Power probe maestro?

[ajchien]

Does anyone use the Power Probe Maestro? How do you like it?

Ive been using the PP3 for many years now, and I thought I wanted to upgrade to the PP Hook. Turns out it seems the Hook is discontinued and replaced by the Maestro. I know there are clones of the Hook out there. I’m okay with paying $350 for a Maestro (is it Made in USA from global materials like the PP3?) compared to $150 for a completely imported Hook clone.

 

[ChefRex]

I have a Hook and liked it, it took a **** I contacted PP, sorry we don't have the parts to fix it and offered a discount on the Maestro only the discount was still more than the price I found on the web, thanks but no thanks.
Soured PP for me.
I have a PP1 and a 3 and find them very useful but if they aren't going to support their higher end stuff you can count me out.

 

[LXCam]

I don’t, but after watching their propaganda I’m gonna. I’ve perfectly happy with my P2 but some of the new features would sure come in handy verses pulling out another meter.

 

[CS454]

I have the hook...I prefer the PP3 honestly. Can't ****** well get the hook into anywhere, it's massive.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Many seasoned professionals find little use for Power Probe. A low current (250mA), maybe a medium current (1A) and a high current (5A) set of test lights is more useful.

 

[American Locomotive]

I disagree. A Power Probe is a very useful tool for a professional. I don't use mine that often, but it's invaluable when I do. It's very useful for quickly finding faults and testing devices/actuators. Plus, most test lights can't display voltage or resistance (last I checked), and the very fast acting continuity beep is brilliant. Yes I think they should add a current and voltage limited test mode, but the lack of that feature doesn't mean it's not a useful tool.

It's just one tool in the toolbox. Sometimes I need my real DMM, sometimes I need a test light, sometimes I need a Power Probe, other times I just need a piece of wire.

As to the OP: The Power Probe 3 can do a lot of the things the Maestro can. The main added features seem to be direct resistance measurement, frequency measurement and the graphing/"scope" mode. Those are useful adds, but I'm not sure I'd upgrade to a Maestro from a PP3, assuming I already had a decent multimeter.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

^ Voltage drop a test light, best of both worlds! Nothing is better at determining the ability of a circuit to support a load, than voltage dropping a suitable load.

If the above listing from American Locomotive is indeed the additional features list, I'd pass. Continuity is done just as easy with a meter, same for frequency. The waveform captures look worthless. If you can't see the pintle hump what's the point? No cursors or rulers.... screen is 1.5 inches square? Can it even set a trigger point?

 

[signcrafter]

Many seasoned professionals find little use for Power Probe. A low current (250mA), maybe a medium current (1A) and a high current (5A) set of test lights is more useful.

They all have their place. I'm going to guess you're going off SMA again and also going to guess you've never held a power probe before.

A test light is great for verifying circuit integrity. A power probe is great for verifying components by powering them up. Yes, after verifying circuit is good there is a good chance you replace component and you are good to go. But it's also nice to power up a fan or something and know the component is good or bad. Also great for getting a know power and ground to wherever you are working. That's mostly what I use mine for. I have a pp3 and havent seen the need to upgrade yet. I bought the 5v adapter for mine which can come in handy, think the pp4 and others come with 5v reference built in.

I've installed a bunch of remote starters and the pp3 is great for that. A test light is pretty much useless for that.

Like I said and others mentioned also they are all useful tools to have at your disposal. If you know how to use them for what they can do.

My main tool is my meter, then depending on the situation I grab a test light or pp or a variety of other testers. They all have earned a spot in the box.

 

[Luciferi]

When my pp3 broke, I also looked at PP4 and hook. I also looked at the snap on version

I ultimately decided i wanted the snap on version but didn’t want to pay for it, so I purchased another pp3.

 

[Showkey]

Then there’s the issue of grounding or applying power to the wrong wire, CANBUS, ECM or module at the wrong time letting the out. Just one connector cavity to left or right is all it takes.

This tool also generally comes with piercing wires for quick testing.……which is never a good idea in modern car.

This has hashed and rehashed a 100 times prior

 

[unslow1]

They all have their place. I'm going to guess you're going off SMA again and also going to guess you've never held a power probe before.

A test light is great for verifying circuit integrity. A power probe is great for verifying components by powering them up. Yes, after verifying circuit is good there is a good chance you replace component and you are good to go. But it's also nice to power up a fan or something and know the component is good or bad. Also great for getting a know power and ground to wherever you are working. That's mostly what I use mine for. I have a pp3 and havent seen the need to upgrade yet. I bought the 5v adapter for mine which can come in handy, think the pp4 and others come with 5v reference built in.

