snap on eect400 test light with voltage display

[shockwave]

Has anyone else got one of the new snap on test lights I find it very handy for testing vs breaking out my meter or pp3

 

[joebiodiesel]

I've had one for a couple of weeks. I definitely like it so far.

Joe

 

[ads47]

Old thread I know but I have formed a different opinion on these type of gadgets over the last year or so. Before I was diehard learn how to use a multimeter and you could solve 99% except when you may need an oscilloscope. I also like the PowerProbe 3 for quick general troubleshooting since you can inject positive or ground a circuit plus a simple volt meter is an added bonus too. Then I purchased a set of LoadPro Dynamic test leads from AESWave and watched Dan Sullivan's (the inventor) videos on YouTube as well as a few other users not associated with either companies videos. The short story is I now own 4 sets of them and rarely ever take them off except maybe to change my ground lead to a big clamp or specialized plug. It is probably the best tool I have found to troubleshoot wiring when the problem is say partial corrosion where continuity is still there but the circuit may still mess up on occasion. Once isolated I usually use PowerProbes ECT 2000 to find the bad spot when it's hidden under carpet or in a bundle. Before the ECT I used an old telecom tone injector and trace unit like triplett, tempo, or greenlee units.

With all that said if you own a multimeter, buy a set of LoadPro' s and watch his videos. If you don't own a meter because they are complicated and they scare you so your looking at a PowerProbe 3. Buy the kit through AESwave with the simple meter,LoadPro leads, and Dan's book "Fundamentals of Electrical Troubleshooting" and watch the short videos. You will be very happy. The book is written on a very basic level. I say all this and I have a $4k Fluke scope meter and 99% of the time I use a military surplus fluke 27 I paid $35 for and a set of LoadPro' s


Ads

 

[MadTinkerer]

Dan Sullivan rips into the eect400 in a recent you tube video. Needless to say he is not impressed with it.

 

[Brian_Sause]

Yeah - He kinda really is pissed...

 

[ffast65]

Interesting tool

 

[abvw]

Yeah - He kinda really is pissed...

I saw the video, he was comparing the EECT400 to his LoadPro and he went on and on about how Snap-on ripped him off. To me, one is a fancy test light and the other is a fancy multimeter lead. Two completely different tool.

I don't think Snap-on has ever advertised resistance as one of the EECT400's features. For all I know, whenever I grab a test light, all I'm doing is checking wires and confirm continuities. The EECT400 made the job much simpler by differentiate the signal, ground and power supply via the built in voltmeter and the green/red LED. Saves the trip to the laptop and printer for stuff like solenoids and O2 sensors.

Oh, he ripped one on PowerProbe3 as well, calling it a fraudulent tool. Yet I've never seen his LoadPro powering a blower motor.

In all honesty he keeps praising how his LoadPro is the end all of electronic diagnostic tools, yet his fancy leads are useless without a multimeter.

 

[bushmechanic]

Do it right:

http://www.powerprobe.com/pp3.php

Your diagnostic life will change forever.

http://www.amazon.com/Power-Probe-PP3LS01-Circuit-Tester/dp/B007QV0R7W

 

[amlv20]

All I need is a my meter (which is the same meter I've had since tech school),head lamp bulb,and jump leads to diag electrical.

I have a coworker who bought the eect400 even though he has a regular test light.ive told him before not to use test lights as that's how he diags,I told him use a freaking meter with good leads.he been stumped by using the eect400 sevrL times already,says it shows 12 volts and the light lights on I don't get it.and I go and reconnect the circuit activate it and back probe using volt meter and instant drop in voltage,go back a few connectors and viola have voltage on the male side,disconnect that connector and corrosion.hve had several instances like this.my Forman won't help any of us if we have any gimmick tools like these out,and I've started to adopt this in helping that tech.if he comes for help I ask him if he's using his meter,uhh no,then uhh go use it and come back if you still can't figure it out...

