They should make scope probe cables out of no-melt rubber. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2014, 06:10:18 pm
content: In other news, does anybody know a good source for a decent 200 MHz scope probe that's not too expensive?

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 02, 2014, 06:22:23 pm
content: Sorry, no. All I have are some ISO Tech (RS) 150MHz probes, still new in the plastic baggies. Was looking for something else and these popped out of a box.

author: rexxar
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2014, 07:04:32 am
content: I melted the spring clip on one of my probes with hot air. Still trying to figure out where to buy a new one.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2014, 07:20:49 am
content: Most common modes of probe death have nothing to do with electricity.- Stepped on, tripped over, run over by chair- Soldering iron hit- Seen them torn, cut (woops) and used as string

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2014, 06:33:36 pm
content: I have only managed to almost weld the ground clip across a large filter cap once.

author: Neilm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2014, 06:43:07 pm
content: I got a new Agilent MSO a couple of years back (just after Dave reviewed it). Had it for about 3 weeks, then managed to melt the probe clip onto a TO220 pack transistor - I was probing the tab and it got hotter than I thought it would.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2014, 06:58:56 pm
content: Quote from: pickle9000 on May 03, 2014, 07:20:49 amused as string?

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2014, 10:02:25 pm
content: I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has fried cables. I also have another old probe that was partially melted through 20 years ago, but which I still use.But the soldering station people seem to have worked out a magic formula for not melting their wires, why can't the scope people do the same? Or is this just planned "obsolescence?" :-)

author: grumpydoc
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 03, 2014, 10:18:16 pm
content: QuoteI've had some which came with ebay 'scopes I wouldn'tevenuse as string.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2014, 12:41:30 pm
content: Probably hard to make a cable cover that is both low capacitance, low noise, low loss at high frequencies and linear with capacitance and voltage. Add to that heat resistance and it gets even harder.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2014, 12:43:28 pm
content: Oh hey, have any of you guys accidentally cut the wrong wire when untangling a mess of them? Wasn't a scope probe, but that happened to me once

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2014, 01:18:21 pm
content: It was live as well........

author: richard.cs
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2014, 08:49:22 pm
content: Add "unfortunate incident with ground loops -> melted down the length" to the list of failure modes.

author: electronics man
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2014, 09:14:40 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on May 04, 2014, 12:41:30 pmYes but they can do what their doing and just cover the shing with a silicone heatproof sleeve