Close to a half a century in the business - with plenty of experience performing and teaching parasitic current draw diagnostics. So . . . I'm qualified to comment and sincere with my words when I say this is an excellent video tutorial on an innovative and promising product! Can't wait to try one out!
One suggestion for those that are using this at the DLC. If the draw is coming from the cig lighter or power port you will be powering the draw directly without entering the fuse block. You can take out every fuse and the draw will still be visible on the tool. I just recently had a truck that had some usb charge ports wired into the power port harness. Other vehicles have gps trackers tapped into the DLC and you will have the same issue.
I was just thinking about factors such as these, if something was connected to the dlc that was causing the draw and unplugging the accessory and plugging this in will fix the problem and you would never know. lots of variables when using this tool.
@@crasher88 Its a cute tool but I use a UNI-T 210-E clamp on meter on the battery terminal. Measure down to a milliamp. you can also test wires. Some 90s-Present Fords take an hour to settle to their sleep current.
@@alb12345672sometimes you can't get a clamp around the cable. A side post is a good example or if its buried in a housing. Sometimes I have a hard time trusting inductive clamp accuracy. I have my own solution for this. Not defending the PP people because the only useful innovation to me here is the bluetooth. On the other hand it drains the internal battery quicker and it requires another tablet or phone to use it.
@@webreakforsquirrel4201 Agreed, I could see their tool having a place too. Sometimes modules can wake up over night, have a high drain and this can record. I had that on a car, for some reason a module was waking things up hours later. I wonder how long it would last in that scenario. The clamp meter has to be zeroed out, I agree. In my testing it agrees with the inline series measurement.
Always pleashure watching profesionals!!!! Thank you gentlmen!!!!!! IM proud owner of POWER PROBE 3 Hope soon purchase another quality products also!!!!!!!
We are working to get more on the shelves! They are currently available through Matco and our website: shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-ppdraw-parasitic-drain-monitor
Blue tooth power probe link app installs, ppdraw pairs to pixel 3xl and pixel 4a , however, link app wont pair to show live data. Its probably how I have my cels configured. If possible, could a short video be made on the install and pairing process of the power probe link app. Thanks
Worked, ( power probe app link , needed about 30 to 40 seconds) to initially see ppdraw, on pixel 4a. Also , I had location, wifi scanning turned off, so Once these were turned on, this may have helped my situation.
There are a lot of ways to measure parasitic draw, amp clamp over one of the wires going to the battery, measuring voltage drop over one side of the battery, but all those ways leave more to be desired. You'll have to convert voltage drop using our fuse charts to convert to true amps and that can only be so accurate. With the draw monitor it easily hooks up to the obd port and once you disconnect the battery it does all the work for you and converts voltage drop to amps and displays it very easily on the screen so that anyone can understand it. You can then easily communicate this to a customer with a photo. You can then run across the fuse panel and know exactly how much current you have to find so you're not just guessing. The tool also offers the opportunity to monitor the current on your phone via Bluetooth which can be helpful while you work on other components and to easily monitor spikes.
As someone with over a couple decades of automotive diagnostics experience, I don’t get it either. All this thing offers over a meter w/amp clamp is a “power supply”. Since disconnecting the vehicle battery is not a part of my voltage drop test routine, I don’t see the need for a 20min power supply. I guess a phone alert would be nice, but not really worth having to touch battery terminals, when min/max on my meter can alert me just the same. The phone alert would be very useful in an instance where the parasitic draw took a LONG time to present itself, but this tool will be dead long before it would be useful in that case. The voltage drop to amperage conversion is ok I guess, but I’ve never really cared about the specific current value when chasing a parasitic draw. I rarely used the conversion tables to begin with. Regardless of the fuse type, the current draw is either there or it isn’t. Whether or not I know the exact amount of current being drawn is irrelevant. The amp clamp will tell me the grand total. If the grand total is still too high, after eliminating the first parasitic draw, then I know there is a second component to find and it doesn’t matter if it is 50mA or 65mA.
Hey there! The VDC mode is the only mode that allows you to apply power/ground in the PP4. If you try to apply power/ground in any other modes you'll get that red X. That doesn't happen unless you are trying to apply power so its possible that the rocker switch is sticking. Try removing the switch to see if the X goes away. If not the tool is malfunctioning, but if it is you'll need a new rocker switch. You can start an RMA here aftersales.powerprobe.com . Hope this helps!
nifty new tool, a few questions for you. how is the tool powered? recharge lable battery or a throw away battery? could it be used as a memory saver when changing out main batteries?
