The "Best" Multi-Meter Test Leads In The Business

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Oldaker silicone test leads

Where to buy...

http://www.testleads.net/where.htm

Yeah, this is a "blurb" a shameless recommendation. I've been using these test leads for 30 years and comparing them to anything else on the market is like comparing a MegaWatt to a Cheapowatt. Even so-called top-of-the-line competitor leads like those that come with a five-hundred-dollar Fluke meter are a joke compared to the Oldaker test leads. Oldaker uses an alloy of stainless steel, hard as hell, and sharp as a hypodermic needle for scratching through oxidation.

I am preparing my order and thought, "Heck, why not share this info?" These leads are not cheap but the silicone leads will last 10 years and the tips are durable with a capital D.

If you appreciate the quality of a Freas, hydrometer versus competitive garbage, and use your multimeter a lot, these leads will spoil you rotten. They have no equal. They don't have competition, not even close.

Now I get on the telephone and spend more money. December is spend money on gizmos month...

[westend]

The last test leads I bought were Pomona brand. The quality is pretty good.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Measure the hole in the plastic case of your meter. If it measures .312" get that size. If it measures .380" purchase that 767 series plug.

I've used the automotive J-hook to pierce up to 10 gauge insulation. Use Liquid tape clear to cover the hole.Dab a spootch a TINY SPECK droplet of liquid tape onto the test lead probe screw on alligator clamp threads. The BASE of the threads. This stops the clip from unscrewing when you wish it not to...

Oh yeah I forgot - Oldaker's test lead plugs are also stainless steel.

I have made dozens of chassis ground extension wires. Sixteen gauge. For under dash work. Connect one soldered terminal end to a good ground, run the other end to a convenient point, strip and solder up an inch of stripped conductor then GOOP this to somewhere easy to clip onto. Especially useful for Class A rigs. I use a 1/4" ring terminal as a clip-to point. Finding a good ground inside a camper rig is also hard.

[Vixen21]

The catalog has many different 767 series and it says the one on amazon is for Simpson 260 meters,

The 767-7 set is for R/A SLOTTED
JACK, FITS SIMPSON
260 METERS

767 series different types

[landyacht318]

Dang, I wish I found this listing:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SHXUKQG/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=

Before I ordered this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Amprobe-TL35B-Test-Alligator-Clips/dp/B0029XJANE/ref=pd_sim_hi_18?ie=UTF8&refR...

About what I ordered and received, I like them. The clamps are much larger than I envisioned though. The picture shown is NOT showing the clamps superimposed at a larger size as I thought.

The jaws of the clamp align very nicely, and i am happy with the product, but would have spent the extra for the made in the USA Oldaker product.

[Vixen21]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
For automotive, I prefer probes with needle-sharp stainless tips to scratch through tarnish and corrosion. No contact until you scratch through you have the answer for your troubleshooting efforts. The threaded insulated clips are priceless. Oldaker also has a large automotive grade J-hook with it's own replaceable wire lead.

So what probes are you recommending then? (there are a multitude of different model numbers to choose from)

Oldaker test lead catalog pdf
Thanks

[MEXICOWANDERER]

For automotive, I prefer probes with needle-sharp stainless tips to scratch through tarnish and corrosion. No contact until you scratch through you have the answer for your troubleshooting efforts. The threaded insulated clips are priceless. Oldaker also has a large automotive grade J-hook with it's own replaceable wire lead.

[Vixen21]

Mex would this be the right OLDAKER lead kit to buy for my El cheapo harbor freight multimeter?

Pak-5 Kit



This lead features the ability to directly thread all accessories to both ends of the lead and eliminates accidental disconnection. All attachments recess into molded connectors to help reduce the possibility of shock. This lead consists of two 4' leads with threaded connectors on both ends, includes 1 red and 1 black of all accessories shown above and is packaged in a reusable plastic pouch. The wire used on this lead is a heavy duty 18 ga. 65 x 36 tinned copper stranding .145" O.D. Rubber insulation.


Features

INCLUDES: 458-1 ALLIGATOR CLIPS
540 STANDARD PLUG
497-3 THREADED HOOKS
521 #10 LUG ADAPTERS
539B STANDARD PLUG
539 THREADED PROBE HANDLES
624 EXTENSTION TIPS

[cougar55]

If you remember Triplett multi-meters they always used Oldaker leads. Both companies are in small towns in northwestern Ohio. Or in Triplett's case I should say were in Ohio. Good products.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Oldaker like Freas is one of those old fashioned USA companies, housed in an ancient brickwork constructed factory, the kind where the windows have 48 panes. The quality of their stuff is amazing. Those stainless steel needle tips can be scraped hard through corrosion and it won't hurt them. The alligator clips are threaded so they won't fall off. The bed of nails has tips that don't get dull and the automotive grade positive hook and piercing tip needle will puncture 10 and eight gauge cross-link insulation, never mind hypolon and PVC.

This is one area where basic USA quality just kicks the snot out of imported stuff.

The lead ends pretty much are a standard fit. Just some are shielded and then some are angle. The meter ends have prongs that are slitted so a fine tip screwdriver can be used to spread the prongs to make the fit to the meter sockets as tight as you want.

Good test leads seem to make a $2.99 meter feel like a million bucks.

And oh yeah the leads are longer so meters don't get yanked off of bench tops.

[dewey02]

Hey Roy! I never thought I'd see a photo of you where you weren't futzing with batteries, an inverter, or a generator! 🙂

[landyacht318]

I guess the inputs on test meters are pretty standardized among manufacturers?

It appears Oldaker makes a bunch of different products along these lines with extensions and clips and hooks and forked lugs.

All of which I have had use for in the past.

[rexlion]

Will these leads fit on a $15 Harbor Freight meter?

Just kidding. 😉 The Oldakers sound great.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Yeah, we're real fashion primadonna's we from Mexico...

Most of the time it's shorts, and tattered t shirt. Shorts, and soldering don't mix, trust me...

[RoyB]

Mex - I finally found the picture of you with all the boxes of parts etc...

A good friend of mine John Taylor of Mexico descent that lives in Sacremento CA wears shirts like you are wearing open at the bottom like a jacket...

Must be a Mexico thing...

Roy Ken