All you need is to understand the circuit and understand your equipment,how it works and what it's capable of (like how most people don't know in amperage mode their meter is nothing but a jumper lead with an amp meter,and can be used as a jump lead to power or suply ground to any component.most people don't know this because in tech school they were scared when the instructors told them they can **** **** up in amp function of a meter so the school wouldn't be liable when dip shits started jumping **** to ground with their meter leads in amp mode) and you can diag anything with a meter without wasting money on fancy gimmick tools,the only other tool needed is an ociliscope for signals that need to been seen on a graph that are to fast for a meter.


That load pro tool looks intresting and might have to pick up a set,would be useful to not need light bulb any more.

 

[Brownsfan]

I do nothing but electrical. I wouldnt buy this. I use my meter most of the time. Full disclosure I own a PP3 and various other logic probes etc. Still use my meter most. I own a set of load pro leads. I dont keep them always plugged into my meter though. I only use them when tracing faults. I install remote starts and other electronic accessories. The load pro leads are just too bulky for this application. The meter is the safest tool to use on todays vehicles. It also claims to me computer safe. I wouldnt use this on a circuit I suspect is computer controlled.

 

[amlv20]

That's been my main issue with looking into load pro leads is how bulky the red lead is and both leads are together .

 

[pi_guy]

I have the eect400 and very happy with it, allowed me to diagnose a failed starter in 2 minutes. Where it would have taken me 5 minutes to get to one of my meters and we would have missed qualifying. It is not the end all tool as there are applications for analog meters as well as digital ones and signal processor type meters. I never probe into insulation on wires but it allows me to make contact with small pins in mil spec connectors that standard meter probes do not fit or short out two pins to touch one.
Seen the load pro a few times at shows and was not impressed with it as most of my harness are shielded and you can only work at the connector end they require a collection of break out connectors or boxes that it is easier to plug in banana connectors to meter or scope and break out box. It is not just the tool it is very much the understanding of what you are doing and what the result should be when you test something.

 

[shockwave]

I like mine I use it every day mostly checking power to fuel pumps and alternator output it's very easy to grab vs my meter or pp3 it's very useful most of the time

 

[ads47]

Like Brownsfan said. If your mainly installing and doing new work the LoadPro's are not made for that. They are leads made for trouble shooting and are very good at what they do when you have an intermittent problem. To ABVW's point that his leads have never powered a blower motor, I have never seen my multimeter or PP3 find bad circuit with continuity but fails under load in a matter of seconds like a LoadPro does either. They all have there place and your right a good guy with a Multimeter and full understanding of it can do just about everything one needs to do except power his blower motor .
Like I said I had a PP1 then a PP2 now I have a PP3 full blown kit with the ECT2000. BTW the Power Probe people are great people to deal with. I called to see if I could get my PP2's leads updated to the new style connectors that came out with the PP3 and how much it would cost. I will just say I sent it off and for a song thought I was getting my leads upgraded and was very excited how cheap it was. I received a BRAND NEW PP3 Master Kit in return!!!!! I also have a Fluke 28 (fantastic virtually indestructible meter), two older Military only versions of the 28 (if you can find them they are a great deal $35 each at a military surplus auction is where I got mine I had six gave the others away), a new Logging/Graphing 289, a 190-204 4 Channel 200mhz Color Oscilloscope, and a 375 Clamp Amp Meter. With all those toys available.... if I am trouble shooting I grab the 28 with a Load Pro and go (they are all together in a nice Fluke Pelican case with some extra leads and stuff)

Dan's point isn't that SnapOn is claiming their device applies a load, they don't come out and say that. His point is that it DOES apply a load and the manner it applies it is a direct violation of his patent. They have no defense of not knowing the patent exist either since they sell his device re-branded. To me this smells of the typical WalMart scam of we will buy your mom and pop gadget, make you wealthy for a year or two then force you to sell it so cheap they will put you out of business then make it themselves in China. Poor Sam Walton has probably worn through the bottom of his casket he has turned over so many times.




If you like Fluke or free stuff I just posted another thread on how to get a Free Iphone 5 Fluke case for those interested. You can't beat free!



