Multimeter or Power Probe III?

S

SuzukiGS750EZ

Joined
Dec 30, 2008
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Christmas is right around the corner, and after being asked multiple times what i want, i've narrowed it down to two tools. One being a multi meter, and one being the power probe 3 master kit. Both of which i have about a 200$ limit on. I do a lot of electrical stuff with cars. I can very amateurishly test sensors, check for breaks in wires if i have some sort of idea where they may be about, check for power and check resistance. Resistance is important when i'm wiring up speakers or subwoofers for people to make sure i'm down to the correct 1,2 or 4 ohms rating. I admit i don't really know how to use a multi meter very well, and would love to learn. I think it would open up my diagnostic abilities a lot. I can read OBDII live data very well, so thats mostly what I use in diagnostics, since it reads sensors. But when a sensor goes bad... it may not always be the sensor itself! The power probe III as far as i know applies power and ground as well as distinguishing pos and neg and reads voltages. I believe that's all it does. I'm on the fence here on which tool to get. What does the PP3 have over the DMM? And visa versa? I'm a pretty quick learner so i decided rather than get a simple meter (if i choose to do so) i'd just blow it all on one good meter and learn one function at a time. The PP3 has been on my list for a while as well. I've been bouncing back and forth between these two for a year or more now, and everytime i think i have it figured out, i change my mind!

This meter (http://testproductsintl.com/183A.html#.UoPCZ-LO3Al) looks exactly like a fluke 87.

Here's a link to the PP3, i'll be getting the biggest kit if i choose to go this route (http://www.powerprobe.com/pp3.php). HELP!

Edit: Also found these, in my price range. Maybe better than the 183A?

http://testproductsintl.com/192.html#.UoQWiuLO3Ak

http://testproductsintl.com/194.html#.UoQWh-LO3Ak
 
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Just to conclude, i chose the multi meter. TPI Model 194 II. Also got a loadPRO kit along with a Pomona 6343 probe kit with probe extensions and alligator clips.
 
I have a power probe 2 and while every now and then its invaluable when I need it its very rarely used. I couldn't get by with just a PP3 even with its volt meter, actual volt readings are one of the things I use my Fluke DMM for the least, 75% of what I do is amperage and resistance/continuity testing

Did you see the OCC bike they made for power probe? It used a PP3 as the starter button, pretty cool bike.
 
Orange+County+Chopper+5.jpg
 
Yes I saw that episode. Didn't they wire in a pp3 to monitor battery and start the bike? Pretty simple but very cool. I will get a pp3 eventually. I used my grandfathers fluke 88v until I got this one. This meter does
Temperature readings as well. I got a fluke thermocouple adapter as well
 
Yep, the display reads current system voltage and the apply-power momentary switch cranked the motor.

Do you currently have any PP? Do you do a lot of 12/24vDC work? Have you used one before? You could try out mine for a little bit if you wanted.

I have a fluke DMM (forget the exact model number right now) that also has temp using a mini K type T-coupler, I actually just used it last weekend to check on my moms H2O heater's electric elements (after checking the resistance)
 
I do not have any pp. I do 12v work mostly, too young to have bumped into any 6v and never even laid eyes on a 24v. I have used a PP before but thank you for the offer 😊 if someone was throwing one out id take it lol. I've used the 2 before.
 
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