[ARC5] Alligator clip leads

Sat Nov 27 17:53:00 EST 2021

Last year, I took the time to collect all the alligator clips, jumpers, 
etc., broken or otherwise that I have accumulated over the years, plus 
all the decent wire I had and used them to make a bunch of usable 
jumpers.  I soldered ALL of them and ended up with a cornucopia of 
jumpers small to large.  I then mounted them in a scrap piece of cable 
tray next to my work bench so I can grab whatever I need whenever I need.

Enjoy the crude pics.

Richard kn7sfz

On 11/27/2021 2:41 PM, Richard Knoppow wrote:
>    I second this. One can still buy decent alligator clips (and 
> crocodile clips, they are not the same) and can get extra flexible 
> test lead wire from the larger suppliers. Crimping is often not very 
> reliable and the cheap commercial leads I've gotten often break at the 
> clip or have poor connections there. Bad tools of any sort are a PITA.
>
> On 11/27/2021 11:43 AM, Paul Thekan wrote:
>> I've always made up my own clip leads.
>> I have some from Radio Shack I bought 30+ years ago that are still 
>> good and many of the test leads I made in HS are still doing fine 
>> after 50yrs...and counting.
>> Paul
>> N6FEG
>>
>> On Sat, Nov 27, 2021, 11:27 AM Mike Feher <n4fs at eozinc.com 
>> <mailto:n4fs at eozinc.com>> wrote:
>>
>>     I have struggled with the same problem Steve. Wound up
>>     soldering all those clips where the crimps often only crimped
>>     the insulation or were intermittent. 73 – Mike ____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     Mike B. Feher, N4FS____
>>
>>     89 Arnold Blvd.____
>>
>>     Howell NJ 07731____
>>
>>     848-245-9115____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     *From:* arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> <mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net>
>>     <arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> <mailto:arc5-bounces at mailman.qth.net>> *On Behalf Of *Steve
>>     WD8DAS via ARC5
>>     *Sent:* Saturday, November 27, 2021 1:55 PM
>>     *To:* arc5 at mailman.qth.net <mailto:arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
>>     *Subject:* [ARC5] Alligator clip leads____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     Over the years I've been frustrated by failures of alligator
>>     clip leads.  Nothing is worse than thinking the device under
>>     test has a problem when in fact it turns out a bad test lead
>>     that are the issue. ____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     This has only gotten worse in recent years, as most of the
>>     commercially-available clip leads have become complete
>>     junk:   A few strands of weird metal inside stiff plastic
>>     insulation, with cheaply-made alligator clips loosely clamped
>>     (not even crimped) on the ends. ____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     My old leads are wearing out so a couple weeks ago I bought
>>     some new clip leads from a reputable vendor.  They turned out
>>     to be the worst ever - half of the leads had no continuity
>>     right out of the package.  I tried soldering the wires to the
>>     clips but the few strands of wire did not seem to want to
>>     take solder - very odd stuff.  I trashed them and went on a
>>     search for good test leads.  I first sought good test-lead
>>     wire and clips to make my own - the minimum quantity of the
>>     wire was  too high.____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     I found some ready-made leads from Cal-Test Electronics.   I
>>     asked and confirmed they are made from real test lead wire,
>>     soldered to good quality clips: ____
>>
>>
>> https://app.caltestelectronics.com/product-list/product-page/view/CT2394/
>> <https://app.caltestelectronics.com/product-list/product-page/view/CT2394/>
>>
>>     and bought them from DigiKey, but others sell them as well:
>>
>> https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cal-test-electronics/CT2394/5028475
>> <https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/cal-test-electronics/CT2394/5028475>____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>> https://www.tequipment.net/Cal-Test/CT2394/Alligator-Test-Leads/
>> <https://www.tequipment.net/Cal-Test/CT2394/Alligator-Test-Leads/>____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>> https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Cal-Test-Electronics/CT2394?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtJbfcMcIM8CEmjI6%2FR0hxQbyY9pD4jm%252Bw%3D
>> <https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Cal-Test-Electronics/CT2394?qs=sGAEpiMZZMtJbfcMcIM8CEmjI6%2FR0hxQbyY9pD4jm%252Bw%3D>
>>
>>     They are more expensive than the junk, but the two packs I
>>     received show the quality I was seeking. ____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     Steve WD8DAS
>>
>> sbjohnston at aol.com <mailto:sbjohnston at aol.com>
>> http://www.wd8das.net/ <http://www.wd8das.net/>____
>>
>> http://af4k-crystals.com <http://af4k-crystals.com>____
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------
>>     Radio is your best entertainment value.
>> --------------------------------------------------------------------____
>>
>>     __ __
>>
>>     ____
>>
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