Power Probe III w/Case & Accessories - (PP319FTC) [Car Automotive Diagnostic Test Tool, Digital Volt Meter, AC/DC Current Resistance, Circuit Tester] (Black - Limited Edition)

As a car audio/security technician I can't praise this product enough. I bought this tool thinking it would be a cool "toy" to have in the tool box, but the PP3 has proven itself to be an invaluable tool that I cannot live without. It makes diagnosing electrical problems and testing for alarm wires so much faster and more efficient. While i wouldn't go as far to say that it totally replaces a multimeter for my industry, I can honestly say that I will reach for the Power Probe 9/10 times. Here is what I like about the power probe vs a multimeter which is what most people are probably wondering about before buying one... - I no longer have to find a good ground before I can start testing wires. The PP just hooks up straight to battery + and -, or a cigarette lighter which is both fast and reassuring knowing that my + and - don't have to be a variable in the testing process. Nothing is more annoying than when you are already having a problem with a car, whip out the multimeter only to discover that the stupid car is plastic EVERYWHERE and you have to spend precious time trying to find a suitable metal surface to ground your MM on. - Audible and Visual signals for + or - readings. There are times where i need to test a circuit by manually triggering it myself (for an alarm : parking lights, door triggers, IGN etc..) and being able to read these tests without actually having to look at the screen while i turn a key or press a button on the car makes it easier and less of a circus act. - Along those same lines, having the ability to record "highs" and "lows". Basically if the wire i'm testing (for example a trunk release) is in the driver kick panel, and i have to test it by manually opening the latch at the trunk itself, I can probe the suspect wire, walk away, open the trunk, and when I return to the PP it will read the highest recorded voltage. This means I don't have to yell for the help of another already busy tech to help me open a door for me while i watch the multimeter. - Being able to power components from the probe. It's what makes this device unique and AWESOME. It's also what makes this somewhat scary to a lot of people as there IS potential to do irreparable damage to a car's electronics if you're not careful. I would say this tool is for a trained and disciplined professional, and not an amateur for this very reason. You just have to respect the power probe, as lame as it sounds, and you'll be fine. - oh yeah it also acts as a flashlight that never runs out of battery... AWESOME Here's what I don't like... - The attached auxiliary ground. This is used to power a component that is neither resting at - or + . I like the feature, and I think it's great and useful when needed, but I don't think it's needed enough for most of us to justify it being there ALL the time. I feel like it would have been better if the aux ground lead was detachable with the standard 4mm adapter used on multimeters so if it somehow gets damaged it is easily replaced and not in the way when in use. This is just a very minor gripe though. - Along those lines I wish the main power cable going into the power probe was detachable too. This would make storing and organizing it in my tool box a lot nicer and neater, but more importantly, if the chord ever got damaged beyond repair i would just need to get a new cable, not a new probe. It's actually one of my worst fears accidentally closing the door on the cable while the probe is in the car; or more likely someone else doing it unknowingly. To try to prevent this I am making it a habit to try and route the probe through an open car window so if this does happen the cable should stay safe. Having a detachable cable though would also allow the cigarette lighter adapter to just be a shorter cable which would be nice. Overall the Power Probe is amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone working in the 12volt industry. It has become as sacred to me as my li-ion power drill, and if you're a tool guy then you know that means something.

Broke on second use. Contacted seller and had no response.

This is a super useful tool for an experienced mechanic, if you aren’t familiar with the electrical circuit you are working on though I would be careful with what you are doing with that rocker switch... I’ve used it to cut my diag time wayyyy down, one example I had a car where the cooling fan didn’t come on, took out the relay and energized the circuit and confirmed the motor works, narrowing my diag down to the control side. Another instance was window doesn’t go up or down, used the power probe rocker switch to move the motor up and down, confirming the motor works. Those are just two examples the possibilities are endless really if you are experienced enough, the only thing if you are using this as a “test light” it does not load test a circuit so I would also keep your incandescent test light handy to make sure there isn’t high resistance in a wire

Very useful

Herramienta indispensable.