power probe 3

[stingray1966]

just bought a brand new power probe 3 The problem is I do not know how to use it and what it can do. every one keeps telling me I will love it .The book that came with it oes not help much

 

[signcrafter]

It can do all sorts of stuff. It can test for power and ground. It can send power and ground to things like the cooling fans or window motor to test them to see if it works. I don't use mine too much but it is handy for certain things. I use my fluke more.

 

[Brownsfan]

They can be very useful. But can be dangerous in inexperienced hands. You dont want to be sending 12v or ground on the wrong circuits. I use it as said above. For testing motors switches etc . I use my DMM the most of any testing tool in my box.

 

[86k10]

There is a video on Youtube that shows how to use it.

 

[Darius6t9]

It is simple. And more features than I am about to give you. The big clamps you hook up to your battery on the vehicle you are working on. Use the tip to touch where you are wanting to test. you will get one of 3 results. 1. No sound, not lights and no measurement on the volt meter. 2. low tone, green minus sign lights up (means you have ground). 3. high tone, red plus sign and a voltage reading on meter. Sound and light just let you know you have voltage. Meter should be obvious. If you want to check ohms then use the small alligator clip on one end and the meter tip on the other end and that will tell you if you have continuity. Different tones will tell you what range you are in. Your book will tell you what they are. Then you can also just touch the tip to something that you know is supposed to get power like a blower motor or window motor and push the button one way to give it power. Or work on things the other direction. If you know it's supposed to have ground then you can supply that ground with the pp3. If nothing else you can search on youtube. There are a few good videos that can help you. I love mine. Use it all the time when diagnosing electrical issues on cars.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Looking forward to buying one eventually. Don't really need it, just want it!

 

[justme-]

It's not a necessity tool - a DVM and jumpers will do what it does, but it's faster.
While the book included is not a novel, it's more than clear enough on operation of the tool. It is not, however, clear on application of the tool. If you know electrical troubleshooting the PP3 is just a small learning curve, and really seems harder to understand than it really is. I would recommend the youtube videos - I believe they can be reached from the Power Probe website too.

 

[BFHtime]

I was using, what I think was a regular power probe, to due some diagnositics, on wiring from an engine swap I just did.

What is the difference between what the power probe 1 and what the power probe 3 can do?

I also need to chase down some closed circuits that are killing my battery, so I am considering a getting something I could do a little more with. The power probe I used was great for all kinds of information, very quickly without having to reattach wires in different configurations for testing.

 

[signcrafter]

I don't know what all the PP1 can do but the 3 can send power and ground to things. It also has a display screen that will read the actual voltage. Can do some more also.

Keep in mind they just introduced the PP4. I'm not sure on the price because as far as I know it's not on sale yet but the 4 does have some new features over the 3 like an injector tester.

For parasitic draw Stick did a great write up on how to trouble shoot that, http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133226&highlight=parasitic.

 

[Darius6t9]

PP1 just has a single led light and a rocker switch to provide power and ground. The PP3 has 2 led lights and a basic meter built in. If had to choose between the 2 I would go for the pp3. The pp4 definitely looks nice though.

 

[Brownsfan]

Anyone know when the PP4 starts shipping? I have the 3 already but the 4 seems like a happy medium between the 3 and the hook. Have not seen anyone selling one yet. Tooltopia has the hook for $265 so I Would imagine the 4 will be less than that. Hell $265 is the cheapest Ive seen the hook for so I may just pick that up.

 

[foxbody306]

The power probe is one of the best tools that I have it checks for power, ground, voltage, and you can give something power or ground if its not getting anything. Perect example, say you have a bad fuel pump but don't know for sure it might be a broken wire or the relay or the fuse. Check for ground and power at the pump if the pump has no power at the plug, power it up see if it goes on. If the pump goes on you know have a problem else where whether its a fuse, relay, bad wire, bad ecu ect ect. If the the pump does have power and ground and the right voltage,you know its the pump!

One of the best tools too have, no need to run a hot wire or ground to something plus it checks voltage also

 

[Tarheelgarage]

I use the PP3 in the shop; great tool

Newbies be careful; don't let the 'smoke out of those expensive modules due to improper useage...

 

[signcrafter]

Anyone know when the PP4 starts shipping? I have the 3 already but the 4 seems like a happy medium between the 3 and the hook. Have not seen anyone selling one yet. Tooltopia has the hook for $265 so I Would imagine the 4 will be less than that. Hell $265 is the cheapest Ive seen the hook for so I may just pick that up.

I haven't seen a date yet. I would guess real soon because they had the introduction video over a month ago I believe. Would think they would get it out for the Holiday season.

The hook and the PP4 each have some interesting features. The PP4 has what looks like a scope built in for things like injector testing. Which would be nice for those of us that don't have the big fancy scopes. What features does the hook have that the PP4 doesn't? What does the PP4 have that the hook doesn't? I would never get both of them but trying to decide if I want to pick one or the other up. I never really saw the cost justification in the hook over the PP3.

 

[Darius6t9]

Just from looking at the display screen for the pp4 it looks like it finally has an ohm meter where can get readings instead of different tone for different range.

 

[brass89]

power probes are handy tools. if you're unsure how to use it, see about getting some books or taking a class in automotive electrical. that will serve you better than a quick youtube tutorial. it's not one of those tools that a pamphlet can show you how to use really because it requires background knowledge in auto electrical/electronics. it's more of an aid. as a for instance, if you're repairing a broken electric window and not sure if it's the motor, regulator or a bad switch you can pull the switch out and test the power going to it to ensure you're getting 12v to the switch. if not, then you have a problem further up the line sourcing power. if you do have 12v, you can use the rocker switch on the pp to send 12v and bypass the switch. if the window moves, you've isolated a bad window switch.

do be careful of the rocker switch, it's not something you want to just press (either direction) and 'see what this does'. applying pos or neg power to the wrong thing can easily fry it (or worse surge the bcm or pcm) and put you in a bad situation. which is why you need a basic understanding of auto electrical background. good luck with it.

 

[Brownsfan]

So the PP4 is in the Cornwell December flyer for 269.95. I have to imagine online pricing will be less considering the HOOK can be had for 265. I am going to compare the two and see which I should get. Don't really need either at all but its another electrical test tool and that's pretty much all I do. Here is the link.
http://cornwelltools.com/Publications/december2014/Index.html

 

[dean1]

I have just got a pp3 this week. Has anyone had problems getting false positives? . My probe was picking up 12vs but my test lamp Was reading a ground. I used my test lamp to find the fault