kelvin probes

2 Articles

Kelvin Probes Review Shows How 4-Wire Resistance Measurement Works

October 31, 2020 by 12 Comments

You might think the probes in the picture are just funny looking alligator clips. But if you watch [tomtektest’s] recent video, you’ll learn they are really Kelvin probes. Kelvin probes are a special type of probe for making accurate resistance measurements using four wires and, in fact, the probe’s jaws are electrically isolated from each other.

We liked [Tom’s] advice from his old instructor: you aren’t really ever measuring a resistance. You are measuring a voltage and a current. With a four-wire measurement, one pair of wires carries current to the device under test and the other pair of wires measure the voltage drop.

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Creating Kelvin Test Leads For Four-Wire Measurments

August 28, 2020 by 4 Comments

[VoltLog] has a cheap Hantek LCR meter, but it only has two probes. The best resistance and impedance measurements, though, use four wires to improve accuracy. The first order of business was a custom PCB to fit into the connector of the meter, along with a 3D-printed case.

Using a four-wire scheme requires unusual alligator clips that don’t electrical short the jaws together. The clips were hard to solder and even harder to strain relief. but [VoltLog] seemed to handle it with little problem.

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