Cheap but decent quality 4mm banana leads - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2016, 10:17:58 pm
content: I've got some nice Pomona 4mm to minigrabber leads and some crappy Chinese no brand 4mm to 4mm leads. The latter are completely knackered and have started falling out of the sockets now which is damn annoying especially after only 6 months. I've pictured the two types below:Now a whole set of new Pomona leads is going to set me back a fair whack in cash. Around £50 to replace all the current ones as Farnell are the only UK supplier.Does anyone know a mid-ground or alternatively some cheap leads that aren't complete junk like the above? If not, it's Pomona and a trip to the purchasing department (wife)

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 24, 2016, 10:39:14 pm
content: Quote from: setq on August 24, 2016, 10:17:58 pmBe nice to her.Maybe a back rub would help.Sadly, that's true of most stuff out of Asia, although there may be exceptions. I've been using the same Pomona leads of this type for years with no problems, and they get a lot of use/abuse.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2016, 10:43:49 pm
content: Hirschmann is good quality, bit bulky though. Farnell also has "silver line" "pro power" or "unbranded" (im confused about the name actually) which is sligthly better quality chinese. They work OK.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2016, 10:57:23 pm
content: Franky?http://stores.ebay.com/99centhobbies

author: radhaz
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 03:35:54 am
content: Not cheap, but probably better than Pomona.http://probemaster.com/

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 03:57:40 am
content: Quote from: retiredcaps on August 24, 2016, 10:57:23 pmYep. Get some from him. He's got a thread in the buy/sell/wanted sub forum where he'll be happy to answer questions.Easy guy to deal with, and doesn't sell shit. I've bought a bunch of stuff from him with no issues whatsoever.

author: BMack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 05:41:46 am
content: Third to suggest Franky. Plenty of options with Franky too, the heavy duty(weird style) banana plug probably won't ever wear out but I worry it is a bit too robust. Sort of like how many broken RCA plugs I see because someone is using Monster cables.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 07:00:05 am
content: Looked at the hirschmann ones but that was coming out more than Pomona!http://m.ebay.com/itm/171062979200Franky is selling the same ones that died after 6 months.I've pulled the trigger on the Pomona ones and have ordered her a present too. Fingers crossed that arrives before the test leads doThanks all.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 07:42:49 am
content: Quote from: radhaz on August 25, 2016, 03:35:54 amI know the OP has already made a purchase, but I've nearly all Probemaster for DMM leads (the rest is pre-Danaher owned Fluke). FWIW, they're equal or better than other tier 1 brands.Nor have I found a better value for US or EU made DMM test lead products. For those outside of the US, they ship internationally as well.So yeah, I'm a very happy customer(for disclosure, I have no financial interest with any test lead or T&M manufacturer).

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 08:08:03 am
content: Quote from: setq on August 25, 2016, 07:00:05 amNow, that I've checked, it is only half a EUR cheaper (farnell pricing), but double the current capacity, 32A.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 08:19:06 am
content: Yeah. Also only need ~5A through them and the 32A ones are like wrestling with anacondas.

author: Jester
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 09:56:50 am
content: These ebay ones are quite goodhttp://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-Silicone-High-Voltage-Banana-to-Banana-Plugs-Test-Leads-Cable-/171907570980?hash=item28067d5d24:g:GP0AAOSwoQ1Tn607

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 12:54:27 pm
content: Quote from: Jester on August 25, 2016, 09:56:50 amI beg to differ. I bought a set of those (2 each of 5 color, 10 in all for ~$20) a few years ago and they are not good. They are either too tight or too loose depending on the the particular jack that you insert them into. I've never had that problem with the Pomona ones pictured in the first post. I ended up lobbing the connectors off and replacing them withthesewhich are much better and fit well into all my various gear's banana jacks. In addition, the wire is not silicone insulated as claimed, despite being soft, flexible and quite nice to work with (nicer than the stiff Pomona wire IMHO). A soldering iron will quickly and easily melt it, impossible with silicone.

author: Jester
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 01:20:51 pm
content: I don't have an issue with fit with the HP, Agilent and Fluke test equipment that I use. I can't comment on the melting aspect as I keep my soldering iron away from my test leads.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 02:04:12 pm
content: I've melted a couple by accident. All it takes is a little cock up when you're connecting a couple of floating supplies due to a lapse in coffee consumption. The Chinese ones are 99% plastic insulation with the hint of a wire somewhere in the middle and WOOSH and your lab is full of puke smoke.

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 04:24:42 pm
content: Quote from: setq on August 25, 2016, 02:04:12 pmThe ones referred to by Jester are spec'd to have 1 mm2copper wire. I measured the resistance on mine by measuring voltage drop at high current, and the are pretty much dead on spec. It is equivalent to approx 17 AWG. I typically would not use these with more than a couple A of current due to voltage drop.

author: H.O
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 05:32:40 pm
content: After getting a load of crap as far as test leads go (the wires weren't even made of copper) I got a couple different ones,like these for examplefrom Franky and I've been very satisfied with them. They're, by far, the best one I've got from EBAY and the price is right IMO.If you're interested in exactly how bad the cables I got were you can read my Littlewrite-upon my website.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 06:36:57 pm
content: The stiffness of the Pomona leads is a bit of a bummer. I have several. Has anyone else tried the ones from Franky that H.O linked to? Are they really silicone?

