourself in need of any of these in the future.In the case of RG58 BNC interconnect cables (50ohm),Make life easier(eBay seller) makes up decent cables that are well priced. Useful for both a function gen and oscilloscope.

author: Kappes Buur
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 07:25:05 am
content: For test leads I usually get them fromhttps://www.ebay.ca/sch/f-t-2000/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=which have served me well for a few years now.Good quality at reasonable prices.

author: FriedMule
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 10:06:40 am
content: Thanks a lot for your answers!I have a lot to work with now, thanks!

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 13, 2018, 01:22:37 pm
content: Quote from: FriedMule on April 13, 2018, 02:35:40 amAh, grasshopper, you have grasped the essential matter. You already know the answer to your question. There is another question you have overlooked. What do you buy and what do you build. You will not learn as much from buying things as you will from building things. I'm getting ready to make a large collection of power supply and DMM leads using shielded twisted pair wire.Suppose you want to be able to repair audio gear. An excellent project is to find an old mains powered transistor table radio of convenient size and construction that you can modify to add inputs and outputs via RCA connectors to access the various points in the signal path, RF in, RF preamp out, IF in and out, etc and make up jumpers and probes so that you can access any point in a radio or audio system with an appropriate signal or pickup.What stuff from China is usable is another matter. I just checked some BNC jumpers from eBay on the HP 8560A spectrum analyzer I received on Monday.. They are really nice if I need a 50 MHz notch filter, but not much use otherwise.But the most important thing is....Have Fun!Reg