element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
Test & Tools
  • Technologies
  • More
Test & Tools
Blog Pomona Insulation Piercing Clips
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Documents
  • Files
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join Test & Tools to participate - click to join for free!
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
Group Actions
  • Group RSS
  • More
  • Cancel
Engagement
  • Author Author: shabaz
  • Date Created: 28 Jul 2019 11:32 PM Date Created
  • Views 2627 views
  • Likes 12 likes
  • Comments 16 comments
  • piercing_clip_connector
  • insulation piercing
  • banana plug
  • wire_piercing
  • pomona
Related
Recommended

Pomona Insulation Piercing Clips

shabaz
shabaz
28 Jul 2019

A friend gave me a couple of Pomona Insulation Piercing ClipsPomona Insulation Piercing Clips which I thought were pretty neat. Apparently they are quite popular with the automotive repair/test crowd.

The clips were something I had not seen before, so thought maybe it would be good to share some pics/video if anyone else has not seen these before either.

 

In brief, they can connect to banana plugs (there is also a version of clip compatible with multimeter test leadsversion of clip compatible with multimeter test leads) and then the other end can be hooked over an insulated wire, and by turning the red or black end of the clip, a sharp needle pierces the insulation for making contact with the conductor.

 

The damage is fairly minimal, and the repair depends of course on the industry/application and environment. It may need a small insulation repair, since the insulation it is compromised.

 

image

 

Here's a close-up showing the insulation being pierced:

image

They feel well-made, and I like the ergonomics too. The pointy nose is nice too for pushing into a nest of wires. I get the feeling it would be very easy to use this one-handed, by using the thumb and index finger to push back on the lever, while pushing into the wires, and hooking it on. After that, the lever can be released and then the black or red end of the clip needs screwing in (possible one-handed, but depends on if it will disturb the wire or not - you may want to do that part two-handed).

 

Here's a 7-minute video showing me using it with a few wires (the clip is designed for 14-22AWG wires, but it seems fine with thinner wires too).

You don't have permission to edit metadata of this video.
Edit media
x
image
Upload Preview
image

 

There are versions for long-distance probing/poking image (up to 24 inch!):

image

Thanks for reading!

  • Sign in to reply

Top Comments

  • michaelkellett
    michaelkellett over 5 years ago in reply to jw0752 +7
    Aliexpress to the rescue ! https://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=AS_20190729000340&SearchText=insulation+piercing+test+clip MK
  • jw0752
    jw0752 over 5 years ago +6
    Hi Shabaz, They looked really useful until I saw the price. I think my application will need to be a bit more profitable before I invest. John
  • shabaz
    shabaz over 5 years ago in reply to jw0752 +6
    Hi John! Most Pomona stuff is pricey here, but this one looks expensive universally. I just noticed Fluke have the identical product on their price-book too, at an even more unmentionable price!
  • shabaz
    shabaz over 5 years ago in reply to colporteur

    Hi Sean,

     

    I totally agree with this guidance, that insulation should never be deliberately broken (and left unrepaired).

    Having said that, even on my own car I wouldn't have an issue using this on non-critical wiring - like car audio, to save cutting and re-terminating time.

    Some things work fine even with semi-exposed wiring - e.g. an external microphone I once built, which has an upside-down exposed pipe, and not being knowledgeable in audio, I couldn't figure a way to do it without exposing it (I used very non-dense foam lightly plugging the upside-down end).

    Also an indoor camera which I just re-used to become an outdoor camera (it is protected from rain falling on it, but other than that, I think it's self-heat is looking after it.. It's been running for maybe 6 years. I believe if I switched it off, it probably would not last a month... even cars with their default wiring start showing anomalies after a few months in damp UK weather, with electrical problems, unless they are powered up regularly. I learned that the hard way when I didn't use my car for a few months : ( I had to wait a very long time [months] for all the weird issues to eventually self-correct : )

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +3 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • colporteur
    colporteur over 5 years ago

    image

     

    Nooooooo... say it is not so! Shabaz my Element14 electronics superhero has found his kryptonite.  What next standing in water holding AC power cords?

     

    This tool breaches the insulation to expose the conductor to a probe. The world is full of failed good intentions. I can save you a few bucks. File the pins on the end of your voltmeter  meter test probes to a fish hook point tip and then use them to jab through the insulation covering wires to make contact with the conductor to take measurements.

     

    Now that you have become comfortable using this methodology to do testing, how about taking measurements from conductors on your boat or in your car or better yet why not through foreign electrical wires that run through your wall. Hey there are some really thick wires in pre-digital TV than can do with a ***.

     

    Wires are coated with insulation for a reason. It insulates! Breaking down that insulation barrier at any point along the conductor can lead to problems. Just think, every time you take your car in for servicing another vehicle tech starts pricking wires. No problem there is a bundle here, poke a hole through green wire is no problem. Gee I wonder why this yellow wire has this green corrosion coating on it?

     

    I made the above poster for my lab, in case Shabaz stops by for a beer with his meter. This technique has so many down sides, I have never taken up the habit in 37 years of working in electronics. Promoting this technique is a really bad idea.

     

    Sean

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +3 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • balearicdynamics
    balearicdynamics over 5 years ago in reply to luislabmo

    It seems that this ancestor method was cheaper than ever ...

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +1 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • luislabmo
    luislabmo over 5 years ago

    This reminds me many years ago I saw an Electrician doing some measurements on the main voltage lines at home by poking them with Sewing pins. Maybe situations like these inspired such a useful tool.

    Luisimage

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +3 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
  • three-phase
    three-phase over 5 years ago

    If you want some really eye-watering prices for insulation piercing probes then check out Warwick supplies......

     

    Insulation Piercing Probes

     

    They also have a guide to them as well for the different types that are available.

     

    Insulation Piercing Probe Guide

     

    They are something I tend to stay away from, probably OK on low voltages, but I would have thought insulation damage on car harnesses that are subject to a lot of dirt and moisture would eventually lead to issues.

     

    Kind regards.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up +4 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • More
    • Cancel
>
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube