Can anyone identify these probes? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: elliott
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 05:33:09 pm
content: I picked up a pouch of various probes at the flea market today, pretty much everything was marked Fluke except these. Anyone know what they are?At first I thought they had broken tips, but upon closer inspection I realized they were adjustable and had been retracted into the probe body. I was pleasantly surprised at how sharp these things are and the probe tip can extend quite far. The leads feel nice and the overall quality is pretty good. There are no markings at all, even on the insulation of the leads. Obviously not something safe for high voltage work, but they could come in handy.

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 09:13:51 pm
content: Piercing probes for hard to reach places? You can buy similar needle like exposed probes today (but I doubt they would be adjustable as those in the photo).

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 09:22:50 pm
content: Quote from: electr_peter on June 13, 2015, 09:13:51 pmMy flukes are adjustable like that. They almost have to be. They're so sharp and thin that they would either get ruined, or would punch holes in everything, if you didn't retract them. They're quite useful for probing around in tight spaces. My newer Flukes have the needle insulated save for the very tip...again, useful for not shorting out in tight spaces.Very useful to have for electronics work.

author: elliott
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 09:59:30 pm
content: Quote from: John Coloccia on June 13, 2015, 09:22:50 pmThey seem like they'll be great for probing connectors.I guess these are some older no-name probes that happen to be good quality. The current ones from China on eBay and the like are different. He did have a couple old Beckman meters, but I don't think they would have came with those.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 10:25:55 pm
content: I have seen those probes, but I don't know the brand.But if they're the same as the ones I saw, that long probe that looks like bare metal is actually insulated except for the very tip.Ed

author: elliott
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 13, 2015, 11:04:46 pm
content: Quote from: edpalmer42 on June 13, 2015, 10:25:55 pmI didn't even notice that, they definitely do have a very thin insulating coating on them.

author: nadona
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2015, 09:19:06 am
content: It is a Fluke Y8140.

author: elliott
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2015, 03:23:45 pm
content: Quote from: nadona on June 14, 2015, 09:19:06 amThat would be them, I guess these would be from the '80s or maybe '90s?All Fluke then, looks like I did pretty well for $27.

author: nadona
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2015, 07:12:18 pm
content: They make it as Fluke TL40.http://goo.gl/v4IWqU

author: John Coloccia
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2015, 07:13:18 pm
content: That's what I have. They're very nice.

author: elliott
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 14, 2015, 08:45:12 pm
content: Quote from: nadona on June 14, 2015, 07:12:18 pmThose look safer, everything can't fall out the back of them. I'll probably pick up some of the more modern ones in the future. I was looking at the Pomona 5953A, I've been happy with some of their others and they are half the price of the TL40s.