bought a 1st gen power probe my 1st year as a mechanic. Its made me more money and saved me more time then any other tool i own. My students call it the magic wand lol
Not sure on the brand but I've got one and it is fantastic. Used it to troubleshoot a bad thumb switch on an excavator. Was able to work back from the solenoid all the way to the joystick. Doesn't replace a multimeter, but this does 99% of what I need it to do.
I might go months or years without using mine, but it sure is handy when troubleshooting to have power/ground right there to test with. The extensions are super useful for doing trailers which always have flakey lights lol
My gal bought a new trailer two years ago and I looked underneath it and quickly understood why trailers have flaky lights! The horror! The horror! Wires a danglin' in the breeze, and routed past sharp corners of steel bits. Whole thing just needs doing over, and with conduit.
@@FunkFPVespecially boat trailers. Like wtf are you thinking. Heatshrink connectors are a must. So is the 2 stage heatshrink wrap which has the glue in it that seals water tight. This thread is the perfect example of how guys building trailers are not mechanics, they're trailer builders. Often times i see wires rubbing on stuff, instead of wire loom that can get warn through quickly, i slice vacuum hose in half to put over the wires, electrical tape it in place, then wire loom, then more tape. Can never be too careful when it comes to wiring. Shorts can cause some crazy and nasty problems
I borrowed one from a guy I work with, it's on the short list of tools I need to purchase. Definitely a handy little tool to have, and you did a good job covering what it does.
Glad to see you doing well on RUclips " thats me up voting all your " shorts " videos . I was an electronics technician in the Marine Corps and the first training for that is both AC & DC electric school . Our trouble shooting slogan was " source based, point to point , process of elimination testing " whether the source is the battery or fuse-able link system then point to point to the device . I own a marine electric and electronics service business now and the power probe is invaluable to me. Because marine wiring is all water sealed after it leaves the source I have several pairs of screw down wire piercing probes adapted to the power probe to penetrate the wires near a device to determine the problem. I carry a small tube of silicone in my bag so that I can reseal the wire when the work is done.
I am an Automotive Warrant Officer in the Army and too many of our "Mechanics" can't do electrical troubleshooting. If you can't do electrical troubleshooting you are just a parts-changing lube tech, we still need those people in the Army but we also need someone who can diagnose something.
Different types of mechanics that specialize in different areas is a good thing.like I bet you suck at welding exhaust but you can make my taillights have a good ground again.dont hate on your fellow mechanics.hate on those DIY guys😊
I can weld just fine. Did you miss the part where I said we still need those guys. However, as a manager, you have to be aware of everyone's skill level. @@jamesjameson2576
The way that WO's are utilized in the Army is to have someone who brings the knowledge with them and can stay in the military longer. NCOs generally move into personnel management in the Army such as 1SG and SGM but Warrant Officers also continue in their specialty providing a continuity of knowledge.@@MatthewAucutt
Parts changers are guys that just throw parts at problems until they guess the right one. You can still take your time to diag wo being an electrical wiz. Just being better w electrical allows to diag better. I know guys that are great w electrical but so cocky that they know so much but still throw parts at problems until they guess wrong a couple times, then start to diag. I know guys that arent electrical wizes but still take the time to diag to the best of their ability and fix the problem first shot more often than the guys that know electrical more but still throw parts before before doing proper diag
Heavy duty trucks mechanic,, this thing is The cat’s meow when tracking down light problems,,used them for years, like you said don’t be a dummy and put 12 volts where it don’t belong!!
