is there a set of meter probes that....

[daz]

...have all 4 ends (probes and plugs) that have screw connections or some type of connection so you can replace the wire instead of having to buy new probes? I have spend in the $20+ range and still the darn things go open after a few months. Sick of buying probes, and i would think someone would make a set that are reusable by making probes and plugs that can accept new wire. If not someone should take advantage of this opportunity ! Anyways, anyone know of a set like this?

[jmaf]

The problem I see with any type of screw connector that is constantly handled is precisely the bad contact problem you get with breaking probes.

I used a pair of fluke probes from 2006 until now, they lastest 5 years and now I need a new pair because the wire broke inside the handle, if I bend the handle it makes good contact and I can use it. But 5 years was a good run, and it only broke because it was stuck under a chair and someone force-pulled it up....they were the long lead, rubbery type that comes with regular flukes.

[daz]

Well, regardless i just want to know if anyone has seen anything like this, and not necessarily a screw type connection, but anything. I just used that as an example.

[jrfrond]

I wouldn't trust any probes with screw connections, and I don't know of any that exist.

I've been purchasing ITT Pomona probes for years for our shop. The ITT part number is 5672A, and these things last a decent amount of time in our shop, where they get used, beat up, stepped on and what have you. At $29.00 a set at MCM (and it comes with attachments like sharp long points, clips, etc.), they are a cheap investment. MCM's# is 201-079. I've purchased 40 sets of these (and nothing else) in the last 15 years for the entire shop, which averages out to almost 3 sets replaced per year. Not bad for a busy six tech shop. We don't even bother using the cheap crap that comes with most meters, even the Flukes we use.

Like any hand tool, probes eventually wear out. Since they are at the front-line of your main piece of test gear, you should always have good probes, and view them as a consumable item. Same goes for scope probes.

[JoeM]

I have a set purchased years ago with screw connectors on each end. Appear to be made for the military, very heavy duty, you can for example have a straight probe or an alligator clip.

[Steve Conner]

I have a few sets of probe handles that just have a hole in the end to accept a 4mm banana plug. You use them with test leads that have banana plugs on both ends. These should come with the probe set, or you can make them yourself. But if you do that, get the plugs with the spring loaded shields, to eliminate the risk of shocking yourself with bits of exposed metal. Also some meters have the sockets so deeply recessed that third-party probes will seem to plug in, but won't make contact.

These modular probe sets are handy. My favourite accessory is the handles with tiny, needle-sharp tips for probing surface mount boards, but the extend-o-grab (?) for getting hold of terminals buried deep inside a chassis is neat too. Expend-o-grab might be a better name though, as this one is the easiest to break. I usually clip them onto a hot resistor leg and melt the plastic part of the tip into a useless lump.

I've also had good results with the rubbery Fluke ones: I've had two Fluke meters at work and never seen the test leads fail, but other cheap ones have broken on me.

[daz]

Well, i couldn't find any like that so i made my own. I cut the old fluke ones to get the points out. Then i used 2 bic pens as the probes. Too the ink tube and ball end out, slipped the probe points in and the fit right thru the tip perfectly. Filled the tip with glue with a few inches of wire coming out of the probe tip. that i threaded thru the main body of the pen after cutting the end off. I took about a 3/8" standoff thats threaded at both ends and soldered the wire from the probe to one end of it then pounded it into the end of the pend. that split it but thats ok because i filled it with glue. Then i heat shrunk the entire thing from where the tip comes out of the pen to the end of the standoff. Now i put a screw into the standoff and wrap the wire around it and tighten it, then double heat shrink over that. if i need to replace the wire just cut that heat shrink.

On the other end i used a banana plug for a speaker and cut the 2 bananas away from each other with a dremel, put the wire into it and tightened the screw then heat shrunk it. They turned out really good, and i recall a electronics store around here had wire by the foot specifically for meter probes a few years back. Not sure if they still do, but that would be great.

[jmaf]

I can see an article for Make Magazine or Lifehack somewhere in there

[Chuck H]

What are you doing to your probes? I have an ancient BK multimeter that's been my main work horse for over twenty years and I've replaced the probes once about six years ago. I'm not especially gentle with them either. Sometimes I stretch the leads to their max, I don't keep my meter in a safe place so it does get knocked around a little and when it's not in use I just wrap the leads around the meter to keep them from dangling. Not gentle at all.

I say buy a quality set of probes and don't use your meter as a wrecking ball and you should be fine.