Where to get good quality multimeter probes? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Merlysys
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 12:19:26 pm
content: If you have experience with a long lasting ones with a moderate price please give details.Ones on ebay for about $10/pair I bought but they don't last long. I know the brand named ones will last long but they are pricey.

author: mij59
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 12:31:49 pm
content: Take a look at this ones from Probemaster, or use regular 4mm banana test leads in combination with Hirschmann probes.Edit : url restored, 4mm banana

author: TorqueRanger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 01:03:47 pm
content: I got a couple pairs of fluke for pretty cheap .. If you don't need them right away then I would wait till a nice set come on sale or can find a great deal on ebay..I paid $21 shipped for Fluke silicone with retractable shield and they are my favorite so far..

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 01:12:48 pm
content: I've bought a pair Fluke silicone with retractable shield last year with the 4mm adapter (TL175). Not even cheap,nearly Eur 30.They are very disappointing. Probe resistance is inconsistent, varies from 0.7 to as high as 10 ohm,Not the 0.1-0.2 Ohm my other leads give me. Nice look and feel though.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 01:21:36 pm
content: Quote from: markce on September 13, 2015, 01:12:48 pmThat means they're dirty. Clean the tips with a brass wire brush.My Uni-T probes were like that before I cleaned them. Now they're showing 0-0.1 ohms consistently.These ones seem like good quality, too:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Brymen-Silicone-Gold-Plated-Test-Leads-Probes-Multimeters-CAT-IV-1000V-/171162377470?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27da129cfe

author: TorqueRanger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 01:55:21 pm
content: Quote from: markce on September 13, 2015, 01:12:48 pmDid you get the chinese copies ??MJlorton a video on them ..

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 02:35:54 pm
content: I have cleaned them. Does make some difference for a short time, but closing the schield also does.They never are below 0.5 ohm, which for me is a fail.Don't know if they are chineese copies. Bought them from a big regular EU webshop and not cheap.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 02:38:23 pm
content: Quote from: markce on September 13, 2015, 01:12:48 pmI'm also gonna bet they're fake. (At absolute minimum, they are defective.) I have genuine TL175's, and they measure 0.19 ohms. 0.7 isn't even close to where they should be.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 02:39:08 pm
content: Quote from: mij59 on September 13, 2015, 12:31:49 pmQuoted to fix URL.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 03:00:54 pm
content: Quote from: markce on September 13, 2015, 02:35:54 pmCleaned them how?It's physically impossible for them to be of such a high resistance, because that would require ridiculously thin wire. 0.5 ohms at 1m would mean 0.03mm2wire or 32 AWG. 0.03mm2is equivalent to a single 0.2mm copper wire, or about twice the diameter of a human hair.Do you understand now that it can't be the leads? It must be the contact surfaces. I.e., either the tips, the plugs, or the jacks in your meter.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 03:13:11 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on September 13, 2015, 02:38:23 pm0.19 ohms is completely impossible. Your measurement is wrong. 0.19 ohms at 1m would equal 28 AWG. That's the wire that's used in IDE cables. Even the Uni-T probes that came with my UT139C have a resistance of 37 milliohms.Are you doing a 4 wire measurement? If not, your figures are completely meaningless. The contact resistance is a magnitude larger than the actual resistance of the leads. If just a bit of oil from your hands gets on the tips, the resistance doubles or triples.

author: commongrounder
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 03:46:29 pm
content: The contact surfaces aren't the only places resistance can build up. I have several Fluke TL71 lead sets. I opened a brand new set and they had over 10 ohms of resistance. I traced it down to just the red lead. Turns out the bonding between the wire and the probe tip, inside the probe body, was deficient. I actually was able to get the resistance down to .035 ohms just by manipulating the probe tip. This has been the only set of these I've purchased that were bad out of the box.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 03:53:42 pm
content: Quote from: commongrounder on September 13, 2015, 03:46:29 pmYou're right, wire breakage is another possibility. One should always measure both leads and compare.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 05:10:37 pm
content: Quote from: mos6502 on September 13, 2015, 03:13:11 pmOf course I'm not doing a 4 wire measurement, as I'm sure the others aren't either. We're talking touch-the-tips-together-and-see-what-the-DMM-shows. Your rude attitude is totally uncalled for.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 05:39:44 pm
content: Quote from: tooki on September 13, 2015, 05:10:37 pmYeah, they're doing it wrong as well. Point?Quote from: tooki on September 13, 2015, 05:10:37 pmWhat exactly are you measuring by doing that?Quote from: tooki on September 13, 2015, 05:10:37 pmI wasn't being rude at all. If being told that your methodology is wrong and you're giving out random numbers as if they mean something hurts your feelings, then I can't really do anything about that.

