They are useful for connecting components to wires.

Laboratory: crocodile clips are frequently used to quickly and cheaply assemble or modify experimental circuits.

Dentistry: crocodile clips are often used on the ends of a cord in dental offices to attach a protective bib over the patient's clothing.

In this CID document, crocodile clips are designated type CC, alligator clips are designated types TCx, and other types of electrical clips have various other, unique designations. The United States Defense Logistics Agency specifies several types of electrical clips in Commercial Item Description (CID) A-A-59466. to refine the design, with a later version patented in 1921. Several metal clip designs working on the same principle were patented in the early 20th century: a type of a crocodile clip cutting through the wire insulation was patented by Harry Frankel from New York in 1903, and another design was developed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation engineer George Brown Dusinberre, who patented it in 1909, and later was hired by Ralph S. 'jump leads') are capable of delivering hundreds of Amperes of current needed to directly power an automobile starter motor, or to transfer energy from a charged lead–acid battery to a discharged one.

Large versions of these clips, called automotive clips or battery clamps, are made of solid copper for low electrical resistance, and are used with thick insulated copper cables to make connections between automobile batteries. Small versions, ranging in size from 15–40 mm (0.59–1.57 in) in length, are used in electrical laboratory work. The clip is typically covered by a plastic shroud or 'boot' to prevent accidental short-circuits. When manufactured for electronics testing and evaluation, one jaw of the clip is typically permanently crimped or soldered to a wire, or is bent to form the inner tubular contact of a ~4 mm (0.16 in) female banana jack, enabling quick non-permanent connection between a circuit under test and laboratory equipment or to another electrical circuit. Functioning much like a spring-loaded clothespin, the clip's tapered, serrated jaws are forced together by a spring to grip an object. It is used to clamp and grab onto a bare electrical cable to a lead on a battery or some other electrical component.

This simple mechanical device gets its name from the resemblance of its serrated jaws to the toothed jaws of a crocodile or alligator. This device is a variation of Dusinberre's original crocodile clip design Crocodile clips, also called automotive clips, on a set of jumper cables Three crocodile clips: a bare standard-sized clip a miniature clip in a yellow plastic boot a large red Square D multi-function clipĪ crocodile clip or alligator clip is a plier-like spring-tensioned metal clip with elongated, serrated jaws that is used for creating a temporary electrical connection. JSTOR ( May 2013) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Īlligator clip A crocodile clip manufactured by Mueller Electric.Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources.

This article needs additional citations for verification.

Mini alligator clips