I've installed a bunch of remote starters and the pp3 is great for that. A test light is pretty much useless for that.

Like I said and others mentioned also they are all useful tools to have at your disposal. If you know how to use them for what they can do.

My main tool is my meter, then depending on the situation I grab a test light or pp or a variety of other testers. They all have earned a spot in the box.

In a few videos he says he really has no use for a PP. Then if you watch most of his videos he does actually use it in several. A couple he even gives a tutorial. Like anything else it has it's place.

 

[Wrench97]

If you know the circuit it is a great testing tool. I use it a lot for lighting circuits in trailers, non computer controlled lighting circuits on trucks(think old style back up light switch on a 10 speed fuller), A/C compressor circuits from the relay socket, a test light will tell you if there is a completed circuit to ground through the clutch coil if you put the clip on positive but with the PP you can do the completed circuit test and hit it with power to hear it click in with one tool. I also find it useful on under car circuits like evap vent valves you can unplug and test the valve using the ground wire and the applying power with the tool.
As with any electronics you have to know and understand the circuit you are working on to prevent damage.

 

[ajchien]

OP here.

just to clarify again, I am a PP3 user. I already use it a decent amount. Sure, I understand the quips that people have about it not being a substitute load / sending the wrong voltage down a wrong wire …. But …. It’s simply faster and more convenient as it keeps me more organized with less clutter and wires all over the place.

To me it looks like the Maestro upgrades things for me by combining a battery conductance tester function, a rudimentary scope/graphing multimeter function in it, as well as the ability send its screen and data to an iPad for remote view.

I guess my question should be better targeted by asking, how useful is the rudimentary single channel scope/graphic multimeter function? Id rather have the functionality ready to use in hand rather than walking back to get another tool and setting up more probes and wires. But if the functionality isn’t very useful, I should probably pass.

 

[Wrench97]

The screen seems a bit small to see a detail in anything but a basic wave form.
I'd probably have to see it in action on a injector or coil circuit.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I looked for a video or google images for captures from the graphing function - couldn't find any aside from their generic injector voltage graph from the advertisements. Aside from a go/no-go "yes there is a pattern of some sort" I'm not sure how the human eye would be able to use such a small screen. Even the U-scope with twice the viewing area is unusable in some situations.

Do they advertise another function for the graphing portion besides injector voltage? Obviously you're not doing a current ramp with it, so I'm a little confused over what it offers in functionality aside from confirming the coil inside the injector is similar to other cylinders.

 

[xjfish]

Bump! My PP3 took a dump (fiddled with it today without luck) and I'm going to replace it with another i suppose? I've had the "PP3 Master Kit" for ~10 years and have used the probe a lot, not so much other accesories or short finder, but has been an invaluable time saving tool. Interested in the latest and greatest, or may just get another PP3 probe.

Can anyone answer the question above from Sep? Any input appreciated.

 

[richfinn]

Power Probes are fragile toys in my opinion (I worked my way through three of them) beside my scope/DVOM and a few incandescent testlights I have a nice long length of silicone insulated twin core test cable with 4mm stacking banana plugs at each end which I can attach all my gear to, I can add a fuse or simply jump power/ground through the amp jack on my meter (which has a nice big display/backlight/min-max etc etc).

Waste of money to be honest you already have better tools, just make some longer leads

Oh and they carry more current and easier to fix!!!

 

[rmack898]

I'm a mostly retired ( but still work a day or two each week at a hi volume dealer) marine tech. I have a Snap On test light, a PP III, a Fluke 88 graphing meter, and an assortment of shop made specialty test leads.
Each and every one has it's place in my arsenal of test gear. If my PP III died tomorrow, I would replace it the next day.

 

[Zewnten]

I played with the SO and PP versions of what is considered the next level from the PP3 and found no real life use difference if you already own a DMM. The PP1/2/3 is about supplying voltage or ground. Everything else is a gimmick IMO.

 

[xjfish]

I appreciate the responses. For quick checks; I probably use a DMM the most, next probably good old fashioned test lights of various loads, then Power Probe. Decided I'm going to grab another PP3 OR take a chance and try the Autel copycat PS100. I think the "graphing" or frequency readout would be handy sometimes. Not sure if the Autel will accept Power Probe accessories, but i suspect it will.