I finally got the "maestro z power probe" for my birthday from my wife, and all i can say is its absolutely insane!!! 💯 🤩 You can do even more than my standard power probe can do (which is already a ton of USEFUL things) and it connectd to my phone or tablet so ypu can see wavelengths and etc to see hiccups or etc.. I had got my power probe, years ago, to find broken wires and then i did some research and found all the other tasks it can do🥰 the power probe is such a useful tool, it does so many different jobs that normally you need a toolbox of diagnostic tools for😂 the pro kit is really, really nice but for most people the kit you got will work great💙💙💙
I always enjoy your content. Learning something on top of that is a nice bonus. The wife thinks that you are my long lost brother, how I wish that was true. 😁
Wes that was a great "frying the computer" comment I have one of these and frankly I could use a bit more training with it I guess I just need to start using it to get more comfortable with it. Great review
I got the power probe master kit from my matco dealer when he decided to drop his career for another path, for maybe 1/3 the price, which honestly with tool truck pricing was probably what he paid lol, but anyways, I love mine, especially the short detector, it has helped me greatly over the years
The argument that a 12V Power Probe fries computers reminds me of the argument some guys have against PPE (primarily steel-toed boots), claiming that the safety equipment is more dangerous than not using it. You know, because the 3 oz. steel-toe cut his toes off. The 30,000 lb. payloader had nothing to do with it. 🤨🙄😑🤦♂️
Not a glorified test light, just a really really tricked out one. Good for quickies. I've had more than one. My fluke 87 still holds the "most indispensable tool" title though.
In a previous life I was a semi mechanic. And yes, that thing was used daily screwing around with lights. At my current job (heavy equipment) I've used it less than a dozen times in 5 years. I make a joke about my coworkers using it more than I do.
As you were a truck mechanic you learned the most dangerous person in the world was a truck driver with a toolbox equipped with a sharp pointed test light !
Been on the fence for getting a power probe for my own DIY automotive troubleshooting for years. Finally decided on the Autel PS100 a few days ago. Seems nearly identical to the PP 3, but it's about half the price. I'm curious if the PP accessories would fit it though... Either way, it's a great tool for $80. Does it replace a DMM? Not exactly, but it does things a DMM can't.
I had a buddy give me one of the first gen ones. The leads are all hosed up ,but i had a good time the few times i tried it. I should repair it and start using it at work if the need arises
I've had 4 different PP3s. One of them got run over by my favorite one-eyed, elderly, foot shufflin', past due for retirement, co-worker. Two of them, the screen quit working within a month. Both times they broke I was working on a front end loader (24v) and it worked fine, then the next time I put it on 12v the screen didn't work. They're rated for 24v systems so I'm not sure what happened exactly. I just got it replaced for free again but they upgraded me to the PP3 EZ.
you forgot, imo, the best part that separates it from a normal test light. touching the tip to ground and having that green light come on, or touching it to positive and having the red light come on- that only happens if the resistance is low enough to draw a current. if there high resistance in the line that would normally stop a "thing" from drawing current, the light wont come on, while it would with a standard test light.
They are so expensive but i have been concerning the same thing with a bigger screen from China for like $50 if i remember correctly they had a cheaper one with a shorter cable for like $30
Horses for courses , no it's not a multimeter substitute , and neither is it made for troubleshooting a pc , it is however purpose built for troubleshooting automotive.
I just wish they would make a line voltage version of a power prob but I guess you would almost have to be licensed to have something like in the wrong hands it could be very dangerous especially the way the world is now 🤷🤦
this might give you a laugh... the forklift i use at work is a 5year old Linde H80 evo, friday 19th of jan, alternator exploded by the sound of it as i was using it (bosses orders, use it until it died). it should be out of warranty and servicing but someone at Linde UK (Scotland) gave the boss a 3 year extension. so the engineer turned up monday, 4 days of working on it, new alternator, new starter motor, new ignition barrel and other new things, its ready to go. Friday 26th, i start to use it again, 2hrs in back to its old games, mast fault (that puts locks drive so its like putting the hand brake on) for the first time, then a hour later it does it again, at 3pm break i come back to turn the engin on, 2 minutes of turning the key on and off until it finally starts. i will add i work at the docks for a company that bags fertiliser, so yeah the corrosion levels are high, i think the ecu has a slight short because of corrosion as some days it does not miss a beat and other days fault after fault lol cool bit of kit in the video, maybe the Engineer here could need one lol
I’ve seen 6 computers get fried by these on cars… 12v down a 5v ref or ground going into a pcm will cook it immediately. They’re a great tool, ya just gotta be careful.
