Searching good / not to expensive "probe holders" - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Noy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 06:43:23 am
content: Hi guys,I'm searching good but not to expensive probe holders.At work we have a skid i think :https://www.pmk.de/de/products/skidandhttps://www.pmk.de/de/products/2fussBut both are expensive (Skid >>500€) and the foot is 20€ each (for a bit of plastic and i will need 2-4)..I'm searching probe holders for my 350MHz passive probes. Sometimes i need to measure signals which are a bit "higher" were i need the gnd spring and i cannot solder short cables to.But i can't hold 4 probes + push the single button with just 2 hands..Does anybody know good probe holders? I knew about the pcbites but they are "only" 100MHz (a bit too "slow" for example 50MHz SDIO / 125MHz RGMII) i want to use my 350MHz probes.I already tried these chinese blue/orange clip arms but they aren't good to position probes correctly..

author: Sighound36
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 09:39:18 am
content: Have been using these for a while now, excellent build quality and they just work well sensible price to we have four of these units.https://www.probeholder.com/

author: Noy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 11:06:52 am
content: Hm, quite expensive (for homeuse)..I managed to get one of these from ebay for 10€ ink. shipping maybe i'm lucky to find another one.. if it's worth:https://www.conrad.de/de/p/sks-hirschmann-tko-pos-2-positionierer-tko-pos-2-gruen-129043.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0ajAq4CQ6QIVjbh3Ch2oPgZsEAYYAiABEgJ2K_D_BwE&hk=SEM&WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=google_pla&s_kwcid=AL%21222%213%21367270211652%21%21%21g%21%21&ef_id=EAIaIQobChMI0ajAq4CQ6QIVjbh3Ch2oPgZsEAYYAiABEgJ2K_D_BwE%3AG%3As

author: jjoonathan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 12:21:48 pm
content: It's worth looking into magnetic bases. They're optimized to hold dial indicators for machinists, not probes for EEs, but they're cheap and they can be made to work.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 12:51:33 pm
content: Quote from: Noy on April 30, 2020, 11:06:52 amUhm, looks like spring clamp, like this (random picture from the internet to give an idea):https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1141250-REG/pony_adjustable_clamps_3201_h_bp_spring_clamps_with_handle.html

author: MarkL
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 02:00:08 pm
content: I originally bought a pair of these for soldering, but found that they also make good probe holders:https://grs.com/product/third-hand-with-base-standard/They're very well made. The base is heavy, the arms are made from solid rods, and the joints are under pressure from spring steel to make them stiff but still easily adjustable.You can get them direct from GRS or through Amazon.

author: JohnG
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2020, 05:39:48 pm
content: Quote from: jjoonathan on April 30, 2020, 12:21:48 pmJust tooting my own horn here, but I have found this to be indispensable:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/i-need-a-better-(cheap)-probe-for-measuring-signals-on-arbitrary-devicespcbs/msg1881170/#msg1881170It's heavy enough that I have never bothered with actually using a magnetic surface to hold the base (at least not for scope probes). The alligator clip shown holds the probe handle firmly, but the teeth do not grab the probe, so they do not do any damage to the probe or its grip surface.Cheers,John

author: calin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2020, 06:28:21 am
content: What about something like this ..https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Arm-Flexible-Helping-Hands-Soldering-Tool-With-3D-Printed-Base-RED/274348836830There are many variations on the same theme .. just search fleabay for "flexible helping hand". Not professional, CHEAP.. and they do work to hold the probe. I just added some heat shrink on the clamps to not bite as bad. Now of course .. if you are a "professional" and don't want the big boys to laugh at you ... not recommended.

author: Noy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2020, 06:52:40 am
content: I already own one of these Things. But arms are to stiff its hard to get the probes in place because its a kind of "springback"

author: Elasia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2020, 01:52:52 pm
content: Take a look at these, im waiting for mine to get here.. i got 4 analog scope probes, the large base, and 8 digital probes for my MSOhttps://sensepeek.com/You can order them from saelig.com with the blog discount

author: Noy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 01, 2020, 11:37:52 pm
content: I have seen these before. They are "only" 100MHz. I want to use my 350MHz probes...

author: Elasia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2020, 12:07:02 am
content: I just got one of these for a special spectrum analyzer probe im going to make for 1ghz+ .. no reason not to when getting pcb boards is so cheap anymore vs paying out the wazzu a brand probehttps://www.amazon.com/Bedside-Flexible-Gooseneck-360-degree-Rotating/dp/B071R46KMX?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_4&th=1

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2020, 01:43:23 am
content: This dial indicator stand is from Harbor Freight. It came in a nice wooden box with the dial indicator and vice grip base. I machined the clamp and added the base. The 100X probe is home made as well.

author: jmw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2020, 04:30:12 am
content: I have some of those 2-foot things and they work well, except they might block each other if you are trying to probe two very close points. They have rubberized feet and weights inside to help the probe keep contact. You could 3D-print a clone of them, but I still don't think you'll beat 20€ on materials alone.