how often do you change the test leads

buzzlightyear · Apr 7, 2021

having been testing a lot of gear recently and using my megger 1720 never lost a bleep and recently why I was testing at the mains and was getting PEFC ok but not PSCC so my thoughts where faulty tester and send for repair ,but having received a new set of test leads separates as a back up and just left them in the office for a rainy day ,so now used the new test leads hay presto now showing PSCC.

Lucien Nunes · Apr 7, 2021

On my multimeter I get through a set of decent quality test leads in about 18 months. The black lead usually fails O/C first, at the entry point into the probe, which puzzled me for a while. I started watching how I handle them and realised that sometimes when I run out of hands, I park the black probe in place and press or lean against the end, which stresses the cable in a way that I don't usually inflict on the red.

MFT leads fail but not as often, we tend to use a wide variety of different configurations of leads so the wear and tear is spread out amongst them.

buzzlightyear · Apr 7, 2021

When I have finished testing, all leads are putting in bags and probs go in a separate tub for safe keeping plus looking in the tub and know if any things are missing.
I remember doing a job and left a prob on site.cost me dear.

SJD · Apr 7, 2021

I replace my MFT leads approx. every 12 to 18 months. Often the contacts get slightly variable at either the MFT or probe/crock clip end, and a symptom is needing to frequently null for continuity measurements. I probably mistreat them a little, which doesn't help.