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I spent forty years as a heavy duty truck technician. I only found out about the Power Probe the last two years of my career before retiring. It was the most useful and versatile tool I ever bought. It saves HOURS of diagnostic time! Every tech should have one.
Every Tech should know how to USE them. In addition, diagnostic and verification of repair for the vehicles of today require the Tech be well versed in multi-meters, scanners & oscilloscopes. Everything operates with some type of electrical component and most with one or more computers or modules that processes data input from sensors and uses that information to actuate some type of output or monitor feedback systems. Gone are the days when we refer anything electrical to the specialty Techs since it is more common place than a rarity. Embrace the change, learn and grow. Electrical troubleshooting and diagnostics is a powerful weapon to have in your arsenal.
Thank you Sir for your dedication to professional education. These ground laying lessons, pointed at reasoning out, are extremely valuable in an environment that depends (too) much on "the go".
Best quality video you could watch regarding this device. Better than Power Probe's actual videos. Good teachers like this wont be around forever. Treasure their knowledge!
This is truly outstanding first step to learning the Power Probe. Thank you very much for this lesson...clear...safety focused...timely (for me, a beginner). Well done.
After years of use, I'm beyond the initial stage of being afraid to cause problems. When starting out, don't touch that power button and you'll almost never fry anything. The big challenge with the power probe is understanding its limitations. The main limitation is similar to a multimeter, so don't overinterpret results in a circuit with no current flowing. I love it because I never wonder if I have a good ground. It would be a mistake to use it instead of a test light, they are two distinct tools that accomplish different tasks. The test light remains the most underappreciated tool in the box.
@@wyattoneable Hi Wyatt. His last video, showing evidence of galvanic reactions in coolant, was interesting, too. Unfortunately my adblocker in Firefox was rejected by youtube so I couldn't comment after watching it in Safari. I knew Google would find a way to force me to watch ads, eventually, ha ha.
I've enjoyed mine. I still find myself using my normal DMM as my go to, but having it there is handy from time to time. My primary use so far has been component testing. I got the pro kit with the short detector. Kind of disappointed by the short detector, but not really it's fault. Just an inherent problem with how it works doesn't make it usefully if dealing with harnesses. I'm sure it works well tracing a single circuit, but in the real world things are in harnesses that can't usually be easilly separated to isolate the circuit for the length of the harness. This allows the signal being sent down the trouble circuit to couple into good circuits rendering the locator useless for finding a break, short, or resistance.
I absolutely enjoyed this! You sound a lot like my mentor in college, my electronics instructor. I liked the software program you used as well. The college I went to had a software program called, "Get Wired" to wire houses, motor control, etc....you could click on a light switch for example and if everything was wired correctly, the light bulb would light up, if there was a short the wires would burn up, etc. It really helped me with reversing circuits which was one of my first hangups....lol. Again, nice tutorial! Thanks
I absolutely loved the vid!! Thank u! I use mine more and more. The ground wire is so handy. The long wires allow u to take everything u need where u need them.
Sir: May I compliment you on your EXCELLENT video. There are inherent "errors" in nomenclature if this were an engineering treatise. In your case your description benefits from the lack of complication that could confuse the user. I think you have done people a service by ridding your descriptions of unnecessary words. Well done! You speak clearly, slowly, & with wonderful articulation. Yours is a first class evaluation & operational description of the correct use of the device. Would that ALL sites were the quality of yours. Thank you.
I have two power probes and they’re honestly not used enough here at my shop. I’m gonna start using them more now bc of your video! Thanks for the inspiration you provide us Dwayne! Always a pleasure to learn from the best!
The way to know these types of equipment is to know how the circuitry works. The reason people burn things is because they dont understand circuitry. The power probe is able to detect a ground which passes through motors from the ground which indicates that there will be a load.
Thank you sir for a great tutorial. Now if I had had a teacher in high school who instructed like you the ski would have been the limit...lol. On a serious note, great job with this video it was well done and very informative. The safety tips are what really got my attention. Thanks again.
Greetings: I made a jig many decades ago that does all these functions and more. Less cost, nearly field serviceable, wider applications and functions. It is still my primary tool.
Power prob is a great tool I use it often. I still have a test light but it’s gathering dust. Power probe is far mor Versatile And knowledge with using is important. But it gives so much more info that a simple light.
I have been your subscriber for many years, enjoy and learn from your informative videos, also own the PowerProbe and this is an excellent cautionary video! However, VOM would be misnomer, as the PP does not measure resistance and amperage.
He accurately described the Power Probe's ability and function and compared it to a DVOM in it's ability to measure both voltage and continuity. He actually said that it doesn't replace a DVOM for more accurate measurements.
A Great and Helpful video. I just wish there was a section to show how to make sure your tester is working correctly before using it as I am not sure my if my earth side is working correctly. It doesn't light up green when testing although the green light does comes on when I connect it to a power source?
I just started using mine and I’m really scared of burning a module or computer. You should send power only to the power circuit to test if it works, right?
Great tutorial on a topic I’ve been wanting to learn more about for quite some time . Can you please do an instructional tutorial on how to avoid damaging automobile circuits / computer circuits by using a test light incorrectly ?
Yes, the ground is always ground and positive is always positive. The tool will distinguish the difference but YOU need to understand that positive always returns to the ground
in my opinion, the hook is overpriced and an over kill as a tool. It was not popular and they discontinued it. I do have one and never use its. I think the power probe is the best tool
Like always a source of inspiration and motivation for us, Sir,I have a question for you. What you think about the new models of Power Probe or you recomend the 3rd model. I,m using The Hook because just come out but its,s a little bigger for some place inside the cars and I think to change for a new one, thanks for all you doing and best regards from Spain
Strictly my opinion, the basic tool (3) is the best. Yes the new ones do new things, but they are mostly to drive new sales. The best new tool is the new knowledge you gain from critical thinking.