It has a rechargeable Lithium battery... and yes it is a memory saver! That is one of the main functions of the tool. The beauty is whenever you are changing a battery, etc. and you use PPDRAW as a memory saver, you can quickly check for unwanted battery drains! (Something killed the old battery?)
if you actually put how to use it in the owners manual, that might have helped. Just saying. Me and a co worker that also owns this was also wondering where in the instructions was the operations guide.
It's literally 3 steps! 1. Plug in 2. Hit smart output 3. Disconnect (-) battery terminal Sorry 4, 4. Wait..... This isn't going to make someone a Master diagnostic parasitic draw tech, you need to know how vehicle electronics work. One of the biggest culprits of parasitic draw you will not find in the fuse box! (I'm talking about the alternator!) I'm sorry man but if you can't figure out how to use it then you probably are a ways from it benefiting you and being worth the cost!
@commonsenseisdeadin2024 good for you, you're so good you didn't need instruction. Get a life, Dennis is just trying to make sure he uses the tool properly and to its full extent. And yes they should have include an operation guide in manual so we didn't have to come watch video on TH-cam. (Just like you are doing)😅
@@commonsenseisdeadin2024I’ve been doing automotive electrical testing for 24 years, and just bought one of these two days ago. I flipped open the owners manual & found no usage instructions. Sorry, but that’s just stupid. If you go to the trouble to print an “owner’s manual” in 8 languages, you can add a single page with all this information. Instead, I had to go online and watch a rather annoying TH-cam video. Maybe the percentage of techs who can’t read is growing these days, but those who can typically prefer written documentation that they can refer back to if needed.
Looks like a great tool would love to buy one, but this fancy site does not tell us where to get one or how much it is??? do you actually sell these? This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to buy device made by power probe and cannot.
Hi Jeff, you can purchase a PPDRAW here for $229: shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-ppdraw-parasitic-drain-monitor You can also purchase from tool trucks such as Matco
Ok I love power probe have the master kit and a # 2 . But you could not give me one of those shirts guys . Lol it’s just too ahhh can’t say . But great video
I can't speak to whether that is normal or unusual for that vehicle, there may be something weird going on there, but if total draw never exceeds 38mA that is not usually enough draw to cause premature battery drain problems. Everything is manufacture specific, but the generally accepted rule is no more than 50mA.
They are available through Matco and on our website. We are working hard to get more on the shelves! shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-ppdraw-parasitic-drain-monitor
@@PowerProbeUSA depends what meter you have! I have a "power factor" meter, I can amp clamp and use my test leads at the same time. Then again, what's the difference from buying another meter rather than buying this? For $250, you can buy a few meters and still have money for lunch (for now anyway.... Don't know how long that will hold true with food prices these days 😂) The biggest issue is this is a one trick pony, another meter (be it an amp clamp or just a basic DMM) is going to have multiple uses. Can also buy a handheld oscilloscope with a highly sensitive and accurate amp clamp, DMM in one as well, also graph to see any change. As far as the battery powering the DLC, I've had a lithium jump pack for well over 5 years that came with a OBDII and Cig plug to keep memory power alive. Want to send me one to see if you can change my mind? It does what it's meant to, my gripe is that high price tag.
Adapter harness but make sure it's not 24v! I'm surprised it doesn't just go into a cigarette outlet (however those are going extinct so.....) Could also adapt it to battery clamps, just attach to the negative clamp and disconnect.... It's all the same! They should have just made it a quick OBD2 to read and clear codes... I'm assuming it's literally a OBD2 plug with 2 pins as you don't want to mess with the CAN considering that will surely wake some stuff up (or mess stuff up 😂)
I have tool Gonna get rid of it it Master Tech here Tool works as you show Battery in tool to weak If there is is a draw god for bid it is large draw Your tool dies within 10-15 mins. Needs bigger battery in tool
Hmm, something is not right here. The battery in the PPDRAW is rated at 3200mAH. The tool limits output to no more than 10A... so even at a continuous 10A draw (and that is definitely a problem!) the tool should run almost 20 minutes. At normal draw rates
What if vechile has 2 batteries Main battery Auxiliary battery Do you just disconnect the Main battery and leave the auxiliary battery alone Just asking for a friend ❤😂
Heres an uncommon complaint... obviously always great products but.. I wish yall would modernize the logo I feel like I'm using a kids toy when a non automotive industry person sees me holding something with 1980s lookin super hero font
Hey Andrew! We changed the logo a few years back, and it was a disaster! People have come to know that logo, and they were worried that something bad happened to us when we made the change. That logo has been good for 32 years and we're hoping to keep it for another 32 years or more!