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I do nothing but electrical. I wouldnt buy this. I use my meter most of the time. Full disclosure I own a PP3 and various other logic probes etc. Still use my meter most. I own a set of load pro leads. I dont keep them always plugged into my meter though. I only use them when tracing faults. I install remote starts and other electronic accessories. The load pro leads are just too bulky for this application. The meter is the safest tool to use on todays vehicles. It also claims to me computer safe. I wouldnt use this on a circuit I suspect is computer controlled.

 

[Brian_Sause]

Did everone watch the whole video about the loadpro and the eect 400? I watched all the way and I don't know a lot about everything electricl but when Sullivan showed the eect it was pretty clear that it was loading the circuit and that's what his tool does. If you have this tool (eect400) how do you figure out what he says about how it can't show opens or shortsto ground?. I thought that ghost voltage was stupid at first but it seems like it did what he were showing.

 

[Brownsfan]

I honestly don't think Snap On made it specificaly to load the circuit. In fact most test lights apply some sort of load when used. So technically Dan Sullivan copied that. Just kidding. I dont own a conventional test light. I believe they don't have a place in todays vehicles. In the wrong hands they can do damage. Again just my opinion. There are so many other options that are better.

 

[Skin]

I honestly don't think Snap On made it specificaly to load the circuit. In fact most test lights apply some sort of load when used. So technically Dan Sullivan copied that. Just kidding. I dont own a conventional test light. I believe they don't have a place in todays vehicles. In the wrong hands they can do damage. Again just my opinion. There are so many other options that are better.

There is no such thing as safe electrical diagnoses. Even DMM leads can spread terminals or be turned into a jumper wire. If you don't know what you're doing with a simple test light you don't belong in diagnostics with a modern vehicle.

 

[Brian_Sause]

I still need somone to teach me about what Sullivan is doing. I tried the ghost and 0 voltaeg thing and it worked. I have had my *** kicked by testlights and its damned frustrating. It seems to me that so many people do stuff different when like he says there's only one theory of voltage drop. He's one of us so I like him for that but I don't know why people are so against him it seems. Hell everything was invented by someone and even if he does seem like a jerk sometimes why hate him for inventing a tool and wanting to get paid and to protect it. If he got the patent then shouldn't he be able to do what he could to protect it?I'm very confused because i want to learn this stuff and get better not fight about it.

 

[pi_guy]

If you have a item and it has merit and able to stand on it's own you do not need to bash other products. You can not expect to rule the market place. Bell telephone tried that and we have seen the results.
Plus if you look at F1 racing imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

The only way to keep your invention safe is to keep it in a dark room and share it with nobody.

 

[Brownsfan]

There is no such thing as safe electrical diagnoses. Even DMM leads can spread terminals or be turned into a jumper wire. If you don't know what you're doing with a simple test light you don't belong in diagnostics with a modern vehicle.

Very true. Just a lot less likely with a meter. IMHO any tech working on electrical should be very proficient with a dmm. Like I said its just my opinion but i don't own a test light and won't use one. You should be using back probes when testing a plug and not jamming the leads in there. But some just don't use common sense when working on a vehicle. I guess I am weird because l LIKE doing electrical diagnostics and installs.

 

[Brian_Sause]

If you have a item and it has merit and able to stand on it's own you do not need to bash other products. You can not expect to rule the market place. Bell telephone tried that and we have seen the results.
Plus if you look at F1 racing imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

The only way to keep your invention safe is to keep it in a dark room and share it with nobody.

Do you think that no one should invent things? I just want to know why sullivans tool is bad, or why the 400 is good. He taught my brother at a company here in Ohio and my brother is great at electrical, and he's teaching me (as best as he can ). I'm hearing about bashing and patents and other crud like that and no one is teaching anything here. I joined a coiuple of days ago to try and understand the difference because I got the eect400 and sullivans video is the only place Ive seen anything on how it works. The snap-on man showed me the box and said that it test circuit "integrity" and that that was code for loading the circiut. I asked about the loadpro and he said it wasn't as good as the ect400. I don't want to know why Sullivn is a **** - is what he's doing right or wrong.

