CHAPTER 8
■ Chapter 8: Clips and Test Leads
The components on Sandwich’s circuit board are permanently soldered together. You’ll learn about that
later. But what do you do if you want to make a quick connection for a simple experiment? No, don’t use
electrical tape. It’s too loose and sticky!
This chapter covers a simple method for making a few temporary connections. It also describes a
multimeter test that you can perform to check if an electrical connection has been made.
The Gators Are Hungry Tonight
Alligator clips have spring-closing “mouths” that grip parts (see Figure 8-1). Squeezing the center of the clip
causes the mouth to open and release whatever it’s holding. When you let go of the clip, the mouth closes
and can hold onto things.
Figure 8-1. Alligator clip with insulated shroud
Alligator clips are friendly. They have a lighthearted name and you can pinch their mouths open and
shut like they are eating or saying hello.
A pair of clips attached by a wire is called a jumper lead or clip test jumper (see Figure 8-2). The wire
itself is usually flexible copper surrounded by an insulating colored plastic casing. Now you’ve got something
that can grip a part on both ends and connect them with a wire.
Figure 8-2. A jumper lead is alligator clips with a connecting wire