Well, when you do an in-line test to quantify the amount of current on the sleep state of a vehicle, you must disconnect the battery, thereby interrupting the flow of 12V causing the loss of radio memory, TPS settings, etc. This is so that flow of 12V is never interrupted and you can Bluetooth to it, work on another car in the meantime, while monitoring the draw to wait for the modules to go to sleep. Just like our other tools, it's meant to be a timesaver to make you more efficient and also happens to have memory saving capabilities.
Close to a half a century in the business - with plenty of experience performing and teaching parasitic current draw diagnostics. So . . . I'm qualified to comment and sincere with my words when I say this is an excellent video tutorial on an innovative and promising product! Can't wait to try one out!
Amazing!! Happy to help anywhere we can
One suggestion for those that are using this at the DLC. If the draw is coming from the cig lighter or power port you will be powering the draw directly without entering the fuse block. You can take out every fuse and the draw will still be visible on the tool.
I just recently had a truck that had some usb charge ports wired into the power port harness.
Other vehicles have gps trackers tapped into the DLC and you will have the same issue.
I was just thinking about factors such as these, if something was connected to the dlc that was causing the draw and unplugging the accessory and plugging this in will fix the problem and you would never know. lots of variables when using this tool.
@@crasher88 Its a cute tool but I use a UNI-T 210-E clamp on meter on the battery terminal. Measure down to a milliamp. you can also test wires. Some 90s-Present Fords take an hour to settle to their sleep current.
Thanks TPM!!! Good tip to remember when using the PPDRAW.
@@alb12345672sometimes you can't get a clamp around the cable. A side post is a good example or if its buried in a housing. Sometimes I have a hard time trusting inductive clamp accuracy. I have my own solution for this. Not defending the PP people because the only useful innovation to me here is the bluetooth. On the other hand it drains the internal battery quicker and it requires another tablet or phone to use it.
@@webreakforsquirrel4201 Agreed, I could see their tool having a place too. Sometimes modules can wake up over night, have a high drain and this can record. I had that on a car, for some reason a module was waking things up hours later. I wonder how long it would last in that scenario. The clamp meter has to be zeroed out, I agree. In my testing it agrees with the inline series measurement.
Great demonstration Dave!
Great idea, nice looking meter... kool that that it beeps if you set a amp target.. That's a plus .. and it's an actual power supply ..
Maybe is good to incorporate that chart into PPDRAW, and in the app also... with possibility to write some values instead.
Always pleashure watching profesionals!!!! Thank you gentlmen!!!!!! IM proud owner of POWER PROBE 3 Hope soon purchase another quality products also!!!!!!!
Thank you for the support!
The real question is, how do I get one of those jerseys? And will you give me a PPDraw if I wear said jersey every day?
You can get a jersey here! shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-unisex-jersey-shirt?_pos=1&_psq=shirt&_ss=e&_v=1.0
when are these available on the open market? the truck with the dead bird on it seems to have them all!
we are working to get more on the shelves!
I have all your products, best in the business....BTW very nice shirt, need one!!! Lol
What type of power supply is in the device? How many amps will it supply?
It has a 3200mAH lithium battery and the tool will limit output to no more than 10 Amps.
I have tried to download fuse chart and have not been able to find it on the web site. can u provide link?
Here's a link! www.powerprobe.com/na/en/www.powerprobe.com/resources/4Fuse_Charts_New.pdf
@@PowerProbeUSA thanks
Took me like 3 months to get one from my Matco guy but it’s worth the wait
Soy cliente de POWER PROBE necesitamos más tutoría completa y en español. Gracias
Thank you for the feedback!
I've been trying to buy one,where do you get one, can't even find it on power probe website.
We are working to get more on the shelves! They are currently available through Matco and our website: shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-ppdraw-parasitic-drain-monitor
I need that and a that short in shortsleeve please!
They are available! shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-unisex-jersey-shirt?_pos=1&_psq=shirt&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Can it double as a power maintainer during battery services?
Absolutely! Confirm when you plug it in that pin 16 has voltage, and hit the Smart Output button before disconnecting the battery.
Had this tool its ok but i still use the lisle tester and DVM
Where's the fuse chart on your website located at for download?
www.powerprobe.com/na/en/download-list this link will take you there!
Would this work on a 24v truck ? And how does the keep the 12v with its internal battery?
No sorry, only 12V at this time. It has a USB-C rechargeable Li battery.