It’s too bad that it doesn’t do load testing of circuits. How many times do you run across a circuit with a poor connection that will support a test light or meter but won’t drive a solenoid.
tik tok iq is room temp lol so true this is why i never trust reviews unless i know the person giving it or trust them the vast majority of bad product reviews and from room temp iq people that either put it together wrong or used it wrong without them knowing they did causing them to think the product is bad and then leave the bad review
I repair electronic equipment for a living (self employed) and have had two similar probes in for repair. Both different brands but internally the PCB's were identical. They both had been connected with reverse polarity. Rookie mistake. One owner was a light vehicle mechanic, the other an auto sparky. Both had fried the 3.3v voltage regulator and allowed 12v through to the CPU. End result, a CPU with a hole blown out the top.Both not repairable. They had ZERO reverse polarity protection. Very poor design for something costing around AUD $300.00 .
As a UK engineer and spark... I was ready to shit on this thing because it looked like a death screwdriver (look up photonicinduction killer screwdriver... Yes I know he's insane most British engineers are). However seems legit... Problem being bs7671 kinda requires receipts... Does this thing have them? Or is it the finest chinesium going? Eg: multimeter class rating on that thing? Class 2? 3? Also, much love from across the pond big man, also can I show staff some of your fork lift shenanigans? The ones where people should be dead but through dumb luck aren't?
Injecting 12V into highly sensitive electronics can let out the magic smoke? I'm shocked I tell you. Well, not that shocked. Someone's motherboard on the other hand.. I can see the traces glowing from here. Who are these people? 1:16
@@natec599 Yeah, to me, supplying power was what sold me on them. That it does several other things, too, just makes it the go-to tool for these situations.
For the love of God, don't buy the IV. I HATED that unit. I have broken or basically worn out 3 PP3s, absolutely the most important tool in my box. My IV didn't last 3 months. The tilted screen sucks, the menu is flat unnecessary. The PP3 is a companion to my DVOM, the PPIV tried (and failed miserably) to replace my DVOM.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I found a power probe 2 with nothing missing at a pawn shop for $10 and it works
What??❤ holy cow i wish I had that luck 😅❤ you absolutely stolen that thing😅 good on you, seriously❤❤❤
@bernhard8540 ohh yeah I did! As I tell my coworkers and anybody who loves tools go to pawn shops you can find great deals!!
I agree 100% with your assessment of the power probe 'problem' concerning frying computers. Sometimes you have to be smarter than the tool.
Use your tool, don’t be the tool.
Yeah, didn't know this was a problem. Been using a probe for around 2 decades. From probe 1 to 3 with nothing like that ever happening.
bought a 1st gen power probe my 1st year as a mechanic. Its made me more money and saved me more time then any other tool i own. My students call it the magic wand lol
I started 15-20 years ago with the PP1 I have the PP3now absolutely indispensable tool for electrical issues
Dude!!!!, that was the clearest, most informative without going crazy Power Probe 101 video I've come across. Thank you thank you!
Not sure on the brand but I've got one and it is fantastic. Used it to troubleshoot a bad thumb switch on an excavator. Was able to work back from the solenoid all the way to the joystick. Doesn't replace a multimeter, but this does 99% of what I need it to do.
I might go months or years without using mine, but it sure is handy when troubleshooting to have power/ground right there to test with. The extensions are super useful for doing trailers which always have flakey lights lol
My gal bought a new trailer two years ago and I looked underneath it and quickly understood why trailers have flaky lights! The horror! The horror!
Wires a danglin' in the breeze, and routed past sharp corners of steel bits. Whole thing just needs doing over, and with conduit.
@@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261 I use split wire loom usually, protects it well enough, but ya...trailer wiring is sooo sketch lol
I love when people use unsealed connectors on trailers 🤦🏻♂️
@@FunkFPVespecially boat trailers. Like wtf are you thinking. Heatshrink connectors are a must. So is the 2 stage heatshrink wrap which has the glue in it that seals water tight.
This thread is the perfect example of how guys building trailers are not mechanics, they're trailer builders. Often times i see wires rubbing on stuff, instead of wire loom that can get warn through quickly, i slice vacuum hose in half to put over the wires, electrical tape it in place, then wire loom, then more tape. Can never be too careful when it comes to wiring. Shorts can cause some crazy and nasty problems
I borrowed one from a guy I work with, it's on the short list of tools I need to purchase. Definitely a handy little tool to have, and you did a good job covering what it does.
