power probe discussion

For those of you that use any form of a power probe, what model do you have/use and do you like it?

I currently have what I believe is a Blue Point with the pistol grip and the option to send 12v and ground. I grabbed it off a Snap-On truck back when I worked at C.City but for the life of me can't find it online anywhere. I personally love it but was curious what other ones were you there. I see the Power Probe III has a built in voltmeter which is pretty nice, but it seems pretty bulky.

All opinions / thoughts welcome!

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

Personally Kenny I wouldn't touch a power probe, they scare me! And this is the person who prefers to use (properly) a Snap-On bulb test light!
But then I have a pal who's an extremely competent and experienced auto electrician who uses them all of the time with no problems.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

let me rephrase it. I don't necessarily mean the actual Power Probe model, but any airbag/computer safe test light, etc. I use mine mostly as a test light (shows power and ground) and ONLY use the actual power selection after I have verified the wire (ie honk horn with actual horn button, LED turns green, send (-) pulse to double check, horn honks, good to go)

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

In truth I've never played with one long enough to get used to it. Testing after verifying is a good idea actually and quite subtle.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

90% I use snap on test light
10% fluke dmm

100% with Metz, but I would never let an apprentice use anything but a DMM.
The joke is I've had a DEI techie down to look at issues (mainly caused by customer being a D***k) and when offered a choice, he picked up the Snap-On.
If you know what you are doing Snap beats DMM every time. The bulb acts as a buffer, it draws enough juice to pull a relay, e.g. horn, locks, etc. and it will protect you against fuse blows.
In all honesty my 10% is tach, continuity buzzer and battery testing.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Here is my favorite test light. 

Called a Circuit Buddy.  Draws only 3.85mA at 12V.  Connect to ground to test for positive voltages and get a Red light.  Connect to +12V source and LED goes green for a ground.  Easy one hand operation to hook and pierce wire, with a latch to hold.  Probe can also be removed from yellow plastic and used as a wand/probe for tight places or fuse checking.

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Soldering is fun!

I do not know just how safe an airbag safe test light can be.  I have seen one turn over a starter.  I do not remember what vehicle, but it had a negative start wire.  Installer probed the wire not noticing that it was a negative wire.  When the probe hit the wire, the starter motor turned over.

I use a Fluke meter.

I have a Mac version of the light (120?) Kreg showed but with 2 x LEDs, I also agree with the Mr. I comment.
To me it's down to experience and taking care. By the way, probing air bag wires apart, and who would anyway, VW/Audi apart it's pretty hard to damage these components, I wonder how many of the horror stories we've heard were actually "urban myths"?

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

I'm going to have to find myself one of those circuit buddy's. That actually looks pretty useful. That is the one thing I disliked about my probe is taht its still hard to just pierce a wire for testing. I think I've pierced my finger more often then any wires.. lol

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

Twice today. Did a reversing aid on a Chevy/Daewoo 4 x M6 inside and now no knuckles either + 10 x 7mm outside, that's just the bits behind the rear wheel arch, plus another 5 Philips and 4 push-ins!
Never ever seen such a fiddly car.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Ordered up a circuit buddy and it was shipped out today. Should have it Tuesday. Is it wrong to get excited over new tools?!?! haha

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

No sir! New tools, a nice Shepherd puppy or a new woman, what excitement!

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.

Got my circuit buddy today. Can't wait to do my next starter.. haha. But that might be a few days. I'm in the process of putting a complete new heating system in my garage. My uncle-in-law gave me an almost new 95% efficient 80,000BTU forced air furnace for free so I'm converting it to propane and setting it up in the garage. Should be a nice addition over the crappy (and very inefficient) electric heater.

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Kenny
Owner / Technician
KKD Garage LLC
Albany, NY 12205

I have a multimeter I use 100% of the time on customer vehicles, but I have an actual power probe brand power probe I use exclusively on my 68 beetle I am rebuilding because I am not to concerned about tripping an air bag or a computer lol. Its real useful when I am testing things like lights and switches on that car. With that said I could use it on customer vehicles being they have breakers built into them, they have a meter and they have the test lights on them, however I don't like the amount of wire that they have connected to them, gets in the way half the time.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

I tend to feel that for experienced pros, there's no right or wrong.
With due precautions, e.g. I will use a DMM if I suspect I'm probing a DATA wire, use what you are used to.

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Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.