Why the power probe can be dangerous in some hands.

[signcrafter]

This video popped up on my youtube feed this morning and thought it was kind of funny. Think I watched some other videos of his, seems hardworking get it done type of guy but for sure very half azz in some things, especially his concrete pours. He does have some interesting videos on his shipping container "castle".

He's trying to fix the horn in his dump truck using what looks like a PP one or two and just pushing the power switch and touching random things making a ton of shorts. Glad his truck is an old dump truck and not a new car where blindly sending power to things can get expensive real quick. Thought it was a good morning laugh.

 

[mrjaw14]

The electromotive force is not strong with this one

 

[Mr_B]

done sweet repair on the handle though ! lol

 

[Gmonkee]

Several years ago I had an electric problem to sort out. The recently deported tech hands me a PP and tells me it will solve it in seconds.

I had never seen one before much less knew how to use it. Stared blankly at it for a minute, put it on his cart and solved the issue without any test equipment three minutes later.
He still thinks I am an idiot for not knowing his marvel tool.

Oh well.... An analog meter works best for me.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Oh well.... An analog meter works best for me.

The old " 'scope on a rope" (12V test light) works great.

An analog meter is better in many case compared to a DMM because the analog meter will load the circuit more. Of course a test light will load it more and some people even use head light bulbs to test high current circuits (O2 sensor heater circuit).

 

[redwrench60]

The old " 'scope on a rope" (12V test light) works great.

An analog meter is better in many case compared to a DMM because the analog meter will load the circuit more. Of course a test light will load it more and some people even use head light bulbs to test high current circuits (O2 sensor heater circuit).

I have one traditional test light that I shortened the spring and installed a bright 12 volt dome light bulb in. It loads a circuit pretty good when you really want to check the integrity of wire and terminals where appropriate of course. It’s super convenient but you do have to watch the “on time” because it’ll melt the test light! My other test lamp is a low current Snap On that only pulls 46 mA for when you need to tiptoe a little lol.

 

[MikeF2316]

Of course, any tool is dangerous in some hands.

And I agree with those who think that often a good old test light is the best tool for automotive troubleshooting.

 

[buffalobill]

I like my power probe for certain things, it's nice up on a ladder fixing light problems on a dump truck or backhoe. I can check power, ground, and put juice to the light itself without getting down.

It lives right next to my rapidly growing pile of electrical diagnostics tools.

 

[TheSasquatch]

I bought the whole kit off the truck when I first started getting into doing deep electrical diag because another tech recommended it so much. But after I learned just a little about how the electric circuits actually worked I just always use my test light and have only used the power probe maybe a couple of times. In my mind it’s another one into the expensive learning experience pile.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bobcat753]

I use my power probe quite frequently. It is super handy when you are trying to figure out a previous hack jobs wiring on a trailer. I hooked up my DMM to some unknown wires and used the power probe to probe the 7 Way plug to find out where the current goes. It is also super helpful when changing patterns on LED emergency lighting. No need to cut the power/ground, just hook up the PP to the vehicle's batt then probe the pattern wire on the lighthead.

 

[MikeF2316]

I just used a test light at my buddy's garage this morning. The other nice thing about test lights - only one wire to get tangled up.

 

[anndel]

So far I haven't used my PP IV. Only scope on a rope and multimeter are what I grab first.

 

[Gmonkee]

I just acquired a Sanwa YX-360TR analog meter cheap. A nicer analog unit just needing leads.

Finally a pro unit to join the fold. These are not easily found cheap anywhere near me.

 

[bushmechanic]

So far I haven't used my PP IV. Only scope on a rope and multimeter are what I grab first.

Get it out there and play with it. You'll love the thing, whether you admit it or not.

 

[buffalobill]

Get it out there and play with it. You'll love the thing, whether you admit it or not.

The long leads alone are worth it, a test light is good, but on a dump truck, you would need a LONG jumper wire to make it work...

 

[dan360]

Yes, stabbing a test light through the insulation to test for power is a great way to do it. Screw these new fangled doohickey power prober things.

 

[creativecars]

What that guy needs is to play with a vehicle that has air bags...

 

[bpankratz]

I don't use mine all the time but I do use them to power components like fuel pumps and stuff like that. Not useful all the time but quite often can be. I used it quite a bit in the RV industry, really useful there I found.

 

[redvalkyrie]

I love my PP III. I don't know how I lived without it. Just being able to easily apply power or ground to a circuit makes most diagnostics easier.

However, it does not replace my DMM.

 

[Danglerb]

Nice thing about most of the fancy electric test stuff like a PP is that as long as you didn't pay truck tool prices you can sell them for not much of a loss if you don't like them.

 

[Billythekid1]

Great for trailer work that's the main thing I use for and powering up conponents

 

[FigureItOut]

I've had a PP3 for a couple years. I do electrical work exclusively and found I only pull it out maybe once a month. As was said, they're super handy for trailer work. I like to get a jump box, and clamp the neg clamp on the trailer frame, then plug the PP into the jump box's cigarette outlet. Then I can work my way through the trailer methodically to find the problem(s).

One tip I heard on a 12V forum, if you like the using the tones to identify power and ground, but you're worried about introducing voltage somewhere you shouldn't, is to trip the PP's built in circuit breaker right off the bat.