Test lead kits as good as Fluke?

F

fastline

Senior Member
Location
midwest usa
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Engineer
I realize many sparkies just run the ol basic probes but I get into stuff where I need options. I;ve been using the Fluke modular TLK type system for years. Long silicone leads, several clamp variants in my kit, etc. But some stuff is wearing out, like to have more gear for my DMM, etc.

Are there any comparable options to the Fluke gear? It's expensive! But I sort of wonder if someone has even better toys to try out?
 
I buy #12 awg high strand silicone test lead wire for thickness (sometimes #10 if I can use dual wall heat shrink to make it work/fit) and Pomona inline / or right angle banana jacks, or amazon versions if quality is there, and make my own variations for any scenario I can think of. Never fails I need the most ridiculous ones I think I will never use withing a week of making them.
 
TwistLock said:
I buy #12 awg high strand silicone test lead wire for thickness (sometimes #10 if I can use dual wall heat shrink to make it work/fit) and Pomona inline / or right angle banana jacks, or amazon versions if quality is there, and make my own variations for any scenario I can think of. Never fails I need the most ridiculous ones I think I will never use withing a week of making them.
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Onboard! I've been collecting and fixing this tiny silicone Fluke wire for years. The straight relief doesn't work with that wire. Curious what you are using for 1/4" banana sockets and plugs? That is really what makes my jam. Quickly switching test tools.

Firmly agree that it seems Pomona 'may' be the supplier for Fluke? However, I'm still looking for the TP175 comparable with them. I don't really need the retractable thing, but why not. The whole reason I'm shopping is my probes are apparently junk. After lots of cleaning and abrasives, they still want to have 1ohm of resistance and that don't work for me. Leads are testing perfect.

Very open to converting some other leads to a more custom approach but things like needle probes, back probes, pierce probes, are needed. maybe more with the DMMs than the clamp meters though.
 
This is some of what's in a pouch clipped to my bag for use with basic T5/T6 testers. There's two pair of pomona brand & then some different amazon brands. I don't think there's much performance difference between them for what I'm using them for. In the bottom right corner are some of the kits.
basic test leads.jpg
 
TwistLock said:
This is some of what's in a pouch clipped to my bag for use with basic T5/T6 testers. There's two pair of pomona brand & then some different amazon brands. I don't think there's much performance difference between them for what I'm using them for. In the bottom right corner are some of the kits.
View attachment 2579377
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What is the brand of the two clamps at the top right? Those look Fluke-ish.
 
Those are Fluke clamps. I feel they're some of the better ones, but frankly I don't like / trust clamps in general.
I found a left over Pomona with part #er in a drawer. In the photo u can see that the generic and Pomona both fit, it's just the jacket that differs.

Puke Adapters 1.jpg
 
Oh man, that Pomona term is gold! Is all their stuff on their site? I swear they make more stuff than I can find. If I can get the jack ends, I am on a good start! I've hacked most of my silicone leads via soldering the weak strain area and doing double shrink in that area. I now make sure to have gloves on when I test 277/480. Good practice anyway, but.....

I probably have 5 silicone sets with that defect. Can I get that insert out of the jacket?

What spawned all this is I have some TP175 probes that I bench tested as stinky diaper dookie. Even with abrasive cleaning, they are like 2 ohms each. Then you chase your tail on the culprit and I had a few.
 
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U can download their 2019-2020 catalog here. I deleted all but about 35 relevant pages of product and saved it. Pomona sells Fluke meters in there too. fwiw I'm just as happy with my generic stuff, though #12 silicone max's it out unless you mod.
 
Appears Fluke want a to be the overpriced test lead supplier and competing with Snap On for charging an arm and a leg. Fluke wanted over $30 for a $1 magnet mounted to plastic holder to secure meters to steel cabinets. The Fluke large pack.of assorted test leads, probes, and 4 to 6 assorted great test probes that cost well over $100 and not one of the test probes will fit into non TR receptacle slots.I performed up to 30PM'S a week so took over two hundred readings every week so my test leads never lasted more then 18 months. Years ago the thin leads on Simpson model 260 VOM analog meters did not last long. Every year when we sent one out for calibration ordered a new set of test probes. Back in the,1980's my company purchased cheap tiny analog VOM meters not much larger then a pack of cigarettes with maybe 18 or 20 gauge extra thin test leads. I never used it to test for 480 volts. Had my own Ideal Volron tester that had 4 button batteries for checking resistance that would automatically switch from reading resistance if you came across energised circuits.
 
Only thing I will say is after putting in the fight, those Fluke test lead terms are no joke! They totally air balled with proper strain relief due to the flexible silicone, but those terms most certainly are not 'pop together' types. After decided to tear one term apart on some bad leads, I realized they had a different process where I think the rubber boot is formed around the plastic after the fact. The term has a press pin and clamp arrangement for the wire. It's probably too much hassle to rebuild a term.
 
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