 

[Brownsfan]

I believe the load pro is a better option than the eect-400. because you can test the ground side of the circuit too. And then determine which is at fault the 12v or the ground. There is another tool that does circuit loading as well. Seen here http://www.hickok-inc.com/catalog/products/76600_voltpro.html
I own this as well but I like the load pro better. I only take them out of the box when doing circuit diagnostics because they are so bulky. I also own a Power Probe 3 and only use it when powering up a component. Or when testing something in the back of the vehicle and need to be up front to trigger it. I listen to the beeps.

 

[atwageman]

Yes Dan can come across as an *** sometimes, and many times I agree with him. Electrical is voodoo to many techs. I'm happy it's not voodoo to me.

Even in industrial environments I've seen plant maintenance techs go into convulsions over PLC's and straight up good old fashion relay circuits.

 

[ads47]

Did everone watch the whole video about the loadpro and the eect 400? I watched all the way and I don't know a lot about everything electricl but when Sullivan showed the eect it was pretty clear that it was loading the circuit and that's what his tool does. If you have this tool (eect400) how do you figure out what he says about how it can't show opens or shortsto ground?. I thought that ghost voltage was stupid at first but it seems like it did what he were showing.

I agree I don't think most have watched the video all the way through and I don't understand why so many are against Dan. He is a very smart Technician who worked his way up through the ranks and came up with a good idea and got it patented. If you have never tried to get a patent it is very difficult and shows he has done his homework and knows what he is talking about. I won't rehash what I already said, the point is it doesn't matter what Snap On says they were trying to do or selling the device as he proves its loading the circuit in a certain way which violates his patent and they did this knowing full well his patent existed since they sell his device so in the end they will have to pay up and everyone will go on their happy little way. The end of my story is I will still own several of his units and the PP3 and a few meters and use each for what they are good at.


ads

 

[Brownsfan]

I think some are put off the way he does it. It comes off whiney for lack of a better term. Again I don't think Snap On meant to violate his patent because they don't really claim it loads the circuit. But don't all non logic probe test lights put a load on a circuit? I like him and his videos and love his passion for his tool and his trade. But some see it as he is whining about it. I don't see it this way. I think he has sunk everything into thi and he is VERY passionate.

 

[pi_guy]

Any thing that draws voltage to power a meter or a light put a load on the circuit.
The eect400 is simple not a complex device and used in that manner it fill a perfect niche.
I do not like the Power pro looked at one again today, the leads are not useful for the type of work I do.
Two I do not like items with unneeded features such as a light it adds a level of possible complexity. I do not use my toaster type load tester to warm my tea. In most cases keep it simple is better. If I want complexity and extreme accuracy I take out my Martel Process Calibrator or use my scope or my digital Fluke meter and if I need to see a rate of change I use my Simpson Analog meter. All of which are more accurate than the power pro.
I am not against innovation, but I believe that if your product truly is outstanding you do not have to bash other products to sell yours.

 

[SO/PW newbie]

Any thing that draws voltage to power a meter or a light put a load on the circuit.

This.

Any meter will put some load on a circuit. Weather it is 10M ohms or 20M Ohm on a digital or way more on an analog. Depending on the circuit being tested, it may cause a voltage drop. His just puts a good load on things.

Some of the equipment I work (the vintage stuff) needed to be calibrated with a 20M Ohm meter, because a 10 would drop the voltage and wouldn't be accurate.

