Wanted/Will buy: Banana plug meter probes - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 08:32:34 pm
content: I am looking for multimeter probes with banana plugs for an older multimeter.The probes need to be at least 600V CAT rated, but preferably 1000V CAT rated and capable of 2A. Anything else is optional extra.The banana plug sockets are 4mm diameter. I am looking for at least two, preferably four so I can do four-wire resistance measurements.Name your price including postage to UK.Thanks

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 09:22:33 pm
content: You won't find any properly CAT rated (i.e. not faked, and according to current standards) probes with normal banana plugs for hand usage. It is all safety banana plugs, or for handsfee usage, or Chinese crap.You find the Chinese crap with fake ratings on eBay. You find 1000 Vrms rated for handsfree usage probes with normal banana plugs e.g. from Pomona (rated 60 Vrms when handheld).Getting a proper, non crap, multimeter with safety banana sockets should be the right thing to do if you really need a measurements system (probes plus meter) for a particular CAT measurement category.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 09:26:32 pm
content: Be aware of safety hazards as noted above.I think your best plan would be to buy an aftermarket probe set and cut the shrouded plugs off the end, replacing them with standard 4 mm banana plugs. Try at least to use plugs without any exposed metal screws.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 10:00:17 pm
content: Quote from: IanB on July 06, 2012, 09:26:32 pmGood point - I didn't think about the unshrouded-ness. Ignore the CAT rating then but the wire should be rated to 600/1000V. I will make sure to disconnect the source before measuring anywhere near this. At the moment I don't have any plans but it's good to have the capability just in case.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 10:11:44 pm
content: You could use banana plugs with a retractable sheath. Pomona sells probes with retractable sheaths and probes with unshrouded plugs. These may not have CAT ratings, but apart from the plugs they are built to the same standards as the CAT IV rated ones with shrouded banana plugs. Any decent distributor (eg. Digikey) should stock Pomona products. Hirschmann may offer something similar in Europe, although I think they offer mainly modular probes (separate leads and probes).

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 10:24:44 pm
content: Prices start at £20 on FarnellI only got the meter for £45!I can buy some reaaall cheap probes from fleabayhttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Multimeter-High-quality-pair-banana-plug-to-test-probe-rod-cable-leads-1000V-10A-/221044874843?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Test_Measurement_Equipment_ET&hash=item33774d1e5b#ht_3639wt_1189Maybe I can borrow work's megger to check the 1000V claim

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 10:33:28 pm
content: They're not cheap! I get ones from the likes of DX for half that. They're actually okay, but I wouldn't trust them to 1kV. I've got proper ones for that, courtesy of fleabay in the states.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 10:40:46 pm
content: I suggest you all read this:http://support.fluke.com/find-sales/download/asset/1263690_6116_eng_h_w.pdf

author: Monkeh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 11:01:21 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on July 06, 2012, 10:40:46 pmRead that ages ago. Your point?

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2012, 08:22:48 am
content: I'm not working on mains installations with a 6.5 digit multimeter, that's for sure. I've got my BK 2709B for doing that.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2012, 12:20:06 pm
content: Why are you looking for CAT rated probes then? What kind of circuits are you working on?

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2012, 02:21:53 pm
content: If you get a set of leads with the safety shroud all you need to do to make them fit old type banana sockets is cut the shroud off with a Stanley knife.