I recently bought an el-cheapo DMM from Tmart, and the meter is fine, but the leads are kind of ridiculously thin.
For example, I was measuring tailcap current on my HD2010, and read < 1 amp with the new meter and leads. I put the leads from my old (don’t laugh) Micronta (aka Radio Shack) meter into the new meter, and got ~4.3 amps.
So, I’m looking for some test leads, with banana plugs and probe.
I really like the leads on that Micronta, because both ends are replaceable. The covers are screwed on to the banana plug, so I can solder whatever gauge wire I want, and same goes for the probe.
Can you get test leads like that anymore? Or maybe the parts (the probe and the banana plug, both with removeable covers?
I had the same problem. Ordered leads from eBay - they were worse than the ones that came with the DMM. So I bought parts and silicone wire and made my own!
I just bought a bunch of leads, probes, jacks and wires from Franky on This site . Very good to deal with, and answers any questions right away.
I’m extremely happy with all the product I have received from him.
I got an ok set of meter leads from MCM Electronics earlier this year. I have a post somewhere comparing my measurements to homemade thick leads (made with banana jacks bought from Radio Shack, although MCM will have them too). I never found test lead ends though (the "pointy probe" type) so I just tinned my wires at the ends and use them. I only use those for tailcap currents.
Oh, and I remember years ago my dad getting probe ends and making his own replacement leads for an old analog meter (still has it). The plastic part unscrewed to access the probe to solder wire to, so I know exactly what you're looking for! I never found them.
Thanks for reminding me. I think that I have another (analog) RS meter somewhere that has those type leads. I’ll need to see if I can dig it up (probably literally) this weekend.
BTW, the points are on their probes come to needle sharp points. When doing high currents you want to angle the probe so that you get a larger contact area.
They plug right in to the banana Jack. For desktop hobby use, I like the shorter 13 AWG 20” leads that have banana jacks on each end. Just plug on whatever probes or alligator clips you want. I really like them.
The last leads I used for current measurements I made myself from solid copper installation wire soldered solid to the banana plugs and clamps, can't go wrong with that :-) , although more flexible wire would have been more convenient.
I made these for current measuring, from some gold-plated ring connectors I had. Compared to the 4mm banana plug these are much better to get stable readings with minimal added resistance. The 24/0.2 wire I used is rated for 6A.
I don’t know if you can get these seperately. They came with some RCA sockets I bought for a project. For voltage measurements I just use the probes that came with the meter, but it would be handy to get some 4mm banana probe to save all the lead swapping.
I just received the “economy leads” that I ordered from Oldaker via texaspro’s suggestion, and they’re nice:
Yes, the leads come in a nice plastic bag with a velcro closure.
I checked tailcap on one of my lights (shorty STL-V6 direct drive with KK 26650) with the el-cheapo meter (Tmart - now the leads cost me more than the meter) and read 3.21 amps with these leads :)!
With the original leads that came with the meter, the tailcap readings were low, and jumping all over the place.
So, recommended, and thanks, texaspro!
Edit: BTW, the probe and banana jack ends are molded type.