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 09:55:22 pm
content: Quote from: mos6502 on September 13, 2015, 05:39:44 pmSlow day at the office?I read somewhere online that typical lead resistance is between 1mOhm to 1 Ohm and it really only effects measurments of resistance less than 500mOhms.I'm OK with that since I don't think I own a resistor that's less than 5 Ohms.Now, giving someone a hard time for not doing a 4-wire measurement and telling them their "methodology" is wrong for touching the two probes together..that's not ok.Methodology can always be improved by holding a finger up in lieu of a 4-wire measurement.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 10:34:08 pm
content: Quote from: DimitriP on September 13, 2015, 09:55:22 pmGenerally any ohms measurement below 1 ohm is pretty much meaningless unless you're using a Kelvin setup. And again, it's not the resistance of the leads themselves (which is in the milliohms even with cheap leads), it's the contact resistance.Quote from: DimitriP on September 13, 2015, 09:55:22 pmI'm pretty sure you do, you just don't know it.Quote from: DimitriP on September 13, 2015, 09:55:22 pmThe "hard time" is not for touching two probes together, it's for saying "dude, these fluke probes are bullshit, they're like 0.5 ohms derp" and "bro, your probes are totally fake, the real ones are 0.1923282482 ohms herp" when clearly both measurements are bogus.Quote from: DimitriP on September 13, 2015, 09:55:22 pmThat's between you and your proctologist.

author: Matje
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 11:06:23 pm
content: Quote from: mos6502 on September 13, 2015, 10:34:08 pmOnly if the leads themselves are A-OK, meaning the bonds between the copper litz wire and the plugs/probe tips are OK. That is not a trivial requirement.Defective probes are not unheard of, including really crappy stuff (UNI-T, I'm looking at you here...) where the mechanical solution pretty much guarantees the connections will fail, pretty soon.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 11:18:51 pm
content: Quote from: Matje on September 13, 2015, 11:06:23 pmCorrect. Another reason why making a 4 wire measurement using a bench multimeter or an LCR meter is essential. It will instantly reveal any wiring issues. Let's say you measure 40 milliohms for one lead and 100 milliohms for the other. A difference like that can only occur if there's an internal connection problem or a broken wire. You would never notice that using the ohms measurement of a handheld multimeter.

author: Matje
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 11:27:18 pm
content: Quote from: mos6502 on September 13, 2015, 03:13:11 pmA 4 wire measurement to measure the resistance of the *actual probes* would be wrong. Where would you even attach the sense wires?Unless one were to use probes to measure the resistance of other probes, now that would be, like, quite weird (and suboptimal, more contact surfaces for no good reason etc.)? After all, 4 wire is used to eliminate the resistance of the probes from the measurement of the DUTs resistance, without an actual extra DUT 4 wire is just meaningless.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 11:57:10 pm
content: Quote from: Matje on September 13, 2015, 11:27:18 pmAt the ... ends of the lead?Quote from: Matje on September 13, 2015, 11:27:18 pmHuh? I think you have trouble understanding how 4 wire measurements work.OK, here's a picture:And yes, it's a 4 wire measurement. This LCR meter has split jacks. I made sure that the tip touches both halves of the jack.Check for repeatability:37 millohms works out to pretty exactly 0.45mm2(around 21 AWG). A plausible wire size for cheap leads.As an aside, notice how the theta is different in both measurements, due to the different coiling of the cable, resulting in a different reactance, yet the meter managed to correctly calculate the ESR.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 13, 2015, 11:59:04 pm
content: Another vote for Probemaster.Between the 8000 and 9000 series', the modular 9000 series makes better sense for electronics IME. The reason is the connector ends don't pop off in instances the 8000 series would due to the connector + probe weight hanging off of the test point/pin/leg. You can prop them up of course, but it gets annoying if you have to do this all the time.The 8000 series probe body is really nice to handle, and are excellent if you don't use connectors all that frequently. And if you've the budget, I'd recommend both (i.e. set of 8000 probes only + 9000 series kit).Their spring loaded probes are also excellent (8000 series softie body w/ pogo pins).Regarding value, you can get a set of bare probes (8000 lead only), the deluxe electronics kit (9104), and spring loaded kit (815x) for less than a Fluke TLK287 kit (not only less money, but you get more pieces).