 

[Brian_Sause]

My brother has really gotten bennefit from the class he took with sullivan about 4 years ago, and he's been promoted lots since then. I've got the book he wrote and I like it, but most of the people I work with keep doing it all the same way they always did and they don't really care about making mistakes because they just keep putting parts on. My brother gets things done fast and its all so simple to him. I just want to know whats right and the right way to do it. I'm really tired of all the arguing, because the things i do that work are simple but I keep getting **** in the shop for how i do stuff. I got the eect400 because of pressure in the shop from guys who make fun of me for trying to learn. Im only 22 and the older guys are real asses. But it failed me last week whic is why I looked online for help. Im guessing everyne here uses voltage drop and thats what everyone says work - so if the eect400 does or doesn't do voltage drop is really the question. I dont really care what people use - I want to know what the thoery is and what the tools do. As far as sullivan having a patent don't you think that if he shouldn't have gotten it he wouldn't have. He has it so I'm guessing that what he does works, and if hes "bashing the eect400 doesn't his video show it can't see opens and shorts? I don't think its special effects on his video.

 

[jmm]

My brother has really gotten bennefit from the class he took with sullivan about 4 years ago, and he's been promoted lots since then. I've got the book he wrote and I like it, but most of the people I work with keep doing it all the same way they always did and they don't really care about making mistakes because they just keep putting parts on. My brother gets things done fast and its all so simple to him. I just want to know whats right and the right way to do it. I'm really tired of all the arguing, because the things i do that work are simple but I keep getting **** in the shop for how i do stuff. I got the eect400 because of pressure in the shop from guys who make fun of me for trying to learn. Im only 22 and the older guys are real asses.

The way Sullivan's book lays it out makes the knowledge so much more accessible than anything else I've ever encountered and it is, indeed, correct. If your method gets results and makes you money, stick with it and tell the assholes you work with to pound sand. It's not your responsibility to justify what you're doing to guys who probably don't care to know how to properly do electrical work.

I think the eect400 is probably a decent tool, but I've got no use for one. I'm pretty firmly in Sullivan's camp. A good meter and a Loadpro suit me just fine. I own a test light, but as I've gotten more and more proficient, that thing ends up spending more and more time locked away in my box.

 

[Brownsfan]

I think and this is part of Dans point and frustration is the reason tools like this sell so well is because a lot of techs dont understand how to use a meter proficiently. With the load pro leads and good meter you can diagnose all electrical faults and quickly. Opens, shorts and high resistance (corrosion) and thats it. All can be found fast with a meter and load pro leads. Brian your only 22 just keep doing what you are and dont listen to the other guys in the shop. Unless they are actually trying to help.

 

[Brian_Sause]

Any thing that draws voltage to power a meter or a light put a load on the circuit.
The eect400 is simple not a complex device and used in that manner it fill a perfect niche.
I do not like the Power pro looked at one again today, the leads are not useful for the type of work I do.

I thoughth that the whole reason theres a argument is because a regular voltmeter doesn't load a circuit and thats what loadpro does with his leads - my brother taught me this. How can you say a meter loads the circiut? My problem was that when i tried to find a problem in a pump circuit the eect400 showed me 12v but my brothers loadpro showed me only 3.3V and that's when he told me I shouldnt have wasted my money onthe 400. It ended up being a corroded but splice where someone has done a crappy repair under a frame. I spent 2 days looking and the other guys didn't know because they kept saying to put on a new pump. I called my brother and he told me about the meter problem and he drove over that night and we found it in about 10 minutes. This is all very confusing and I apreciate everyone helping, but I still don't understand whay if theres only 3 faults - why are there so many differnt ways to find them. It all seems so crazy.

 

[signcrafter]

First, everyone has their own way of testing electrical. There is more then one "right" way to do it. Some was are better, some are quicker, some are safer. There are a few different ways to do voltage drop. Dan's way is "different" then the conventional way. Sometimes different is a good thing and sometimes people are stuck in their ways or just don't understand the different way.

Some things I learned in life that apply to everything and not just this electrical troubleshooting issue are never be afraid to learn something new. Always be open minded. Don't be afraid to question things but keep an open mind. There usually is more then one way to do something, learn all the ways and try them and then see what works best for you.