Glad to see you doing well on RUclips " thats me up voting all your " shorts " videos . I was an electronics technician in the Marine Corps and the first training for that is both AC & DC electric school . Our trouble shooting slogan was " source based, point to point , process of elimination testing " whether the source is the battery or fuse-able link system then point to point to the device . I own a marine electric and electronics service business now and the power probe is invaluable to me. Because marine wiring is all water sealed after it leaves the source I have several pairs of screw down wire piercing probes adapted to the power probe to penetrate the wires near a device to determine the problem. I carry a small tube of silicone in my bag so that I can reseal the wire when the work is done.
Better to seal a wire puncture with , 3M Scotchkote FD , a coating designed for electrical underground slices . Amazon
I am an Automotive Warrant Officer in the Army and too many of our "Mechanics" can't do electrical troubleshooting. If you can't do electrical troubleshooting you are just a parts-changing lube tech, we still need those people in the Army but we also need someone who can diagnose something.
USAF is bringing back WOs and there is potential that we, Vehicle management/maintenance could get them. I am just not sure how we would utilize a WO.
Different types of mechanics that specialize in different areas is a good thing.like I bet you suck at welding exhaust but you can make my taillights have a good ground again.dont hate on your fellow mechanics.hate on those DIY guys😊
I can weld just fine. Did you miss the part where I said we still need those guys. However, as a manager, you have to be aware of everyone's skill level. @@jamesjameson2576
The way that WO's are utilized in the Army is to have someone who brings the knowledge with them and can stay in the military longer. NCOs generally move into personnel management in the Army such as 1SG and SGM but Warrant Officers also continue in their specialty providing a continuity of knowledge.@@MatthewAucutt
Parts changers are guys that just throw parts at problems until they guess the right one. You can still take your time to diag wo being an electrical wiz. Just being better w electrical allows to diag better. I know guys that are great w electrical but so cocky that they know so much but still throw parts at problems until they guess wrong a couple times, then start to diag. I know guys that arent electrical wizes but still take the time to diag to the best of their ability and fix the problem first shot more often than the guys that know electrical more but still throw parts before before doing proper diag
Heavy duty trucks mechanic,, this thing is The cat’s meow when tracking down light problems,,used them for years, like you said don’t be a dummy and put 12 volts where it don’t belong!!
I finally got the "maestro z power probe" for my birthday from my wife, and all i can say is its absolutely insane!!! 💯 🤩 You can do even more than my standard power probe can do (which is already a ton of USEFUL things) and it connectd to my phone or tablet so ypu can see wavelengths and etc to see hiccups or etc.. I had got my power probe, years ago, to find broken wires and then i did some research and found all the other tasks it can do🥰 the power probe is such a useful tool, it does so many different jobs that normally you need a toolbox of diagnostic tools for😂 the pro kit is really, really nice but for most people the kit you got will work great💙💙💙
Good informative video! No often I see people showing how to do basic diagnostics!
Also when the tip touches it displays the actual voltage on the screen. Thats good for a voltage drop test
Power probe!!! I thought this video was going to be about a modified caulk finger 😂
I've had my power probe 3 for 15 years and it's still amazing.
I always enjoy your content. Learning something on top of that is a nice bonus. The wife thinks that you are my long lost brother, how I wish that was true. 😁
😁👍🏻
I have the entire power probe diagnostic set. Includes a 3. Recommend for any electrical repair.
Power probe was my nickname in highschool.
No it wasn't.
Thanks for your videos 👍 very informative. I'd like to see you use that power probe when diagnosing a forklift or pallet jack issue
Wednesday aint over until funk's posted a vid. Cheers c:
😎👍🏻
Wes that was a great "frying the computer" comment I have one of these and frankly I could use a bit more training with it I guess I just need to start using it to get more comfortable with it. Great review
I got the power probe master kit from my matco dealer when he decided to drop his career for another path, for maybe 1/3 the price, which honestly with tool truck pricing was probably what he paid lol, but anyways, I love mine, especially the short detector, it has helped me greatly over the years
Power probe 4 is capable of reading pulse width modulation. Neat.
Loved the science fair project demo!