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 12:36:19 am
content: probemaster, here, too.really good feeling stuff, well built, good flexible cable and I think its anti-burn (soldering iron protection).

author: 5ky
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 01:02:31 am
content: If you live in the U.S., probemaster is a no-brainer.Even with international shipping, I think probemaster might still be the best bang for the buck. They're quite good, and surprisingly cheap. $15.90http://probemaster.com/8000-series-leads-only/

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 01:58:10 am
content: Don't forget Frankie and his eBay store:http://www.ebay.com/itm/171162377470?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITI have a set of these on my FLuke 27/FM and I like them.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 02:21:02 am
content: Quote from: linux-works on September 14, 2015, 12:36:19 amYep. The wire uses silicone insulation.And the flexibility reminds me of a freshly cooked spaghetti noodle.Just don't eat it.Quote from: GreyWoolfe on September 14, 2015, 01:58:10 amTrue.FWIW, the cost is similar to Probemaster's 8000 series set of leads only ($15.90). If you ever get the opportunity, you might seriously want to give Probemaster a try.

author: calin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 03:05:09 am
content: I just got a pair of probemaster 8000 like a week or so ago ... really nice. Plus they sent me a probe holder and ... a copy of The US Constitution !!!... How wold I measure otherwise without knowing my rightsJoke aside .. yeap Probemaster are nice, very nice.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 08:33:24 am
content: Quote from: mos6502 on September 13, 2015, 10:34:08 pmAnd how's that not relevant, then? The point is, if one set of probes is giving 0.2 ohms, and on the same meter, another is giving 7 ohms, it's still a relevant comparison, regardless of where the resistance actually lies. If a given set of probes has high contact resistance, that's what will ultimately be problematic then, won't it??Quote from: mos6502 on September 13, 2015, 10:34:08 pmWhatever. I maintain you're being a dickwad. You could have tried and explained your POV politely, but you were rude from the get-go and so nobody's gonna listen anyway. You don't get respect by being an asshole.

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 03:16:27 pm
content: Quote from: calin on September 14, 2015, 03:05:09 amOT: years ago, not long after the whole TSA bullshit thing was started, P&T (great comedians and magicians, btw) had the idea of selling metal 'bill of rights' cards that you could put into your suitcase. when the TSA sees it, they will object to the sharp corners (it used to have sharp corners in the first version) and they'd take it from you. you then get to say 'oh, great, so now you're taking the bill of rights away!'. its supposed to be a little funny but also making a subtle statement.your comment about the constitution made me remember that old penn and teller gag.http://www.pennandtellerstore.com/p-t-tsa-bill-of-rights-card

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 09:35:26 pm
content: I did a kelvin resistance measurement on my troubled TL175 leads. One measures slightly below 0.1 ohm, the other is twice thatat best. The resistance varies if the wire of the probe is twisted. Looks like a bad crimp connection.Thanks for the suggestions here, I'll contact Fluke for this.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 14, 2015, 10:28:33 pm
content: That would mean they're definitely bad. Where did you buy them? Are they grey/black or yellow/black?

author: LaurentR
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 04:47:57 am
content: I have had issues with at least three Fluke probes. One grabber from a TL81A probe set, 2 from TL71 probes.The grabber had the wire just not connected at all inside the molded plastic.The TL71 seem to be around 30-35 mOhm normally. One (from one set) had around 200 mOhm and nothing made it better. One (from another set) was around 1 Ohm and some strong flexing of the probe returned it to its nominal range and it's been there since...I love the Fluke probes (even though I don't have Fluke meters anymore) but I have had a spotty history with their quality. On the plus side, when I called Fluke support on the TL81A set, they sent me a whole new set, no questions asked. So support was AAA+++.

