I've followed Paul's youtube channels and this forum for about a year now but other than that I have no experience with scopes, so forgive me if this is a dumb question. I just purchased a used Vantage Pro and I'm thinking about buying the Snap on low amp probe. Obviously they're not cheap so my question is would I need the Snap on probe for the Vantage or is there another amp probe out there that would work with this scope? Also are there other accessories or additions to the Vantage Pro that you think are pretty useful to have for a "newbie" outside of the basic test leads? Thanks in advance!
Like you I recently purchased a Vantage Pro (about 2 months ago). Mine came with the Snap On Low Amp Probe. This is my first one but it has been put to good use. Since then I purchased the 0-100 pressure transducer and the hook-ups required for it. I also got the inductive clamp set up. Waiting for the call from the local Snap On rep for the 16.4 update and spare battery I ordered. You can get all this from the SO website. I just chose to use the rep because I'm a franchisee of a business and I wanted to support a franchisee. Got the same prices as.the website (not cheap either way). There are more items I will be getting for my Pro as finances allow.
I picked myself up a cheap hantek unit off ebay, I had to buy the Bnc to banana plug adapter for pennies as well tho. The snap on unit is definitely better, it has a smaller jaw/head profile for getting into places but a wider internal diameter for fitting more or thicker wires in, although that been said a larger diameter internal hole would possibly give a less accurate reading on smaller wires, depends how much tolerance your working with in measurements I suppose.
The snap on feels a he'll of alot better as well, and more durable. So the hantek cost me £75 with adapter and snap on want around £300 I believe in UK. Can I justify it? I don't know, having used the snap on after using my own and knowing I plan to use it alot in the future I think if I had the money I'd get the SO.
One feature neither has and could do with is an auto off feature, I'm constantly throwing batteries into mine because I forget to turn it off
Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls. – Stirling Moss
The Hantek clamps aren't great quality particulary the switches can be "iffy" in addition the clamp on the low range model is too small to be useful. They are however available in both BNC or bannana jacks. They can be found from about £40 to £60 in the UK ebay site.
In the UK (and Europe) the Sealey TA310 and TA311 are available they are as far as I can tell the same generic clamps as sold by some US suppliers. the have banna plugs and sell for £60 to £80 on eBay UK.
" We're trying to plug a hole in the universe, what are you doing ?. "
(Walter Bishop Fringe TV show)
Last edit: 8 years 8 months ago by Andy.MacFadyen.
I have the AES WAVE low amp probe. its nice to have and I think it has a similar range selection to the snap on one. I also have a high amp fluke that I got new off ebay for really cheap. Like others have said pickup a set of the adapter that AES wave sells to go from BNC to banana jack both ways. Think the 2 pc. set from them is about $29. Im sure you can find cheaper sets on ebay but having that stuff let you buy items that are good deals and nice to have without ever worrying about can I connect it to my tool. I always like to buy the best the first time but I am learning to let that good a bit on the diagnostic stuff since I am starting out and later when I buy the nice stuff this can become my backup stuff.
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