The argument that a 12V Power Probe fries computers reminds me of the argument some guys have against PPE (primarily steel-toed boots), claiming that the safety equipment is more dangerous than not using it. You know, because the 3 oz. steel-toe cut his toes off. The 30,000 lb. payloader had nothing to do with it. 🤨🙄😑🤦♂️
Haha
Not a glorified test light, just a really really tricked out one. Good for quickies. I've had more than one. My fluke 87 still holds the "most indispensable tool" title though.
Test lights will transmit both power and ground to a remote device ? when did that happen ?
In a previous life I was a semi mechanic. And yes, that thing was used daily screwing around with lights. At my current job (heavy equipment) I've used it less than a dozen times in 5 years. I make a joke about my coworkers using it more than I do.
As you were a truck mechanic you learned the most dangerous person in the world was a truck driver with a toolbox equipped with a sharp pointed test light !
Great informative video. Thank You for sharing this.
On another note, awesome shirt!
😎👍🏻
Been on the fence for getting a power probe for my own DIY automotive troubleshooting for years. Finally decided on the Autel PS100 a few days ago. Seems nearly identical to the PP 3, but it's about half the price. I'm curious if the PP accessories would fit it though...
Either way, it's a great tool for $80. Does it replace a DMM? Not exactly, but it does things a DMM can't.
Thank you, now take a coffee break.
It's a fancy test light, you also need a multimeter. Cool tool, might have to get one.
I bought my power probe 3 a long time ago and I love it! Good video man Fun little fact harbor freight sells power probe now look it up lol
I had a buddy give me one of the first gen ones.
The leads are all hosed up ,but i had a good time the few times i tried it.
I should repair it and start using it at work if the need arises
I just bought a fluke 87 for 8 bucks, used at a yard sale. I had no use for it as I have 10 other meters, but I couldn't pass.
I did not know there was a amp probe or 5V limiter attachment. Now I have to buy more things. I have a loadpro, but the amp meter would be nice too.
The mighty power probe, I have mine with me at all times
That's what she said!
@@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261 no she said that about my old adult full name "The power Pole"
@@foracal5608 Riiiiiight. Let get her on here.
@@stringlarson1247 what I install power poles you pervert I am a boat mechanic and builder
Excellent review and tutorial
I asked my snap on guy for a power probe
All I got was a clean bill of health and a funny walk
So the norm on the truck of a SO?
*_MR FUNK, Normally, I say real techs don't play with toys, but you seem to have masterd the probe toy very well..._*
😁
I've had 4 different PP3s. One of them got run over by my favorite one-eyed, elderly, foot shufflin', past due for retirement, co-worker. Two of them, the screen quit working within a month. Both times they broke I was working on a front end loader (24v) and it worked fine, then the next time I put it on 12v the screen didn't work. They're rated for 24v systems so I'm not sure what happened exactly. I just got it replaced for free again but they upgraded me to the PP3 EZ.
you forgot, imo, the best part that separates it from a normal test light. touching the tip to ground and having that green light come on, or touching it to positive and having the red light come on- that only happens if the resistance is low enough to draw a current. if there high resistance in the line that would normally stop a "thing" from drawing current, the light wont come on, while it would with a standard test light.
They are so expensive but i have been concerning the same thing with a bigger screen from China for like $50 if i remember correctly they had a cheaper one with a shorter cable for like $30
This video AMPED me up
Cool tool
Horses for courses , no it's not a multimeter substitute , and neither is it made for troubleshooting a pc , it is however purpose built for troubleshooting automotive.
What's that small LCD display for, what kind of info it shows? Great tool btw.
I just wish they would make a line voltage version of a power prob but I guess you would almost have to be licensed to have something like in the wrong hands it could be very dangerous especially the way the world is now 🤷🤦
You can change the polarity of the tip right?