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 08:53:38 am
content: My TL175's are Yellow/black. I have boought them from reichelt in Germany. In the Milton video they are supposedly the 'real' Fluke probes.

author: GeekPriest
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 15, 2015, 01:47:35 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on September 14, 2015, 01:58:10 amI'm eagerly waiting for a pair of these to arrive.After returning some not-so-great, and likely counterfeit, Fluke TL71 probes, I ordered a set of Pomona 5519a probes and these Brymen probes.The original probes that came with my Brymen-made Amprobe AM-130 are a little above average. The insulation is only PVC, so they don't drape all that well, but the probe tips look to be gold plated (or similar). However, using these probes, the sound from a continuity test on my Amprobe (with a non-latched continuity tester) sounds as solid as my Fluke 77 IV (with latched continuity). By comparison, the Pomona leads are scratchy, and the resistance jumps around when you rub the probe ends together. My hope is that the Franky-supplied Brymen probes will marry a silicone lead with the nice plating on the probes that came with my Amprobe.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 04:58:06 am
content: I use ProbeMaster 8000 series probes with the screw-on spring clips on my bench meters.

author: BFX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 16, 2015, 09:07:45 am
content: This probes are excelentTest probehttp://www.tme.eu/en/details/pj464iec-r/probes-test-plugs/electro-pjp/464-iec-rt/and cablehttp://www.tme.eu/en/details/pj2019-100-r/single-test-leads/electro-pjp/2019-100-rt/very similar like fluke cable and probe is very sharp.

author: GeekPriest
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2015, 03:00:35 pm
content: As I mentioned above, the Amprobe MTL-90B probes that came with my AM-130 aren't bad. PVC coated, so they don't drape very well. However, the gold (or gold-tone) plating on the tips gives them nice characteristics for continuity testing and stable resistance readings.After rejecting some Fluke TL71s from Amazon as possibly/likely counterfeit, I decided to try some others.I ordered a set of the Pomona 5519A probes, new and in the box, from eBay, along with a set of Franky's Brymen leads (http://www.ebay.com/itm/171162377470) that looked similar to the stock Amprobe leads, but with silicone insulation.The Pomonas disappoint. The tip coating, even after cleaning, doesn't give terribly reliable resistance readings. Worse, they cause the continuity buzzer on my non-latching meters (Amprobe AM-130 and Greenlee DM-820a, both made by Brymen) to cut out, waver, and scratch simply by rubbing the probe tips together. My Fluke 77-IV, with its latched continuity buzzer, can even be made to cut out from time to time. The silicone does give them a nice drape without kinks and tangles.However, the Brymen leads in the link above are just top-notch. The silicone wires lay out flat, and, best of all, the tips give nice consistent readings on all three meters, with perfect operation of the continuity buzzers. I love them already. For 17 USD shipped, they're a good deal.Now that I've looked at the Probe Masters a bit more, it looks like they'd be competitive as well, and supplied closer to home.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2015, 08:18:27 pm
content: Quote from: GeekPriest on September 22, 2015, 03:00:35 pmFWIW, the Probemasters solve this IME as well.

author: Timur Born
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2015, 07:38:51 am
content: Any experience with Keysight probes? They sell a kit called U1168A/U1168B (seems to be the same?) that costs only half as much as a Fluke TLK287.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2015, 04:01:36 pm
content: Quote from: Timur Born on September 23, 2015, 07:38:51 amThe leads are 16AWG with silicone insulation, but they have a memory & stiffness that are too close to that of PVC. Overall, it's a usable basic kit and better than the cheap crap, but you can do better for the money with Probemaster IME.

