Test Leads & Probes
About Test Leads & Probes
Test leads and probes are essential to the testing and measuring of an electric current, such as within digital circuitry. To test your current, they connect your measuring instrument, such as an ammeter, to test points. Test leads consist of a coated wire, colored for negative and positive wire. They are finished with a metal conducting connector on one end, such as an alligator clamp, banana plug, probe tip, etc., and an ammeter connector on the other. Test probes serve a similar function but have a longer contact for reaching deep test points or recessed components. Items may vary by plug and connector, compatibilities, inclusions, applications, temperature range, function and other considerations. For more on current analyzers, detectors and testers, see our digital multimeters, power meters and analyzers, voltage detectors, and battery testers.