Probemaster - 8000 series or 9000 series? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Acecool
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2020, 11:46:30 pm
content: I'm going to place an order for probe masters soon and I'm curious as I haven't been able to find any videos, etc.. on the direct comparisons, quality, etc... I've found a lot on the 8000 series and they all say nothing but good things. I haven't found any on the 9000 series.I'm thinking of getting the $50 kit, plus the banana clip attachment, and some 9000 series attachments for smd probes... just so they can be attached / detached quickly. vs screwed on and unscrewed while being attached to something which isn't really feasible.What are your thoughts?

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2020, 09:44:03 am
content: I have a few 8000 series but no 9000s. I’m sure the quality is great.Me, I prefer separate test leads over accessory attachments. I find the added bulk of a whole probe handle to be annoying, compared to just wire going directly to the clip, hook, etc.The downside is that I have a lot of different test leads.

author: JonM
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 10, 2020, 03:33:31 am
content: I have both 8000 and 9100 probes. The 8000s are nicer to hold in the hand but I agree that the screw on/off tips can be a bit annoying at times. I use the 8000s most often, but the 9100s are stashed away so that might not be fair to them.

author: Acecool
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2020, 08:21:07 pm
content: I'll probably get the 8000 $50 kit, and throw in a few attachments then... there is one which lets you use 9000 series attachments so I could always use those by simply plugging them in if I do need them. There are just so many connectors you could easily spend $200 + just on a full set of 9000 series... but a decent kit of the 8000 is only $50 - if you were to buy all of the 8000 you would spend about as much... so yeah I'll get the 8000 series...I wonder though...I wonder if I should get the basic 9000 series and desolder the 8000 probes and solder the BNC connector into the rear of the 8000s so that they could be plugged into the 9000 leads.... the big issue with this is because of how it is formed, it would mean cutting it open and I doubt I'd be able to re-seal that end or make it look even remotely close...I'll contact them and see if they would be willing to make the 8000 test leads to plug into the 9000 set since most reviews are saying 8000 and I haven't found any on the 9000 and the 9000 leads don't look like anything special.Cheers for the responses :-)

author: jklasdf
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2020, 07:52:45 pm
content: The standard size probes from the 9100 series aren't anything special. I tend to use the 9189 SMD "micro" probes a lot, part of this set:https://probemaster.com/9110-smd-spring-tip-micro-probe-deluxe-kit/Being able to attach and remove the ends is convenient, although probably not that much of a time saver if you take into account the time needed to get out/store and organize the ends in the pouch. But I guess still faster than screwing them on and off.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2020, 08:23:04 am
content: Again, I suggest having your probes be probes and your test leads be test leads. Get the basic 8000 for your probes (they remain my absolute favorite), and then test leads and various clips from probe master or elsewhere.

author: Acecool
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2020, 03:38:49 pm
content: So far I have about $125 in my shopping card on their site. The $50 kit, then the set of SMD leads which are the same 8000 series but smaller??? and a pair of each tips ( in a kit, and comes with a discount ) then a few little attachments...I have yet to find a simple male to female banana plug on their website... I want the safety / covered right angle plugs, but my current multimeter doesn't have the depth and I am probably going to make the purchase of a multimeter today, but until I get it, I'd like to be able to use the probes..Anyway, my question.. are these worth it:https://probemaster.com/spring-loaded-micro-tip-test-lead-kit/The $40 kit. probes and a pair of each tip - saves close to 10 I think.I haven't found any videos on this..As for the attachments - I just got 2 normal alligators for the other ( a 1 inch and 1/4 inch ). They are either screw on, or 9000 series. I also got the screw on banana attachment so that I can use the 9000 series attachments ( or I can buy random attachments elsewhere ).I may dump everything from the cart though and just go with the $50 kit, the banana attachments for the 9000 series, and that's it... I was hoping there'd be free shipping but it doesn't look like it so I may try to buy on Amazon. I really would like some of the SMD tools as I now have to trace a lot of stuff so the micro points would be a big help and some of the micro clips would be nice too.

author: JonM
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 26, 2020, 04:16:41 am
content: My last order to Probemaster was back in January 2018, and oddly it was for exactly the the two kits mentioned (8000 Series - Test Lead Master Kit & Spring Loaded Micro-Tip Test Lead Kit). There was no shipping charge back then, but the prices may have remained the same ($49.90 & $37.90).The 8000 probes are usually on the 121GW (and occasionally on the 34465A, I have not yet un-packaged the Keysight probes (but I just looked at them and they are very nice)).The Spring Loaded Micro-Tip probes are very nice when you need to firmly probe a small spot on a board with minimal risk of slipping thanks to the sharp points and spring force. I was working on arms to hold these probes hands free but I ended up buying a PC Bite system (which I have not even tested yet...).Beware of Amazon sellers with inflated prices.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2020, 10:44:54 am
content: Over the years I've grown a dislike to all those big probes, so I've made my own.I started with the small 2mm hirshmann plugs, clamped them vertically in a vice and drilled a hole through the center, approx 5mm deep. Then I took 2 needles and dremeled them in half and soldered the tip of the needles in the Hirschmann plugs.These hardened steel and chrome plated needles last a long time, you can easily poke them through the isolation of wires if need arises. You can also stick them in multi stranded wires and they often stay there without even touching them. You can also stick them in a breadboard.These are the best probes I've ever had.You can also use them with crocodile clamps for 2mm plugs. I've got a few of the Hirschmann. the crocodile clamps themself are good quality, but I still do not like them much because there is not much you can clamp in them. Even so, They are useful to have nearby.And I mean nearby quite literally.I've cut out a piece of bicycle inner tube and stuck that between my DMM and it's "rubber" holster, so it forms a "flap" on the under side of y DMM. When I do not need the crocodile clamps, I put them on that bicycle tube flap.For the wiring I used regular 2 wire PVC cable. I've split the ends apart. About 10cm on the 4mm banana bus side, and some 25 cm on the "working side" with my self made probes. This halves the amount of wires from your DMM. The PVC wiring is not great though, but acceptable because it's relatively thin. I would like to replace this with 2 conductor silly cone wiring some day.Some ear buds have supple and decent wires, maybe I'll use a set of those someday for my next set of probes.

author: Elvis!
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 10, 2022, 02:09:19 am
content: I'm an electronics uneducated newbie, so if this is a stupid suggestion just ignore it. I'm sure that you have something by now, but since other people might read this thread I wondered if one of these stacking connectors might help you achieve your purpose in combination with perhaps an 8000 series kit or other leads.https://probemaster.com/search.php?search_query=stacking&section=productI assume that some of the specialty leads with non-retractable sheaths would not insert into these stackable female plugs, but you would have the option of cutting off the sheath to make them fit.You could also design a lead with no sheath here:https://probemaster.com/3436-design-your-own-test-leads/