There have been a number of times when troubleshooting something where I have caused more damage than was originally there when my probe would slip off a test point and short some things together. So my little brain started churning. What about test leads with a clear sheath that is spring loaded that covers the whole probe tip. This is always extended over the point. You press down on a test point and the plastic sheath pushes back until the metal probe tip comes in contact with the node. If you slip the plastic shoots back out to cover the tip and hopefully avoid a short. I am not sure how effective this would be but it might help. I did a search because I am sure someone thought of this and they have to out there somewhere but I haven't found anything just yet. I was going to try and make this but I don't really have the tooling. Has anyone seen something like this? If so can you point me to them, or am I missing the obvious design flaw?
Thanks for the help,
Russ
Electronic – Probes with protection against slipping
probe
Related Solutions
Any "classic" scope probe will probably work. Here's one for pretty cheap http://www.adafruit.com/products/1528?gclid=CMXu85Hkj8ICFeLm7AodEEIA3Q
According to the manual the probe it came with was this guy http://www.keysight.com/en/pd-1000000970%3Aepsg%3Apro-pn-10432A/101-1m-miniature-passive-probe?cc=US&lc=eng
Depending on what you want to measure you can also make your own with just some 50 ohm bnc cable, or by making an actual probe like this http://cromwell-intl.com/radio/probes.html
But as cheap as you can get these I'd just buy one.
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.
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):
Best Answer
One variant of this is called "shrouded" probes.
These may have covers which are spring loaded and move away or the shroud may stay in position and need the tested point to intrude into the shroud end.
Just what the doctor ordered:
Fused probe bodies with 4mm contact tips. The tip are covered with a spring loaded sheath for added protection. Unscrew the tip to access and replace the fuse. Probe bodies are marked with the rating of the internal fuse.
From Cal Test electronics $14.93.
Materials: Body: Polyamide (Nylon); Contact tip: Brass, Nickel Plt. Banana Contact: BeCu, Nickel Plt. Set available in red and black pair
RS India grip probe.
Made to grip a standard test point
Extech TL810 Electrical Test Lead Kit, Double insulated with CAT III-1000V safety rating, Two 40" (1m) PVC lead extensions (1000V rating) with shrouded banana plugs on both ends, Two very sharp, extra long 0.3" (7mm) stainless steel tipped plug-on test probes, Two stainless steel flat tip test probes (0.6"/15mm long), Two plunger activated retractable jaw clips with a wide 0.75" (19mm) jaw opening (TL-810 TL 810) $45/set From
Double Insulated 4mm jack Conforms to BSEN61010 Fully Shrouded and insulated to HSE GS38 Suitable for all BS7671 BSEN61557 Alphatek - Metrel testers Other colours available . From
Same people
Double Insulated 4mm jack Conforms to BSEN61010 Fully Shrouded and insulated to HSE GS38