Multimeter Test Leads Upgrade / Fluke TL224 Fail!

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My multimeter leads have failed, so it's time to order replacements!
But, it seems my faith in Fluke quality may not extend to their test leads.
Follow along as I make an interesting discovery around assumed "high quality", and find the optimum replacement for my electronics maker multimeter test leads requirements.
If you find this video of interest, please give me a thumbs-up, and subscribe with reminders for future videos. Thanks.
Multimeters & Test Leads featured:
- Fluke 179 True RMS Multimeter
- UNI-T UT107 Automotive Multimeter
- DSE Q-1516 Autorange Multimeter
- Fluke TL224 SureGrip™ Insulated Test Leads
- Probemaster 8000 Series Master Test Lead kit (8043SK)
Camera: Logitech Brio 4K (captured at 1080p 60fps)
Mic: Samson C01U Pro USB
Lighting: PT-176S 5600K LED Video Light Panel (x2)
+ Double row 8520 LED 6000K strip lighting
Post Prod: Camtasia 9.1 (1080p 30fps)
Digicool Things on the web:
www.digicoolthings.com
Digicool Things on Tindie:
www.tindie.com/stores/Digicoo...

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Опубликовано:

25 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 36

@aicisha 3 года назад

Sadly TL175s develop the same problem after a few months of usage! Thanks for sharing the issue!

@DigicoolThings 3 года назад

Yes. It's extremely dissapointing that Fluke do not appear to be addressing this seemingly long standing lead quality issue. In the meantime, I'm still thoroughly enjoying reliable daily use of my Probemaster replacements.

@markhenry1144 3 года назад

Thank you so much. You just saved me a heap of heartache. I was just about to order 224's and thought - nope check RU-vid first! Getting some Probe Masters now. I owe you a beer!

@markadams2765 3 года назад

I have just ordered the same kit as you after seeing your video. I've seen many you tubers rave on about these probes. I also like the shorter leads for bench work , It's why I like bryman leads also hioki do shorter leads. For vehicle longer and silicone is a must.

@ronvaliant9337 3 года назад

Thank you! I just ordered a set of Probemasters too.

@ThePowersportsTech 4 года назад

Great video, came across this as i have the exact same lead issue with my fluke 88v/a. Really appreciate you doing the research on these leads as it saved me the time. Looks like I'm off to get a set from probe master.

@DigicoolThings 4 года назад

Thanks for the feedback. :) I’m using my probe master probes almost every day, and really enjoying them. The gold tips have made buzzing out multiple continuity checks much faster, and the Wire Wrap adapter leads have proven very useful. I’m often using them with pin headers (instead of the pincer hooks) when monitoring breadboarded circuits. Take care.

@Genius65 3 года назад

Great video !!!, I wish I had seen it before, I just ordered the Fluke TL81A for 120 bucks.

@ovalwingnut 2 года назад

Outstanding. So pleased to here [all] companies arn't dirt bags. Thank you for the ride along. Love these types of reviews. Probe Master is a notable name on this side of the world. Glad to see it's not all hype. Cheers from So CA USA 3rd House On the Right

@tommakulski 3 года назад

Thanks for posting

@brouwereric644 7 месяцев назад

November 2023 - Same issue with a brand new Fluke 177 and TL75 PVC leads that costed me ZAR 13 000. Black lead went open circuit at the 90 degree connector within 3 weeks. A new set of TL175 works out to another ZAR 1 500, or 12% of the original Fluke. This ends up at ZAR 14 500, or a 3rd of my monthly salary. Note that I have to supply my own tools and equipment for my daily work at the local power company I work at...

@DigicoolThings 7 месяцев назад

I'm sorry to hear this. It's sad that it appears Fluke have still not addressed apparent quality issues with their test leads. Your comment is over 3.5 years since documenting my experience. It would be nice to think these quality issues had since been resolved by Fluke, and it was once again safe to invest in Fluke test leads. But it appears not to be the case. I'm still enjoying my Probemaster test leads. The've proven, with time, to be excellant quality.

@anderslindstrom8195 2 года назад

Thanks so much for the informative video.

@jeffharper410 Год назад

Caltest makes very nice leads as well.

@Jessepersen 2 года назад

Probemaster all the way!

@TheEmbeddedHobbyist 4 года назад

There is more to a lead than the eye's can see. I tend to make all my leads up myself, I find most commercial lead are two thick and they try to move the PCB around. so i use 4mm plugs and extra flexi silicon wire(2-3mm Dia) and crock clips or ez-hook type connectors. Great video with lots of information.

@DigicoolThings 4 года назад

Thanks for the feedback. I didn’t even consider making up my own replacement leads. But, certainly a good thought. :) Although, the bulk of the new lead cost appears to be in the probes & adapter accessories, not in the actual leads themselves.

@TheEmbeddedHobbyist 4 года назад

@@DigicoolThings For working on the bench i like a selection of leads. different lengths, connectors, and cheap. 50ohm coax with a bnc at each end, i get one about 3m long cut it in half and but the silicon wires on with crock clips, great for low noise applications, and 1:1 on the scope.