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 08:38:24 pm
content: Quote from: H.O on August 25, 2016, 05:32:40 pmI had some of them, not from Franky. That's what prompted me to buy the Pomona minigrabbers.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 09:13:04 pm
content: Quote from: bitseeker on August 25, 2016, 06:36:57 pmI haven't got any Pomona 4mm to 4mm leads, but I do have Pomona probes (6601) with 18 SWG silicone insulated leads and I wouldn't describe those as stiff in any fashion - to my mind these are just about ideal.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 09:15:58 pm
content: Hobby king has great quality silicone wire, but you'd have to wire them up yourself:http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/RC_PRODUCT_SEARCH.asp?strSearch=silicone+wireQuote from: H.O on August 25, 2016, 05:32:40 pmInteresting write up.

author: ebclr
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 25, 2016, 10:47:18 pm
content: Not so crap, still cheaphttps://world.taobao.com/item/526581954337.htm?fromSite=main&ali_refid=a3_430620_1006:1102270213:N:4mm%E9%A6%99%E8%95%89%E6%8F%92%E5%A4%B4:6652fe27ba6cb0324b723de9fc9a3ee6&ali_trackid=1_6652fe27ba6cb0324b723de9fc9a3ee6&spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.x2wYkShttps://world.taobao.com/item/37177832535.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.x2wYkS#detailhttps://world.taobao.com/item/535913957795.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.x2wYkS#detailhttps://world.taobao.com/item/4338289209.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.x2wYkS#detailhttps://world.taobao.com/item/4239770995.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.x2wYkS#detailhttps://world.taobao.com/item/537521429971.htm#detailhttps://world.tmall.com/item/524255393844.htm?spm=a312a.7700714.0.0.x2wYkS

author: macboy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2016, 12:06:27 am
content: Quote from: Cerebus on August 25, 2016, 09:13:04 pmThe Pomona banana-banana leads are stiff. Let's compare some to the cheap ones that Jester pointed out earlier. Pomona top, cheapies below.

author: bitseeker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2016, 12:13:45 am
content: Yep, those are the Pomonas. They work fine, just a bit stiff.Nice test.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2016, 12:28:34 am
content: Quote from: macboy on August 26, 2016, 12:06:27 amYeah, I can see how those might get on your nerves if you've got 4 or 5 fighting for desk space and trying to push your breadboard off into your lap. A quick look at the latest Pomona catalogue shows that they only do silicone insulation in 18 swg red and black leads. So if you've got any other colour than black or red, or any wire other than 18 swg you've got PVC insulation.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2016, 09:16:33 am
content: Quote from: setq on August 25, 2016, 08:19:06 amWell you know, last time I was buying it, I was spending someone else's money, and ordering the one which was already in the ERP system/being used in the office.

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2016, 11:44:08 am
content: Someone else's money is always the best to spendWell it turns out my Pomona leads were shipped by UPS and are doing the rounds at the moment. I get the feeling I might not even get them as the last time this happened UPS ended up returning the damn things to Farnell

author: BMack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2016, 02:56:13 am
content: Quote from: setq on August 25, 2016, 07:00:05 amHe also has other banana plug options:These are different but similar style:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Silicone-Leads-14AWG-with-Stackable-Banana-Plugs-on-Both-Ends-1-Pair-/172002582714Non-stackable:http://www.ebay.com/itm/50cm-20-Silicone-Test-Leads-with-Banana-Plugs-1-Pair-Red-Black-/200873022764Stackable and extremely robust:http://www.ebay.com/itm/4mm-Solderless-Stackable-Banana-Plugs-1-Pair-Red-Black-/171030386766

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2016, 09:50:17 am
content: Not cheap, but very solid.Same price point as Hirschmann are MultiContact 4mm test leads.Contacts have retractable isolation sleeve around the contact that works well.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2016, 07:44:10 pm
content: Quote from: markce on August 27, 2016, 09:50:17 amI really prefer retractable bananas as well, and those that are also stackable like what you posted are awesome.

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2016, 08:59:01 pm
content: Thanks, I really like the MultiContact banana leads.Plugs are also sold separately, so you can make your own leads, which I also did.Plugs/leads are rated 600V, 32A.I also have a nest of cheap 4mm leads (Chinese shop), but almost never use them. My 40 year old Hirschmann banana leadsare still used a lot more. How much did these cost (per year) in the end?

author: BMack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2016, 01:52:25 am
content: Quote from: markce on August 27, 2016, 08:59:01 pmThat's exactly why I am willing to pay more for good quality leads/probes/clips etc. Even if you use them for a year, how much does that cost per week? Next to nothing. If you use them often you're going to get a lot for your money.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2016, 03:16:11 pm
content: Quote from: markce on August 27, 2016, 09:50:17 amI have quite a bit of old kit that won't take banana plugs with safety shields, consequently I've been meaning to get some plugs with retractable shields. I've looked at these particular Multicontact plugs before but I've not seen one in the flesh. From all the photos and illustrations it's not been clear to me whether the stacking socket on the back end of them will take a shielded plug or whether it will only take retractable/conventional plugs. I'd be grateful if anyone who has actually seen them can clear this up for me. By the way, these leads come in at at around the £8 GBP each mark from RS so, while they're not dirt cheap, they're not expensive either.

author: markce
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 29, 2016, 08:04:15 pm
content: The stacking socket on the back end of the MultiContact plug will only take retractable/conventional plugs.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 12:20:51 am
content: Quote from: markce on August 29, 2016, 08:04:15 pmThanks.Damn!

author: l0wside
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 30, 2016, 09:29:49 am
content: I have purchased mine from TME (www.tme.eu), brand Axiomet. Not perfect, but ok. At least the wire has more copper than plastics, unlike the Chinese stuff. The connectors have a nice protective cap over them, the whole thing feels pretty solid.I have, however, had issues with worn-out connectors after some months.Max