Yes 👍🏻
My man really loves the power probe...🗿
this might give you a laugh... the forklift i use at work is a 5year old Linde H80 evo, friday 19th of jan, alternator exploded by the sound of it as i was using it (bosses orders, use it until it died). it should be out of warranty and servicing but someone at Linde UK (Scotland) gave the boss a 3 year extension. so the engineer turned up monday, 4 days of working on it, new alternator, new starter motor, new ignition barrel and other new things, its ready to go. Friday 26th, i start to use it again, 2hrs in back to its old games, mast fault (that puts locks drive so its like putting the hand brake on) for the first time, then a hour later it does it again, at 3pm break i come back to turn the engin on, 2 minutes of turning the key on and off until it finally starts.
i will add i work at the docks for a company that bags fertiliser, so yeah the corrosion levels are high, i think the ecu has a slight short because of corrosion as some days it does not miss a beat and other days fault after fault lol
cool bit of kit in the video, maybe the Engineer here could need one lol
Forklifts are expensive but people who can fix them are expensive too 😜
Do you seal up the hole you made on the weather tight connector ?
the 5 volt regulator is nice. Do the made a 3 volt ?
I’ve been going back and forth. If I want a multi-meter or what have you. Think this is my speed..
Thanks! Make me buy more tools why don’t ya. Damn. 😏
What is the input impedance (internal resistance*) of Power Probe 3?
I think Adam & Eve has the Power Probe 3 on sale right now.
Had a pp4 for a while now. I moved out of the automotive field and wish the HVAC industry had a similar tool but nope.
I’ve seen 6 computers get fried by these on cars… 12v down a 5v ref or ground going into a pcm will cook it immediately. They’re a great tool, ya just gotta be careful.
I would have expected he 4 to have the current measuring built in
It’s too bad that it doesn’t do load testing of circuits. How many times do you run across a circuit with a poor connection that will support a test light or meter but won’t drive a solenoid.
Do an apple vision review
You search "how to please a woman" a few dozen times and you get recommended videos for power probes for the rest of your life!
Interesting.
tik tok iq is room temp lol so true this is why i never trust reviews unless i know the person giving it or trust them the vast majority of bad product reviews and from room temp iq people that either put it together wrong or used it wrong without them knowing they did causing them to think the product is bad and then leave the bad review
I repair electronic equipment for a living (self employed) and have had two similar probes in for repair. Both different brands but internally the PCB's were identical. They both had been connected with reverse polarity. Rookie mistake. One owner was a light vehicle mechanic, the other an auto sparky. Both had fried the 3.3v voltage regulator and allowed 12v through to the CPU. End result, a CPU with a hole blown out the top.Both not repairable. They had ZERO reverse polarity protection. Very poor design for something costing around AUD $300.00 .
Yeah I got one, never use it thought , I just use a multimeter. oh that amp reader tho, i will have to get that.
As a UK engineer and spark... I was ready to shit on this thing because it looked like a death screwdriver (look up photonicinduction killer screwdriver... Yes I know he's insane most British engineers are).
However seems legit... Problem being bs7671 kinda requires receipts... Does this thing have them? Or is it the finest chinesium going?
Eg: multimeter class rating on that thing? Class 2? 3?
Also, much love from across the pond big man, also can I show staff some of your fork lift shenanigans? The ones where people should be dead but through dumb luck aren't?
I don’t think we have that over here. It’s only for low voltage so there’s not much danger.
Injecting 12V into highly sensitive electronics can let out the magic smoke? I'm shocked I tell you. Well, not that shocked. Someone's motherboard on the other hand.. I can see the traces glowing from here. Who are these people? 1:16
I got power probed like 8 minutes ago.
😮
I've been using multimeters since i was age 10. I've tried the power probe but couldn't find a benefit
Supplying power? Multimeters don’t do that.
Nice tutorial video. In agricultural repair work is a must have . Loss of a ground test out great .
@@natec599 Yeah, to me, supplying power was what sold me on them. That it does several other things, too, just makes it the go-to tool for these situations.
As a school bus mechanic for 15 years. I wore out 3 of these tools. Now doing something different. Working on my 4th.
For the love of God, don't buy the IV. I HATED that unit. I have broken or basically worn out 3 PP3s, absolutely the most important tool in my box. My IV didn't last 3 months. The tilted screen sucks, the menu is flat unnecessary. The PP3 is a companion to my DVOM, the PPIV tried (and failed miserably) to replace my DVOM.
Not the power probe 3000.
Buy a multimeter and learn how to use it. Most people are not even at a level of knowledge to make proper use of a power probe
Its actually not a great test light since it uses LEDs haha.
I use it to take my temperature, like a baby
LoL 😝
At first, I thought, "Why not just use a multimeter?" However, I can see why you'd carry both.