I have a cheap set of test probes containing various bits and bobs, but in particuar a pair or grabbers connected to 1.5mm sockets which fit on any of my probes.

I should like to make up 2 or more of these probe adapters with different kinds of grabber or with croc clips, which I can easily slip onto one or both probes as required, but I've no idea where you can get the 1.5mm sockets. Does anyone know what they're called?

 

They are called tip jacks and are usually panel mount, they are 2mm. Pomona might offer an inline version (they offer a 4mm banana jack as inline). I would be inclined to design and 3D print my own. If you have that ability I would recommend it.

 

Search for "test leads" or "test probes".

https://uk.farnell.com/c/test-measurement/test-leads-test-probes

 

Search for "test leads" or "test probes".

https://uk.farnell.com/c/test-measurement/test-leads-test-probes

Thank you both for your replies. Good to know they're called tip jacks, but eBay didn't seem to have heard of them. Half the hits were for the lifting kind of jacks and the other half for audio or low voltage jacks!

Farnell indeed have a lot of test probes and related thingys, virtually all as made-up leads, but not (as far as I could see) the particular thingys I want. But whilst paddling up deserted backwaters of Farnell and AliExpress I suddenly realised that they're not 1.5mm sockets, but 2mm, even though all my test probes are (measured) 1.5mm diameter yet fit snugly. Setting off in my canoe with renewed purpose, I fairly soon stumbled across some 2mm female banana jacks, which I ordered from AliExpress. I look forward to soldering them up with various grabbers and croc clips.

 

Thank you both for your replies. Good to know they're called tip jacks, but eBay didn't seem to have heard of them. Half the hits were for the lifting kind of jacks and the other half for audio or low voltage jacks!

... I fairly soon stumbled across some 2mm female banana jacks, which I ordered from AliExpress. I look forward to soldering them up with various grabbers and croc clips.

They arrived today, and whilst they're apparently identical to the ones I have, they're too loose a fit on my test probes to make a half decent contact. Examining them very carefully I found they're missing an internal lantern to grip the probe tip. With care you can fish out with a pin. Logical, since they were advertised as female banana jacks - normally the male banana jack would have the lantern.

No 2mm female lantern inserts that I can find on AliExpress, so back to Square One it would seem.

 

You can get banana plugs such as THESE and make your own leads. You can put whatever type of connecter on the other end of the wire you wish. If you want test hook clips, or alligator clips or other, (see fifth picture down) they're easily found. And since you'll be making your own you can make them as long or as short as you need.

 

Keystone Electronics has a variety of styles of tip jacks that should suit your needs. None are designed for cable attachment, but soldering them on and covering with heat shrink should work nicely.

 

You can get banana plugs such as THESE ...

Err, wrong gender.

 

Keystone Electronics has a variety of styles of tip jacks that should suit your needs. None are designed for cable attachment, but soldering them on and covering with heat shrink should work nicely.

Yes, of course, that would work, though a bit agricultural, and not as nice as the real thing, which must be out there in some back street in Shengzen. I might just get some more of these and add croc clips and different types of grabber in the middle of the wire.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...3o1UlYc8&utparam-url=scene:search|query_from:

 

though a bit agricultural

Agricultural? I guess I have enough "agricultural" things that I should be on a farm.

An alternative is to get a set of banana – banana plug (4mm) cables and use in-line banana jacks for the various pieces.

 

Agricultural? I guess I have enough "agricultural" things that I should be on a farm.

An alternative is to get a set of banana – banana plug (4mm) cables and use in-line banana jacks for the various pieces.

I still need a female connector to fit on the probe tips of my severl sets of probes.

 

Err, wrong gender.

I was under the impression you wanted something that connects to the tips of your test probes. In other words, a jack that will fit on the end of a test lead. My comment is that you can get the banana's I linked to and plug those into your test meter or scope. I have a BNC to Banana (female) adapter and can plug test leads directly into my scope. The thought I had was taking the male banana's and making your own test leads with whichever type of test clip you wanted on the end. I linked three other types of clips you can put on the end of your home made test leads. Test Hook Clips, Alligator clips or "other", which I've never seen those types before; but they are an option.

So you can make your own test leads instead of trying to find something that goes on the end of your test meter probes. Now, if I've gone off on the wrong premises, others have linked female banana jacks that are as easy to find as the stuff I linked to.

 

I still need a female connector to fit on the probe tips of my severl sets of probes.

As I stated, female banana jacks for cable attachment are available. These are from Amazon.

 

Farnell indeed have a lot of test probes and related thingys, virtually all as made-up leads, but not (as far as I could see) the particular thingys I want.

but not •••the particular thingys I want.

This is why I suggest making your own. Exactly what you want.

 

Back when RS Components were Radiospares they sold these little 1mm panel sockets with matching plugs under their own brand, but I cannot find them now. They fit my fine probes perfectly!

 

I never have liked the slip on probe attachments. Even the ones that came with my Fluke DMM are prone to getting loose and falling off. Which is why I have a rack of assorted cables hanging on my rack. I tend to use the minigrabbers far more than the pointy ones but there are times I grab a set of pointy ones and slip on a ground alligator clip to connect to the chassis when testing a circuit.

 

I use Wago Levernuts (the inline version is a little more convenient but the conventional side-by-side works just fine.

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The probe tips fit in perfectly, and are locked in place. You can put any sort of wire in the other end so if you wanted to make up cables with whatever on far end and ferrules on the near you’d have all the flexibility you could want.

The Wagos are just great in general. I use them for all sorts of prototyping.

 

Here, all I had nearby were the non-inline type but these are sometimes more convenient anyway.

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The probe tips fit in perfectly, and are locked in place. You can put any sort of wire in the other end so if you wanted to make up cables with whatever on far end and ferrules on the near you’d have all the flexibility you could want.

I have a rack of assorted cables hanging on my rack.

I'm all for building custom test leads with various types of probe tips, whether grabbers or alligators or even lugs that go under a screw. Having many different custom test leads makes life a whole lot easier; and it's not a big investment. Even fork terminals like this can be useful.

I would have probably never thought of Wago's. Brilliant idea.

 

Here, all I had nearby were the non-inline type but these are sometimes more convenient anyway.

View attachment 331501​

I guess that's closer to what I want. I've got a few with the narrow levers which hurt my fingers, but those look better. Thanks!