Pomona 6733 Test Lead Wire Unknowns - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: gridleak
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 03, 2014, 02:28:48 am
content: I've been looking for bare copper test lead wire for instrument use. I visited Pomona's website, and found #6733 silicone insulated test lead wire listed in their datasheet (Rev 101) as bare copper. Fine...just what I need.I went to Digikey's website, found 6733, and double checked the datasheet link there. That link directed me to a datasheet (rev 100) at Pomona's website that listed 6733 as tinned???I also visited Allied's website, found 6733, and an Allied marketing assertion that it is silver plated??!! The datasheet linked at Allied is back to the Rev 100 datasheet at Pomona which lists 6733 as tinned. No manufacturer would list wire as merely tinned, when it's silver plated. Or so I believe.Pomona/Fluke is mum on these discrepancies, and hasn't responded to me on this matter. There could be multiple explanations for all this. Perhaps, at one time, 6733 was silver plated, and the Allied site hasn't been updated to reveal the downgrading of 6733 to tinned. Perhaps 6733 inventory older than a certain production date is tinned (rev 100 datasheet), and newer production is bare copper (rev 101). Maybe the rev 100 datasheet is in error, and 6733 has always been bare copper and the rev 101 datasheet corrects the error. Right now I have no way of knowing what I would get if I placed an order!Has anyone on this forum ordered Pomona 6733 test lead within the last 24 months? Was it tinned, silver plated, or bare copper? Where did you procure it from?

author: gridleak
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2014, 01:24:40 am
content: Pomona responded to my email. They claim that 6733 has always been bare copper. They indicated that the 6733 datasheet (rev 100) is in error, and that the (rev 101) datasheet on their website is correct, and shows bare copper for 6733, and tinned for 6734. Either Pomona is clueless about their supply chain being polluted with counterfeit product, or distributors in the supply chain are purchasing from wholesalers that are using the error in the rev 100 datasheet to get away with shipping counterfeit tinned 6733.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 05, 2014, 01:45:38 am
content: Distributors buy directly from the manufacturer, which would be Pomona in this case. Seems there's been a SNAFU with the datasheets/links is all, not selling counterfeit product.

author: gridleak
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2014, 10:27:35 pm
content: Absolutely correct.Digi-Key responded that they buy direct from Pomona. Digi-Key actually checked inventory, and verified 100% that the 6733 they sell is bare copper. Digi-Key will change the datasheet link to make the product info. accurate. Digi-Key is a diligent, and very responsive supplier. Their competitors just "punt", or ignore inquiries from non D&B listed entities.

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2014, 04:51:52 pm
content: I cannot see why it matters if the wire is bare copper or tinned. The important parameters are the flexibility, the number of strands and the silicone insulation.

author: Marc M.
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2014, 02:22:42 pm
content: I can independently confirm that it's bare copper. I purchased some from Mouser about a year ago to make up a bunch of leads for the bench. It's very nice wire - you won't be disappointed.

author: sotos
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 10, 2014, 03:17:00 pm
content: Confirmed copper.http://uk.farnell.com/pomona/6733-0/test-lead-15-2m-18awg-copper-black/dp/2102103