Back to electrical testing. I have Dan's book and loadpro leads and like them. Are they anything too special, not really. But they are a good way to test and he made them into a nice package for about the same price as a good pair of fluke leads. Also I like his hollow point tips that allow you to hold the lead on the end of a metal pin to test. Pointed tips usually slip around. He also has come up with his own way to test that is a little different then conventional theory. It took me a while to grasp Dan's way of testing with the 3 faults and sometimes I still have a tough time applying it in some situations.

My advice is to just keep learning all you can. Watch all of Dan's youtube videos. I've read his book about 3 times now. I'll read it and soak up a ton and then as I get more experience other things will start making more sense so I will re read the book and pick up more. Also watch scannerdanner videos on youtube. He also has a book but I haven't bought it yet.

 

[pi_guy]

I thoughth that the whole reason theres a argument is because a regular voltmeter doesn't load a circuit and thats what loadpro does with his leads - my brother taught me this. How can you say a meter loads the circiut?

If you read what I wrote:
Any thing that draws voltage to power a meter or a light put a load on the circuit.

The eect400 is powered off the circuit a test light draws the power to run the light from the circuit it is testing.

So how can you tell me it does not load the circuit? The only thing that will not draw power from the circuit is a non contact probe. Granted most of the self powered meters draw very little but they draw some.
There are different ways of approaching electrical issues but the basics never change.

& the eect400 is rated for voltage 3v to 19 at the low end of voltage requirements most electronic instruments can get flakey so there is often reason to use a device with a greater range.

 

[Brian_Sause]

If you read what I wrote:
Any thing that draws voltage to power a meter or a light put a load on the circuit.
The eect400 is powered off the circuit a test light draws the power to run the light from the circuit it is testing.

I called my brother who I trust and asked him about your coments. He told me that youre basically right but you can't count anything that loads a circuit without the load being somerthing enough to matter. He told me that he uses the loadpro for everything and the tool never comes off his meter I should know because when he came over last time I saw th emeter and both the meter and the leads were covered in oil. He said he never uses anything but the meter and when he diagnosses he uses the method that says that if he sees voltege then the wire is not opened or shorted to ground (he made sure I said to ground because its different then a "short). Then he loads the circuit with loadpro and if the voltage doesnt drop he knows the wire is good and all the other tests for testing motors or putting voltage don't matter. Why test the load first when he knows that it will be wire mostof the time? I asked him if he used anyother tool and he said no - because why waste time running back and forrth to the box when the meter does it all. I won't tell you what he raelly said but he said that anyone who has more than a meter and loadpro just likes to by tools.He looked up the ect 400 and said it cant do what his loadpro does and he said thet sullivan worked his *** off to make this happen and no matter what anyone says why have 1000 ways to find 3 faults. Thanks you for your help. I will be trsding my eect400 back in and getting a loadpro and a new meter and all those other guys in the shop can kiss my ***.

 

[Brownsfan]

Snap on sells the load pro under Blue Point. I think the part# is EECT-180. the prices are close. I think the blue point tool is $79.99

 

[pi_guy]

Thanks you for your help. I will be trsding my eect400 back in and getting a loadpro and a new meter and all those other guys in the shop can kiss my ***.

Just a comment that you will not enjoy. That is a piss poor attitude if you expect your shop mates to teach you anything or expect to increase your knowledge about electronics.
Second point quote a book or a independent reference source that will give more validity to your argument than my brother told me. You are young and have a bit to learn so burning your bridges is not a good way to start.
It takes time and effort to get good at this stuff and it is every changing, as a few people have mentioned multiple tools and the varied use is a better way of going than one fixed method. Learning from the old guys and there method is a good direction, being stubborn and looking to the internet for answers will most of the time lead you astray. Read some books on electronic repair. Like the Art of Electronics, how to Diagnose and fix everything Electronic and the ancient Electronics Made Simple. Bosch has a whole series on automotive stuff and the primary book is Automotive Electrics & Automotive Electronics.
I have been doing electronic repair since 1973 and factory support for several products and I am still learning. Granted I have been able to tell several people to kiss off but it was not in my first ten years of doing this.
I could hand you wires that will pass a voltage test and a continuity test and still be bad for the application.
One thing to remember when somebody is recommending a product do they make money every time it sells.

