I like insulated alligator clips like this.
I had some from many years ago and they were made with a kind of rubber or plastic that allowed them to be used without the boot slipping around on the clip. Modern ones are made from a different rubber or plastic that are very slippery on the inside of the boot, so it is inconvenient to use. Is there something I can do to make the new ones better to use? Am I the only one who notices this, or who remembers the cables like this made in the 60's and 70's to compare?
Noticed the same here.
Even though they slip they should be okay.
The one thing you should do to new clips is pull the boots back on the wires, uncrimp the connection, tin the wire, solder the wire to the clip, push the boot back on the clip.
Compared to a crimped connection a soldered connection increases the risk of a wire breakage because the solder creates hard points within the wire.
...R
Well the slipping of the clip inside the boot really bugged me. I thought about it for a while, and decided I would try turning the boot inside out, and rough it up with some 150 grit sandpaper, and rough up the clips. Then I turned the boot right side out and put it back on the clip. It seems to be working.
Robin2:
Compared to a crimped connection a soldered connection increases the risk of a wire breakage because the solder creates hard points within the wire....R
Normally I would agree but these (crappy) crimp clips usually have high contact resistance.
If the wires break then they don’t conduct; when the crimps go high resistance (2-5 ohms) you seldomly realize it.
larryd:
If the wires break then they don’t conduct; when the crimps go high resistance (2-5 ohms) you seldomly realize it.
Fair point.
...R