@DigicoolThings 4 года назад

@@TheEmbeddedHobbyist Yes, back in the day I recall making most of my leads. Mostly by necessity. It seemed that whatever lead you needed, you either didn’t have or couldn’t find. But you had the connectors / clips / wire. :) I now have lots of different leads, hanging on hooks and in storage boxes! Your comments are a good reminder that although reasonably priced professionally made test lead kits are a modern day convenience, making up your own leads (for the task at hand) will always remain, either by necessity, or by personal preference!

@dwbogardus 8 месяцев назад

Disappointed that the Fluke leads were so awful. My mid 1980s Fluke 77's leads are still serviceable, and have had a lot of use. However, the contact resistance between the banana plugs on the leads and the jacks on the meter has gotten to be higher that it should be. On the Ohms range with the two probes shorted together, you would like to see zero Ohms, but of course you see the total lead loop resistance, plus the 2X the probe to jack resistance, which is often varies from as little as 0.1 Ohms to nearly 2.0 Ohms, but also inconsistent if you plug and unplug the leads into the meter. 0.1 Ohms is reasonable, it it is usually over an Ohm. My much newer Bryman meter from EEVblog in Australia actually reads zero Ohms with the probes shorted, and it is consistent. (Maybe it was calibrated to read zero with the leads shorted. Either way, it is nice to have the reading reflect what you are measuring, rather than an artifact of the meter or the leads.)

@mikeadler434 Год назад

👍👍

@mikemalone6103 Год назад

I got some after market leads because of the same issue with fluke leads, my Fluke was made in Thailand,…so, anyways, not all leads are equal, my first leads were 36” and were just way too short and the plastic sheathing wasn’t flexible (not silicone), so be ware. I like the banana attachment but, fluke leads are way, way, way overpriced for what you get, they are short lived, I’ve bought several sets, but no more. I even started to buy my own K connectors when they fail on their thermistors. The crazy price on Fluke is their pipe clamp thermistors… like 150 to 180 bucks each, and always the same thing, wire connections.

@DigicoolThings Год назад

Yes, it’s certainly disappointing that their test leads appear to fall well short of the quality of their meter design. Perhaps they view it as an opportunity to further profit from their Fluke brand, by cutting costs in their test lead manufacture? But, I’m sure they will have lost a great deal of customer goodwill from disappointment in their test lead quality.

@anthonycomeaux1804 Год назад

Been looking around for test leads and also seem to be steering towards probe master, and came across your video. Now that it's been a few years, how are the leads/adapters doing? Still holding up well?

@DigicoolThings Год назад

The leads themselves get almost daily use, and a couple of years on they're still my favourite leads and holding up well. Adapters are all good, but get less usage. So, I'm happy to say, I'd still go with Probemaster for my next test lead purchase.

@anthonycomeaux1804 Год назад

@@DigicoolThings Thanks for the reply. I'm about to pull the trigger on a set, and I think I'm running into the issue you had. Which was, I want to get the basic leads, but there's an attachment or two that look like that would be nice to have for my use and, by the time you add separately, you could get the Master kit with more attachments. I'm also considering their 9000-serues test leads, but with the widespread positive feedback around the internet on the 8000-series, it feels like a more tried-and-true set

@DigicoolThings Год назад

@@anthonycomeaux1804 No worries. I'd be interested to know what you end up going with, and your findings. Just having a quick look at Probemaster's current offerings, I believe I'd probably still go with the 8000 Master Kit, that I bought originally. But, everyone's requirements differ, obviously.

@felixcat4346 3 года назад

OMG, OMG I order 500 of these test leads!!!!

@DigicoolThings 3 года назад

LOL. If you really do like the look of these leads, I can at least confirm that after around 9 months use I'm still extremely happy with them, and I would say they have been one of my better toolkit expenditure decisions. Have fun with your 500 test leads! :-)

@Elektromanik Год назад

All new measuring probes with a nickel surface oxidize. Just rub against each other and you'll be OK.

@tedwutang Год назад

What’s your thoughts on fluke itself. Still reliable or time to move on?

@DigicoolThings Год назад

My favorite meter remains my Fluke 179. It does everything I need, for regular use, and also does it reliably (leads not included)! Therefore, I'm probably not the best person to ask, as I haven't found the need to look elsewhere or do any alternative meter "in use" comparisons. Also, it's probably a case of what you're use to, especially when the meter you use most just works consistently well. So, yes, despite the issue with the TL224 Leads, I remain a Fluke meter fan.

@diyelectronics5375 2 года назад

how many inch or cm on your probe master you purchase?

@DigicoolThings 2 года назад

Hi. I bought the 48" lead length 8043SK Master Kit. This length has been just fine for all of my workbench and also away work. Well, after a year's use I've yet to have a situation where I've wanted longer. I see 48" appears to be the default length on their website, so presumably the most popular. I also just noticed that the lengths greater than 48" start to increment the price, so you'd only want to go longer if you think you really need it. Hope this helps.

@HIDLad001 Год назад

That Dick Smith meter looks like a knockoff Fluke 70 series!

@DigicoolThings Год назад

I'm not familiar with the Fluke 70 series, so I'll take your word for it. The Dick Smith model would have (no doubt) been sourced reasonably cheaply from China. I have a few Dick Smith meters, none of them are particularly good meters, but they were cheap and okay for the basic tests.