Multimeter cables suggest

[rtstorm]

Hi, please what king of test leads do you use for probing small IC on notebook?
I am thinking of soldering a needle to one of cable.

[Gabriel]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

I use the Fluke Tl190 probes with replacement springloaded tips, took a few pictures for you.
If i remember correctly Pomona also has these probes.

[stj]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

scope probes are small already,
for meters i use a dremel to grind the probes to a VERY sharp point!!!

[ank]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

Getting a point sharp probe, either buying one or grinding one may not be much trouble. What am interested in is how do you prevent your probes from wandering on the wrong pin or track or even worse shorting one on those hair style smd pins? Or do you all have surgeon precision handling?

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

It takes good eyes and a steady hand. There's no doubt about that.

[stj]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

indeed, no other way.
you can put sleeving on the probe so only the last few mm are exposed - but it wont stop you putting it between pins instead of on them!

[ank]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

well, seems, sadly, I am getting old.

[fpliuzzi]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

I also find that it's getting more difficult to probe some of the microscopically sized components that are found on some PCBs.

I had a couple of 2mm tip jacks in my parts drawer so I shortened two sewing needles and soldered them to the leads of the tip jacks (my tip jacks look more like capacitors in the photo below). Most of the exposed needle is covered with tough translucent teflon sleeving and the tip jack itself is covered with heat-shrink sleeving.

When I slip these sharp adapters onto my DMM probe tips I find that I can probe some extremely tiny circuit locations.

The part that I like the best about them is that they are quick to install onto any set of standard probes from my various meters and that they are so sharp that they seem to 'stick' to any soft solder that they come in contact with. They have virtually no tendency to slide around.

These also come in handy if I need to probe through the insulation of a wire or through some shrink sleeving. The hole that they leave is so small that it's virtually self-healing.

Of course, I only use these adapters when probing low power circuits.

[momaka]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

Nice mod fpliuzzi!

[fpliuzzi]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

Nice mod fpliuzzi!

Thanks momaka. I really do find them quite useful on my test bench.

[ymichael]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

Consider these. I bought few and they are good quality.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hard-pin-SMT...item4acbbcbe28

Hard pin SMT IC SMD Multimeter Test PEN Probes Cable 4MM BANANA PLUG Repair Tool

[rtstorm]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

thanks @ymichael

[JASTECH]

Re: Multimeter cables suggest

I use Oldaker & Fluke silicone leads. Now sense Fluke owns Pamona you can save money on the badge. Here is a good starter set for you, I like being able to change implements on at least one or two sets, then the rest are specific use leads. They all work good on my Fluke 45 Dual and Keithley 2000 which are very accurate, so don't spare the folding money on the leads.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pomona-Elect...item35bbb49e48