 

[Brian_Sause]

One thing to remember when somebody is recommending a product do they make money every time it sells.

Well yeah. Is that bad? Why is that even a questoin? Why does anyone even wory about that? This is suposed to be about tech stuff not worryinng about money because the ladst time I looked at my checkbook snapon has a lot of my money. You seem to think its bad the someone has done something good and invented a good tool that is bad becuase it makes money. I dont care about that because thats how this country works as far as I know. I am young and only 22 but I have enuogh sense to know that the whole way we do things is crazy and were arguing becuase of money instaed of trying to figure out how to make this all way easieer. I made up my mind and I told the guys in the shop today that i was going to do things the way i wanted to no mater what they siad to make fun of me - right is right.

 

[gagreen]

I'm missing something about the load pro that maybe someone could fill me in on...

I was an avionics tech on fighter aircraft for 5 years and am constantly t/shooting electrical problems as an a&p currently. 99% of wiring problems for me have been found quickly using only the ohm function on a dmm. Shorts are easily found by checking a wire to ground, high resistance in a wire tells me its a problem with the wire (broken strands, contamination, corrosion, etc...) and an open simply reads open. I have never needed to know what the exact voltage drop in a bad wire was although using ohm's law and the ohm function on your dmm it can be found with a very very simple math problem. So what is the point in the loadpro etc...

Not trying to be a jerk just genuinely interested.

 

[amlv20]

So I had ordered the blue point load pro after all this and was excited to get it and use it.i got it today and was excited to use it but soon found there's nothing really special to it.i felt quite disappointed,it's bigger then I thought like huge!but it really doesn't do anything I couldn't do with my meter and a load already.the only thing it's good for is not reaching for my headlamp bulb to load the circuit.

I don't understand the concept of the load pro.every thing has to be done with the component disconnected and checked on the pins of the harness side connector.i learned all my electrical through ford training and the great instructors there.i learned to never disconnect the component until you have taken measurements because you can disturb any possible connection/pin fit issues by disconnecting connectors. I don't understand why I need to disconnect a load to load the circuit to find a voltage drop.number one rule of voltage drop is the circuit has to be complete and energized for current to flow and voltages to be dropped across the load.

so if the load isn't working then why bother disconnecting it?back probe it the power side and see what power it's getting with the circuit switch on.if it's close to source voltage then there's not voltage drop on the power side,then back probe the ground side and there should be no more than .5v on the ground side,anything above that and there's resistance on the ground side.if you're reading full source voltage on the ground side of the load then there's and open or stupid high resistance.the zero voltage and ghost voltage thing still applies the same way by back probing.this way I do it and always do it has worked for me.

I guess I'll give the load pro a chance since all I do is trouble shooting,but the manual it came says I can't use it for ohms or amp settings.i under stand the load pro won't work for that but does that mean I can't use them as regular leads to check continuity or amperage like drain tests? Pretty useless if it only has one use.

Edit::::I do understand the concept of the load pro,IMO and experience the process of using is flawed and almost useless to me.

 

[Brian_Sause]

try backprobing a John Deere or Cat conector with 250 pins and your pin is in the middle. You can use it for ohms and amps you're supposed to put it on your meter and laeve it there. Its just leads unless you push button and you can't load ohms or amps. the whole point is that it givews you the chance to test for bad wires (corosion) with every test and nit just when you have to sit there scratching your head asking whats wrong because you just read the meter and it tells you. got mine off the snap-on truck today i traded the ect400 and decided to get a better meter to. My brotther (who I will listen to) made it clear that having to think too much and go back and forth and try to guess the fault is a waste of time becuase if you use the load pro right you just know. ghost = open 0 = shortto ground and a drop = corosion. You guys helped a lot but at the end its going to be up to me to get this all figureed out and i decided that theres noway to get one answer from anyone that that guy thinks is right because everyone thinks they are right. well if thats the case i;m right to and all those other guys laughing in the shop dont mater.