Power Probe...do I need one?

[Jason280]

I've seen "Power Probe" mentioned in a lot of threads where people were troubleshooting electrical issues, and it has made me wonder if I may benefit from having one in the box. Local shop has a Power Probe 3 for a pretty decent price, but I am curious as to what it can do that a standard multimeter cannot.

How useful are the Power Probes, and are they fairly simple to use? Any reason not to pick up one?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Describes power/ground presence simply by probing.

Attached ground lead allows you to power up a circuit. IE: Jump power and ground to a fan to make sure the motor works.

Stick it on a starter to start a car with an immobilizer problem, or to see if the solenoid works.



Dumb easy to use. Just don't go around applying 12 volts where ever.

 

[txvwnut]

You can supply power to a circuit with them, it can tell you if your testing a wire whether it is a ground or has power on it. They have their place in trouble shooting, I mainly use mine for trouble shooting lighting circuits.

 

[stevenhs]

It is not a requirement for working on cars, but it is useful.

 

[MarineScott]

Love my Power Probe III, test window motors, fans, speaker circuits, and on and on. very useful Watch a youtube video and you will see

 

[theoldwizard1]

Understanding auto wiring and understanding the DIFFERENT ways to use a simple test light and you will find that you probably don't need one.

Watch some YouTube South Main Auto repair videos. Eric O. has lots of high end diagnostic tools (including several different high end OBD2 scanners), but I have never seen him use a PowerProbe.

 

[shockwave]

They work great on window regulators when motor is shot and power readings at hand too just be careful what you put power to

 

[ca90ss]

Doesn't seem to do anything I couldn't do with a standard DMM and a couple long clip leads.

 

[Brownsfan]

You don't "need" it. Especially if you are not doing electrical daily. I own one and do electrical every day. I don't use it that much at all really. I prefer a meter or a logic probe. I really only use testing motors or switches. It can be very dangerous in the hands of a inexperienced tech.

 

[DanInVA]

I like it. Technically, it may not do anything you can't do with a dvom and a set of jumper wires, but if you know how to use it, it can definitely come in handy. If you look in your box, you may find you don't NEED half the tools in your box, but you have them anyway because they make you faster at a particular task. The power probe's job is to make you more efficient at electrical diag. Imo, it has its place.

As others have said though, be sure you know exactly what you are doing before you start applying power or ground to a circuit.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[plinker]

I like my PP3 for testing cooler fans, auxiliary & OEM lights and for checking for power vs ground. I dont really do anything advanced with it, per say.
It has made things go faster when testing and it's worth the money just for that.

 

[Fedwrench]

In untrained hands or in hands without a wiring diagram to see where you're applying what, a Powerprobe can do some damage smoking modules. However, its very long cable, lighted probe, the ability to apply power or ground, and with newer versions allowing you to read measurements, it's quite the time saving versatile tool. It won't give you super powers and it isn't a substitute for a DVOM but, it's something I wouldn't want to be without.
You might not need a Powerprobe but, you want a Powerprobe

 

[sberry]

I don't have but then again I don't know anything about electricity either. I have trouble with a test light.

 

[Showkey]

In the wrong hands can be real trouble:

As mentioned prior..... random probing and applying ground or power can lead to problems in the modern vehicle system Especially with CAN BUS systems.

Probing connectors with any probe can cause future connector fit problems in the future. Modern systems do not tolerate poor pin fit again especially with digital signals.

Probing through wire insulation can also cause problems especially with shield wires used in CANBUS and ECU circuits. Not to mention future corrosion from water.

Have seen $$$$ of damage done by alarm / trailer hitch guys with power probes.
To be fair the "technician" is often far more at fault than the probe.

 

[fastbike02]

I used the hell out of mine doing car alarm installs! If you buy one make sure you get the self probing hooks, they make life easy!

 

[APEowner]

They're useful but i wouldn't put one in the "must have" category. They don't do anything that can't be done with other tools that I would put in that category (12v test light, DVM and jumper leads) but they can save time and they're really cool. I think if you're just starting out then there's better things you can spend your money on.

 

[bcradio]

Just remember... when in doubt DON'T apply power/ground to the circuit. I like mine though.

 

[Brownsfan]

In the wrong hands can be real trouble:

As mentioned prior..... random probing and applying ground or power can lead to problems in the modern vehicle system Especially with CAN BUS systems.

Probing connectors with any probe can cause future connector fit problems in the future. Modern systems do not tolerate poor pin fit again especially with digital signals.

Probing through wire insulation can also cause problems especially with shield wires used in CANBUS and ECU circuits. Not to mention future corrosion from water.

Have seen $$$$ of damage done by alarm / trailer hitch guys with power probes.
To be fair the "technician" is often far more at fault than the probe.

I smacked guys hands when I would see them poking wires when doing alarms and remote starts. This was when I was the manager in a retail store. I hate when guys do that. It gives the guys like me who do professional work a bad name . I do more than just remote start I also do electrical trouble shooting and repair so I see it from others as well. Hell I have seen dealer techs do poke wires and connectors. I actually fixed a harness from a Ford dealership tech who jammed his meter leads into a connector when testing can bus wires causing the cluster to flicker.

