Electronic – New multimeter probes don’t fit the multimeter

multimeterprobe

This seems like a silly question, but my research is failing to yield results…

I ordered some new probes for my multimeter because I needed things like alligator clip leads and the little wire clips instead of just the pointy spikes.

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Problem is they don't fit. Well, ok, they do "fit" (I can insert the plug in the hole) but the contacts don't touch, rendering them useless. Looking at other sets of probes, they all seem to have this sheathed attachment, and none have the simple banana plug that the default probes came with.

  • Is this multimeter just too low end to fit standard probes?
  • Are there multiple multimeter probe plug standards?
  • What is this plug called so I know what to search for? (ones a "banana" plug, right? What's the other?)
  • Are there adapters I can buy?

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Success!
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Best Answer

It's to meet safety standards that require the "male" part to be insulated so you won't shock yourself if you touch the probe and it's not plugged in.

It's possible (advisable or not is another question) to modify the probes with an X-Acto knife or box cutter so they will fit your multimeter.

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The ideal solution is to replace your multimeter with a new one that supports the safer probes, at least from the pov of the regulations and the manufacturers of multimeters.

Edit: Re your added photos, check to make sure the inside is the same and the only thing keeping it from mating is the sheath. Here is the inside of the ones I have modified for an older Uni-T multimeter (used only for low voltage < 30V):

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