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2015, 04:33:22 pm
content: Yeah, probemaster test leads here too. They are quality built cables, high strand count, very flexible silicone insulation and gold plated connectors at both ends with nice tips.There's been a few threads on dmm test leads and probemaster is often recommended (for a good reason)! Folk seem happy here to spend $1k on a 6 1/2 digit or better bench meter and then quibble about saving some pennies on an ebay test lead and then complain about the quality/performance.... Penny wise, pound foolish comes to mindI have four sets of probemaster test leads for my meters. A 4 wire set compatible with my Fluke 8845A, a pair with super sharp tips, an everyday pair with reasonably sharp tips and a multiple adapter end capable 'kit'. I even have one of their 10x scope cable/probe kits. Doesn't hurt at all that they are an actual US based manufacturing company that stands behind their product.Never let me down and great quality/performance for the $.cheers,george.

author: GeekPriest
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2015, 04:34:46 pm
content: I think I'll sell the Pomonas and try the Probe Masters.

author: soren
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2015, 07:33:50 pm
content: Probemaster now offers reasonable shipping rates to Europe. It used to be more than $100 but is now $26 for USPS Priority Mail. Not exactly cheap perhaps, but non-crazy at least.

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2015, 09:07:52 pm
content: Quote from: soren on September 23, 2015, 07:33:50 pmUS$26 for international priority is pretty well the true cost for a small flat rate priority box. So at least that is fair.cheers,george.

author: GeekPriest
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2015, 09:12:45 pm
content: I sure wish they'd send a pair of probes domestically (i.e., U.S.) for a first class fat envelope, which should cost about half the $6.51 for priority mail they charge now.

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2015, 01:40:30 am
content: I rather like my Pomona probes. If Probe Master are that much better, I need to try them.I've just been so turned off by their standard 8000 series probes. They look dildos, quite frankly, and just seem to be very big and bulky to the point that they'd actually block my view and make it difficult to get into tight spaces. I don't understand why they can't just make normal sized probes.

author: GeekPriest
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2015, 02:43:13 am
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on September 24, 2015, 01:40:30 amI actually agree with this. The Probe Master 8000 series are pretty homely. It doesn't look like they'd fit in the slots in the back of typical meter holsters either. The $17 Brymen ones work well and look completely normal.The Pomona probes were nicely constructed, but the plating on the tips of the Brymen/Amprobe leads seems to make all the difference.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2015, 05:24:34 pm
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on September 24, 2015, 01:40:30 amThe 9000 series is far better suited for electronics due to connectors IME (less weight on the test point so it stays attached).And the standard probes are sized like what you're accustomed to.Regarding the 8000 series, they can reach quite a few tight spots (additional length between the tip and finger guard). Also, the back half of the grey part is flexible. FWIW, I'm quite fond of the spring loaded versions (finer tips + even longer, can reach very tight spots). I highly recommend a set if you need/want a pair.

author: Timur Born
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2015, 10:35:44 pm
content: Quote from: GeekPriest on September 22, 2015, 03:00:35 pmThe same can be said about the Fluke TL175 that came with my Fluke 289, though. Very easy to make the latched buzzer drop out with those.

author: GeekPriest
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 26, 2015, 03:15:29 am
content: Quote from: Timur Born on September 25, 2015, 10:35:44 pmThe Pomona probes were certainly similar to the Fluke TL71 (alleged) probes I bought.I'm no expert, but Franky's $17 Brymen probes seem better than both. The quick, stable readings from them Brymen leads are nice!

author: Timur Born
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 09:07:52 am
content: Some cleaning (nearly fresh out of box) Flukes helped a lot. Now they mostly make good contact except for the parts where the surface is a bit roughed up by little scratches. I doubt that gold plating will help much with the latter, maybe even to the contrary.I might get me a pair of those Brymens and add a pair of those 0.7 mm probes on top of that. On the other hand I am more teased by the Fluke TL910 ("3 sets of spring loaded gold tips and 2 sets of stainless steel tips included"), which seem to be the same as the Pomona 6341. Of course the Pomona cost half the price around here.

author: Timur Born
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 27, 2015, 10:41:59 am
content: By the way, does anyone know where to get tips/probes with 2.5 or 2.6 mm diameter?

author: Timur Born
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 01, 2015, 04:20:01 pm
content: I ordered the Brymen probes. One thing I am curious about is how they will work for Ohm measurements. Or more specific, whether their orientation matters for resistance the same way it does for the Fluke 175 (as in direction of where the cable goes, how the plug is rotated in the port).