 

[WhiffySpark]

I used the hell out of mine doing car alarm installs! If you buy one make sure you get the self probing hooks, they make life easy!

Don't mention piercing wires on here. That will get you a stoning lol. Ps liquid electricial tape is great if you have to pierce wires

A dvom or test light is nothing like a power probe. Different tools for different uses. I didn't use it a lot but when I did it's invaluable. Sure you can use a jumper wire and try to grow a 3rd hand but why? They're not even that expensive.

My most used tool was the digital test light from snapon that told you voltage and if it's ground or positive. Then the cordless test light. Verus graphing scanner then the dvom. Finally power probe after that

 

[WhiffySpark]

I smacked guys hands when I would see them poking wires when doing alarms and remote starts. This was when I was the manager in a retail store. I hate when guys do that. It gives the guys like me who do professional work a bad name . I do more than just remote start I also do electrical trouble shooting and repair so I see it from others as well. Hell I have seen dealer techs do poke wires and connectors. I actually fixed a harness from a Ford dealership tech who jammed his meter leads into a connector when testing can bus wires causing the cluster to flicker.

That's what test leads are for. If I poked a wire it was generally on the backside of a connector with a needle probe. I really tried to avoid it but sometimes I had to especially when graphing

 

[Buster21]

I just used mine last night working on a six way electric front seat, we are transferring all three electric motors from a six way electric seat to a seat that had only one motor and switch, each motor has two functions and then each one can be hooked up positive or negative depending on how you want the switch to work, with the power Probe I could apply power to the harness and operate the switches to see if it was wired the way we wanted it before we put it all together. Is it a necessity no, I could have used a battery and some jumper leads, but is it handy, yes.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I own one and do electrical every day. I don't use it that much at all really. I prefer a meter or a logic probe.

The problem with a meter and a "logic probe" for automotive work is that they don't provide any load to the circuit which can give you false reading. An old fashioned test light (what Eric O. calls "a scope on a rope") will provide about 200 mA load. This is safe more most (all?) computer controlled circuits.

This is the argument of the LoadPro inventor and I agree with him.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The best things to add to your electrical diagnostic "bag of tricks" are some back probes ("T" pins that you can by at any office store work well), good alligator clips, and at least 1 really looooooooong (10-20') test lead.

 

[Rossco]

Yeah a Power probe is a real useful tool and can be modified to work better with the equipment you deal with.

Need to buy another my self as it failed in service @ -20C.

Looking for a series I with the old fasioned LED.

 

[Brownsfan]

The problem with a meter and a "logic probe" for automotive work is that they don't provide any load to the circuit which can give you false reading. An old fashioned test light (what Eric O. calls "a scope on a rope") will provide about 200 mA load. This is safe more most (all?) computer controlled circuits.

This is the argument of the LoadPro inventor and I agree with him.

I have the load pro leads. I guess I should have said that with meter. I use my meter the most of any testing tool in my box. I also have the Waekon Hi-Vis volt pro that loads the circuit. It doesn't work as well as the load pro leads. I think they are one of the must haves if you do electrical.

 

[Beefbuzz]

The new power probe IV will test fuel injectors and has a freq counter and other functions. Pretty cool, but price is up there.

 

[ngk22r]

The new power probe IV will test fuel injectors and has a freq counter and other functions. Pretty cool, but price is up there.

I myself have the power probe 4, great tool!

Too many times you run into a situation where all you want to do is jump a motor to check and see if it works to isolate a switch. Plus the fuel injector mode feature is nice to have as well.

 

[signcrafter]

The power probe seems to generate a debate on here. In general it's just another tool in your box to help you. Can you do everything a PP3 can do with a DMM and a test light, sure. But the PP takes those and wraps them into a nice neat package that is usually nicer to use then a test light or long jumper wire. You could use the same argument about not needing a test light, can just use some wire and a bulb. But the test light wraps it up in a nice package. The PP takes the test light a few steps further in a nice package.

I have and use all sorts of electrical stuff. Use my fluke with loadpro leads the most. Have a few different test lights. Lots of homemade stuff and wire connectors and odd stuff. But the PP does have it's place. It's nice to hook it up to the battery and have a nice long cord. You have power AND ground wherever you are working and have a switch to control it. It's great for testing things like window regulators and fans and anything else you can easily apply power and ground to and see if it works. Much nicer then running a ground wire and then using a test light to power up the device.

It's not a must have and not a tool you will use everyday. But it is a decent tool to have. No reason not to have it if you want one, like others mentioned just make sure you know what you are sending power to before you push that switch.

 

[Jason280]

Thanks for the information!

 

[Soslow]

Like everyone else has said, it's a cool tool that has its place: it won't hurt to have one and you'll definitely find good uses for it. It isn't a necessary though.