Blue tooth power probe link app installs, ppdraw pairs to pixel 3xl and pixel 4a , however, link app wont pair to show live data. Its probably how I have my cels configured. If possible, could a short video be made on the install and pairing process of the power probe link app. Thanks
Worked, ( power probe app link , needed about 30 to 40 seconds) to initially see ppdraw, on pixel 4a. Also , I had location, wifi scanning turned off, so Once these were turned on, this may have helped my situation.
Awesome to hear!! Thanks for the input!
When available in canada 😢
As a total noob I don't understand how this helps,except no power interruption, if you are still using a multimeter to actually find the culprit?
There are a lot of ways to measure parasitic draw, amp clamp over one of the wires going to the battery, measuring voltage drop over one side of the battery, but all those ways leave more to be desired. You'll have to convert voltage drop using our fuse charts to convert to true amps and that can only be so accurate. With the draw monitor it easily hooks up to the obd port and once you disconnect the battery it does all the work for you and converts voltage drop to amps and displays it very easily on the screen so that anyone can understand it. You can then easily communicate this to a customer with a photo. You can then run across the fuse panel and know exactly how much current you have to find so you're not just guessing. The tool also offers the opportunity to monitor the current on your phone via Bluetooth which can be helpful while you work on other components and to easily monitor spikes.
As someone with over a couple decades of automotive diagnostics experience, I don’t get it either. All this thing offers over a meter w/amp clamp is a “power supply”. Since disconnecting the vehicle battery is not a part of my voltage drop test routine, I don’t see the need for a 20min power supply. I guess a phone alert would be nice, but not really worth having to touch battery terminals, when min/max on my meter can alert me just the same. The phone alert would be very useful in an instance where the parasitic draw took a LONG time to present itself, but this tool will be dead long before it would be useful in that case.
The voltage drop to amperage conversion is ok I guess, but I’ve never really cared about the specific current value when chasing a parasitic draw. I rarely used the conversion tables to begin with. Regardless of the fuse type, the current draw is either there or it isn’t. Whether or not I know the exact amount of current being drawn is irrelevant. The amp clamp will tell me the grand total. If the grand total is still too high, after eliminating the first parasitic draw, then I know there is a second component to find and it doesn’t matter if it is 50mA or 65mA.
Do you guys have a kit for the maestro like the ppkit04
We do not. However, the ECT3000 is available separately. shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-ppect3000-short-circuit-tracer-kit
So does this only check power to stock accessories or will it see aftermarket stuff?
It will see everything that is powered off your vehicles battery
I just bought a power probe 4. I can only use the DVC measurement mode. The remaining modes have a red X. What's wrong with it? thank you.
Hey there! The VDC mode is the only mode that allows you to apply power/ground in the PP4. If you try to apply power/ground in any other modes you'll get that red X. That doesn't happen unless you are trying to apply power so its possible that the rocker switch is sticking. Try removing the switch to see if the X goes away. If not the tool is malfunctioning, but if it is you'll need a new rocker switch. You can start an RMA here aftersales.powerprobe.com . Hope this helps!
Where can I find the convention charts on your Web site?
I've been on there and can not find them.
we are updating them to get them back on the website! They will be available soon
Here's a link! www.powerprobe.com/na/en/www.powerprobe.com/resources/4Fuse_Charts_New.pdf
nifty new tool, a few questions for you.
how is the tool powered? recharge lable battery or a throw away battery?
could it be used as a memory saver when changing out main batteries?
It has a rechargeable Lithium battery... and yes it is a memory saver! That is one of the main functions of the tool. The beauty is whenever you are changing a battery, etc. and you use PPDRAW as a memory saver, you can quickly check for unwanted battery drains! (Something killed the old battery?)
if you actually put how to use it in the owners manual, that might have helped. Just saying. Me and a co worker that also owns this was also wondering where in the instructions was the operations guide.
It's literally 3 steps!
1. Plug in
2. Hit smart output
3. Disconnect (-) battery terminal
Sorry 4,
4. Wait.....
This isn't going to make someone a Master diagnostic parasitic draw tech, you need to know how vehicle electronics work. One of the biggest culprits of parasitic draw you will not find in the fuse box! (I'm talking about the alternator!) I'm sorry man but if you can't figure out how to use it then you probably are a ways from it benefiting you and being worth the cost!
@commonsenseisdeadin2024 good for you, you're so good you didn't need instruction. Get a life, Dennis is just trying to make sure he uses the tool properly and to its full extent. And yes they should have include an operation guide in manual so we didn't have to come watch video on TH-cam. (Just like you are doing)😅
@@commonsenseisdeadin2024I’ve been doing automotive electrical testing for 24 years, and just bought one of these two days ago. I flipped open the owners manual & found no usage instructions. Sorry, but that’s just stupid. If you go to the trouble to print an “owner’s manual” in 8 languages, you can add a single page with all this information. Instead, I had to go online and watch a rather annoying TH-cam video. Maybe the percentage of techs who can’t read is growing these days, but those who can typically prefer written documentation that they can refer back to if needed.
