probe slip poster

Don't throw away your probe tip accessories?

Cheers

As old time circuit columnist Tom Kneitel K2AES etc. once wrote, the reason they’re marked “10:1” is that “they ten to one away when you’re not looking.“

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

Given a really good fet or sampling probe, and a decent logic signal, you don't need a probe ground and you only need to get near the signal.

But there are too many really tiny, or leadless, parts around these days. People save space by using microscopic parts, and then add enough test points to pave over the area.

A sewing needle is a good probe. It sticks to where you poke it.

Yes, I do use sewing needles jammed into a large micro grabber. And I have a set of micro grabbers that work great on soic size packages. Still looking g for a good octopus for holding everything in place. And I still have my probe accessory bag.

In addition I usually add some 030 holes as test points to the layout to make troubleshooting easier.

Cheers

I have been thinking if it may be possible to make a probe tip where only a part of the circumference is conductive. You might need to rotate the probe to reach the pin you want, but I don't think that would be a big problem.

I found one hobby project where a probe tip was made from a piece of single sided PCB. But copper tarnishes quickly, and glass fibers are very abrasive.

I have not been able to figure out a way to fabricate a useful prototype.

It’s simple to functionally reproduce the Tek “SureToe” probe holders by putting a dab of JBWeld putty on the pins and poking the probe through. Grease it up first!

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

Right. A scope probe will stand up in a 30 mil diameter test point hole.