Low amp probe uses?

[WhiffySpark]

My boss picked up a new low amp probe for me for our verus. I mainly wanted it to do realitive compressions test. What else do you guys use them for?

Can I use it to check a cop? Or spark plug wire maybe?

 

[MadTinkerer]

Anytime you want to measure current. You can use it to check injectors or coils, fuel pumps or other motors, and parasitic drains.

 

[theoldwizard1]

An Amp Probe is useless with a 'scope of COP or injectors UNLESS all coil (or injectors) share the same ground.


ERROR: That should say POWER !

 

[WhiffySpark]

An Amp Probe is useless with a 'scope of COP or injectors UNLESS all coil (or injectors) share the same ground.

Explanation please?

 

[GTA Matt]

An Amp Probe is useless with a 'scope of COP or injectors UNLESS all coil (or injectors) share the same ground.

Coils and injectors are ground pulsed from the pcm and share common power (except for cases where coils have built in transistors, we'll save that for another day). You can scope any coil, injector, solenoid, electric motor or electric device on a vehicle from either the power or the ground wire. Does not matter.

 

[garfunkle24]

Low amp probes are great for parasitic drains, as mentioned above. Having said that, unless yours is different to mine, it can be a little bit of a PITA to isolate the correct circuit due to the high sensitivity. Not like it will stop you, just takes an extra minute or two sometimes.

 

[MLB0611]

I use my low amp probe all the time you can current ramp fuel pumps, do primary ignition testing, check amp draws of motors etc

 

[WhiffySpark]

Any advice on primary ignition testing?

 

[WhiffySpark]

Low amp probes are great for parasitic drains, as mentioned above. Having said that, unless yours is different to mine, it can be a little bit of a PITA to isolate the correct circuit due to the high sensitivity. Not like it will stop you, just takes an extra minute or two sometimes.

He brought me the red snapon one

 

[WhiffySpark]

http://www.aeswave.com/15-inch-WyzeProbe-for-Secondary-Ignition-and-COP-p8764.html

Anyone have that?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Coils and injectors are ground pulsed from the pcm and share common power ...

THANK YOU FOR THE CORRECTION ! I must have had a brain fart when I wrote that.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Explanation please?

With ignition coils or injectors, what you really want to see is all cylinder on the 'scope at the same time so that you can compare them. Much easier to pick out a bad one that way.

Check Scanner Danner's YouTube channel. He has a couple of video on using amp probes and scope.

Any advice on primary ignition testing?

The same place has some info on this topic.

Paul Danner also wrote a book on automotive electronics diagnostics.


IMHO, your boss is not very smart, buying expensive equipment and not providing you with proper training.

 

[Skin]

http://www.aeswave.com/15-inch-WyzeProbe-for-Secondary-Ignition-and-COP-p8764.html

Anyone have that?

Its just another item for the box but just be aware those probes dont work too often. Many coil over plugs are really well insulated, especially the Asian makes.

 

[WhiffySpark]

With ignition coils or injectors, what you really want to see is all cylinder on the 'scope at the same time so that you can compare them. Much easier to pick out a bad one that way.

Check Scanner Danner's YouTube channel. He has a couple of video on using amp probes and scope.



The same place has some info on this topic.

Paul Danner also wrote a book on automotive electronics diagnostics.


IMHO, your boss is not very smart, buying expensive equipment and not providing you with proper training.

He's smarter than most. Can't learn without doing. All this YouTube stuff isn't too helpful to me seeing how I'm deaf

 

[GTA Matt]

Its a case by case basis for scoping coils and injectors. Each car and situation is different. Some vehicles have multiple components sharing power so there can be some unwanted 'noise' on the circuit. If you know you have a cylinder 3 misfire, often its easiest just to go to the coil or injector itself to clamp a wire. You would still need to backprobe a coil/injector connector anyhow when clamping to a power or ground wire to identify which cylinder is which. You also will need to be able to zoom in on individual components to pick out details that are needed for an accurate diagnosis. The paddles are relatively effective, may not be 100%, but they do work. Everything takes a good bit of time, practice and experience to learn.

 

[theoldwizard1]

He's smarter than most. Can't learn without doing. All this YouTube stuff isn't too helpful to me seeing how I'm deaf

Buy the book !

 

[WhiffySpark]

Buy the book !

I have both of them. Still reading the scanner danner one he has on the website.

 

[WhiffySpark]

Its a case by case basis for scoping coils and injectors. Each car and situation is different. Some vehicles have multiple components sharing power so there can be some unwanted 'noise' on the circuit. If you know you have a cylinder 3 misfire, often its easiest just to go to the coil or injector itself to clamp a wire. You would still need to backprobe a coil/injector connector anyhow when clamping to a power or ground wire to identify which cylinder is which. You also will need to be able to zoom in on individual components to pick out details that are needed for an accurate diagnosis. The paddles are relatively effective, may not be 100%, but they do work. Everything takes a good bit of time, practice and experience to learn.

Which is exactly why I'm looking for some direction. I currently back probe most suspicious parts because I do not like being a parts changer. I don't have anyone to teach me but the Internet and reading. No one in the company scopes but a 60 year old ******* that won't help anyone lol. We have three shops with a verus in each one. He just brought a smart smoke machine for one of the other shops

 

[GTA Matt]

Do you have Facebook? I run a group called "automotive lab scope diagnostics". You're more then welcome to join. Lots of sharp guys and idea sharing.

 

[Hayzuse]

Do you have Facebook? I run a group called "automotive lab scope diagnostics". You're more then welcome to join. Lots of sharp guys and idea sharing.

I just sent a request! I don't use a scope much but I'm sure it would save me a ton of time at work if I started using it more


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