This is a great tool but be aware of switching to provide power or ground. Everyone is fighting the clock, don’t let this fight your wallet. Many circuits today are 5Vdc, so know your wiring before switching. Following published diagnostic flow charts with keep you from trouble because in some instances, the old school “Test Light” the bulb provides battery available but the bulb is a current limiting device. I alway confirm the complaint. If knowing voltage is present, that is a start. However, no indication of how much current will pass thru it is indicated. This becomes a voltage drop test with that circuit on and working as intended. I do not like disturbing harnesses or connectors, but I hate poking a hole into insulation. Always back probe when possible or use a jumper wire set with correct terminals. Remember, there are almost all series circuits, so test ground & power but across the device with current flowing tells the condition of the part. Any DC motor will use use current, how much current does this fuel pump use? Well, test enough and you will know. Higher amps mean it is working harder than normal. Lower current means that the brushes or commutator plates maybe worn. I use an amp clamp hooked to an oscilloscope or decades ago, the primary input source of an engine analyzer. Yes, one of these weight 15 lbs, the other 412 lbs. both did the same thing. The difference is scale, speed and sampling rate. Maybe I am picky but I roll my eyes when people say “It is a short” Blows fuses huh? No! So, open! The other is epoxy drys and glue cures. Nope, turn it around! DK ase master tech since 78 (NIASE) changed to shorter ASE. Don’t know when, but the took front drum brake questions off the test since.
Great observation, thanks for taking the time to respond. You are correct. Always review the diagram and understand the electrical principles of everything you test.
I'm a professional homeowner and I am afraid of mine. Obviously I don't know it well enough. I would love to see you make an hour long video explaining and showing examples of it's use. I imagine that sending 12V down a 5 V reference line isn't good, and a source of lots of damage.
You forgot the most important part always make sure what you are checking is low voltage DC! I was trying to diagnose a wiring mess on a boat once, hooked up the power probe to the 12 volt supply in the wheelhouse and probed some wires hooked up to a male a cigarette lighter plug. Never hit the switch on the power probe, the power probe blew up! Some idiots had 120/208 AC power run through this cigarette lighter plug! This plug had lots of small wires coming out of it and was powering a dozen AC powered things under the dash! It had 2 of 3 phases on its two terminals and the 3rd phase was directly wired to the various things and any single phase items had the neural hooked directly to the hull! Best part is they had the AC neutral/grounds and the DC negative grounds tied together as they used the steel hull as both a DC negative ground and an AC Ground and Neutral! Never assume anything always check with a proper meter first! Even if it’s obviously DC like a cigarette lighter plug!
i've always liked the concept behind it but the cheesy rocker switch with no lockout to me shows a flawed implementation of the concept. between that and the price i'll stick to a dmm and jumper wires.
Greetings: He left out another 'kind of person's. #4: A person that knows Electrical, Electronics and tasks. This thing is a toy 4 those more $ than brains and lacking above. A few good repairmen might find it helpful in some cases. I built my own jig years ago. It is still in service. FyI: No I do not own 1. I have serviced and used many. I find them quite less bang 4 the buck. No disrespect or discredit 2 the presentation or author. The information provided is correct.
Personal i feel like a powerprobe has it place and time like any other tool. i only use mine to test a component. got to becareful have seen alot of people damage drivers on modules
Juan, I appreciate your input, the key word here is "careful". You said you only use it for one thing, may I make this comparison. You drive your car to many places, not just one because you drive carefully and responsibly. The key word is careful. The "power probe" is a great tool for many tests. Use it carefully and don't limit your skills because you are afraid of it. Learn how to use it carefully.
@@realfixesrealfast correct but with a power probe i cant load a circuit or do a voltage drop test. the only power probe i will invest more into is the hook or the one that can do the injectors duty cycle
I love your videos and your information but please turn down the alarms I can’t hear you, you are very quiet so I have to turn the volume up but then the alarms/ sound effects go off and it’s ear piercing, thank you
Greetings: I have repaired more of these and variants than I can remember. Most misuse and many junk. Many refused my repair and opted 2 replace later disabling the unit again. These idiots should not have this device or attempted the tasks. More $ than brains.
Greetings: I find it difficult 2 believe this has 2 B demonstrated. But then again, experiencing the idiots out here, I can. Bottom line: If U do not understand the task or tools... U should not attempt the task. Refer 2 a qualified person.
Bat, I agree, but please remember even the most experienced and knowledgeable techs today, had to start and build their experience. I'm just trying to get them off on the right approach.
The power probe has a circuit breaker to prevent damage, a gun does not. Not a very good comparison. Please think before you post videos in the future claiming to be intelligent.
Regardless, the comparison is a good one in the way that he explained it. If you point it and pull the trigger/rocker switch, power goes where you put it just like a projectile goes, when the trigger is pulled, where the gun is aimed. The circuit breaker in the Power Probe is not there to protect where you're injecting power but instead to protect the Power Probe. In the future, as you say, please think before attempting to sound intelligent.
ErictheCarGuy was right about Realfixesrealfast What do you call SUBSTANTIAL and KNOWLEDGEABLE the answer is Realfixesrealfast Jaw breaking from the start to finish loved it tutorial outstanding video brilliant very helpful information video Take care and have a great day Realfixesrealfast From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧
