sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Butt-set/Test-set Leads

Question:
What type/gauge of wire is used for the Fluke/Harris/Dracon Butt-set leads?

I know it's cloth covered good-ness that just feels nice but, any technical info about it?

I've got a test set (TS21) that needs new leads and want to throw together a 'toss it in the toolbox' set of leads so, $30+ for a set of Fluke leads that'll get beat up and possibly ruined doesn't sound like a fun time.

I imagine it's stranded wire inside the cloth insulation but, I'm trying to figure out what gauge it would be. Any thoughts or suggestions? Crimp-terminals and 'gator clips are always in the parts-pile but, the cable has me wondering.

I've never thought about it, maybe 18 or 20 gauge? Sam or Ed will chime in, I am sure.

It's not wire, actually, it's a couple of strands of tinsel wrapped around a core of fabric. Since there's no current going through to speak of, any gauge will work. I made a couple of test leads from some very flexible stranded wire (it was actually from a spool of single-conductor that an elevator mechanic was using to rewire something) that I got for some project or another. There is a product called "test lead" wire would would work, too.

Look on Ebay and occasionally you'll see someone selling just the leads from a test set or a brown meter.

Huh, Learn something new every day! Any source to verify this? I guess you don't have a "Rated" leads like multimeters so that would be why it's hard to find any reference.


I ran across this. It basically looks like spark-plug wire though, maybe smaller insulation but, it looked like it so I kinda dismissed it. (Wrongly dismissed it apparently!)


The few I have seen in the past year usually sell for a pretty penny. I was surprised to see kinked, stained leads selling for $15-25 a set but, I guess that's a deal as long as they work reliably.


Thanks for the info! I may have to toss something together with cross-connect wire for the time being. Since I hadn't ever heard of the special, strand/cloth wire, it may make it cost prohibitive to try and custom make them.

It's called tinsel test lead wire. Used since the beginning of time for earphones and handset cords and test leads because of its ability to be flexed and not break. You have to use special crimp lugs to terminate it.

If you don't want to spend the money for a replacement cord you can use regular test lead wire available at Radio Shack. Comes in red and black and is finely stranded copper. This is the wire most of the cheaper test equipment out there comes with.

-Hal

What about finding a cheap multimeter and cannibalizing the leads?

That was my first thought, got a couple of those free HF multimeters :P I was hoping for the cloth ones--something about the way the feel and fall is just nicer than the standard leads. Beggers can't be choosers though so it looks like I'm in for snagging the meter leads.

Skip beat me to it

You can find those on eBay like crazy and for dirt cheap too.

On the subject of test leads, I was wondering if the piercing pin of the test clip still was being used,and on what types of wire. It made sense for block, bridle,copper steel drop wire,and C rural wire,but it seems that nowadays the piercing pin would be obsolete. The bed of nails portion is handy on thin insulations.