Quick Answer / Summary: These leads pair a 4 mm banana plug with a crocodile or hook clip. Choose by clip jaw opening, current rating and whether the jaws are insulated. Check jaw teeth for damage and the hinge for looseness before use; a clip that has lost its spring falls off at the worst moment.
A banana clip wire is a test lead with a banana plug at one end and a clip at the other. It is the standard bench lead for grabbing a terminal or a wire quickly, and it is not a substitute for a proper speaker connection.
Clip Types and What They Grip
Crocodile clips grip wires, terminals and battery posts with serrated jaws. Hook clips reach into small terminals and hold by a spring hook rather than teeth, which suits fine wire and pins. Insulated jaws prevent accidental contact with neighbouring terminals, which matters on dense boards.
Jaw Condition
Teeth wear and flatten with use, and a flattened jaw slides off round terminals. Hinge looseness reduces spring pressure, so the clip grips weakly even though it closes fully.
Insulated Versus Bare Jaws
Insulated jaws are safer on crowded terminals and prevent shorts between adjacent connections. Bare jaws grip slightly better and are acceptable where terminals are well spaced.
Gauge, Current and Use Limits
Bench clip leads are typically 18 to 20 AWG, adequate for measurement and low-current tests and insufficient for loudspeaker power. The clip’s rating is usually lower than the wire’s, so the clip sets the limit. For anything drawing real current, a plug or a fixed termination is correct.
Where Clip Leads Belong
Bench testing, temporary connections during repair, and probing a circuit that has no socket. They are not for permanent installation, where friction and jaw wear make the connection unreliable.
Inspection Routine
Check continuity through the lead, inspect the jaws, and test the clip’s grip on a known terminal. A lead that fails any of the three is retired rather than repaired, because clip leads are cheap and a bad one produces wrong measurements.
Making a Clip Lead
A banana plug, a clip and a short length of flexible wire make a serviceable lead in minutes. Crimp or solder both ends, heat shrink the joints, and test continuity before relying on it for a measurement.
Clip Lead Selection
| Criterion | Typical | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Wire gauge | 18-20 AWG | Low current only |
| Jaw opening | 5-15 mm | Match the terminal |
| Jaw insulation | Preferred on dense boards | Bare jaws grip harder |
| Clip rating | Below wire rating | Clip sets the limit |
| Use | Test and temporary | Not permanent |
Practical Applications
Bench testing a circuit without sockets, probing terminals during repair, choosing insulated clips for dense boards, and deciding when a plug connection is required instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a banana clip wire used for?
Bench testing and temporary connections: a banana plug at one end and a clip at the other lets a test lead grab a terminal or wire quickly.
Can clip leads carry speaker current?
Generally no. Bench clip leads are light gauge and the clip is the limiting part. For loudspeaker power, use plugs or fixed terminations.
When should a clip lead be replaced?
When the jaws are flattened, the hinge is loose, or continuity fails. Clip leads are inexpensive, and a marginal one produces misleading measurements.