Looks like a great tool would love to buy one, but this fancy site does not tell us where to get one or how much it is??? do you actually sell these? This isn’t the first time I’ve tried to buy device made by power probe and cannot.
Hi Jeff, you can purchase a PPDRAW here for $229: shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-ppdraw-parasitic-drain-monitor
You can also purchase from tool trucks such as Matco
Just got this to check out my truck said over current 😂 my amolifier is staying on killing my batterries haha
where can you buy this item you should have called it pimpernel
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Ok I love power probe have the master kit and a # 2 . But you could not give me one of those shirts guys . Lol it’s just too ahhh can’t say . But great video
They have them for sale!
You know you're going to go buy one now! 😂
@@commonsenseisdeadin2024 only if I decide go bat for the other team and move to San Francisco. Lol 😂😂 that ain’t happening
Dave's not here!... No man I'm Dave! 😂
For the unfortunate among us that don't know. th-cam.com/video/rtDAK7Umk7A/w-d-xo.html
WOOT! now everyone can get the joke! 🤣 🤣 🤣
where is this fuse chart i email power proble to replay
Here are the charts: www.powerprobe.com/na/en/www.powerprobe.com/resources/4Fuse_Charts_New.pdf
@@PowerProbeUSA Thank you so much,quick one is there a chart for wire ?
Amp hound , no need for a conversion chart
So every 10 seconds the tester goes from 9ma to 38ma. GM says 25ma is acceptable. Would this reading be normal? Vehicle powered done 20 minutes…
I can't speak to whether that is normal or unusual for that vehicle, there may be something weird going on there, but if total draw never exceeds 38mA that is not usually enough draw to cause premature battery drain problems. Everything is manufacture specific, but the generally accepted rule is no more than 50mA.
The problem is after looking all over creation, the only ppl that has them with a jacked up price is MAC tool truck.
They are available through Matco and on our website. We are working hard to get more on the shelves! shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-ppdraw-parasitic-drain-monitor
$230, I think I'll stick to my meter, cute tool though.
At first glance it's sweet..... It's definitely an impulse buy! (Touche on the tool truck exclusive 😂)
If you're using your meter to check the current draw on the battery, you'll need a second meter to do voltage drop across the fuses, right?
@@PowerProbeUSA depends what meter you have! I have a "power factor" meter, I can amp clamp and use my test leads at the same time.
Then again, what's the difference from buying another meter rather than buying this? For $250, you can buy a few meters and still have money for lunch (for now anyway.... Don't know how long that will hold true with food prices these days 😂)
The biggest issue is this is a one trick pony, another meter (be it an amp clamp or just a basic DMM) is going to have multiple uses. Can also buy a handheld oscilloscope with a highly sensitive and accurate amp clamp, DMM in one as well, also graph to see any change.
As far as the battery powering the DLC, I've had a lithium jump pack for well over 5 years that came with a OBDII and Cig plug to keep memory power alive.
Want to send me one to see if you can change my mind? It does what it's meant to, my gripe is that high price tag.
You guys know how many drains I get on these BMW abominations. I need to get one of these.
Do you make one that doesnt use obd connection? I work on buses and they don't have obd they have j1939 plug
Could probably use a obd extension cable and cut the end off and put the bus end on it or maybe they make a obd conversion cable
Adapter harness but make sure it's not 24v!
I'm surprised it doesn't just go into a cigarette outlet (however those are going extinct so.....)
Could also adapt it to battery clamps, just attach to the negative clamp and disconnect.... It's all the same!
They should have just made it a quick OBD2 to read and clear codes... I'm assuming it's literally a OBD2 plug with 2 pins as you don't want to mess with the CAN considering that will surely wake some stuff up (or mess stuff up 😂)
👍
So if you have a draw on your cigarette lighter or your USB drive or your d.L.C you won't be able to check it with this tool
The PPDRAW will measure everything that is powered off the vehicles battery
I have tool Gonna get rid of it it Master Tech here Tool works as you show Battery in tool to weak If there is is a draw god for bid it is large draw Your tool dies within 10-15 mins. Needs bigger battery in tool
If your draw is that big you could just use an amp clamp. I think this tool is better suited for small to medium drains.
Can you hook the ppdraw up to a charger when you use it?
Hmm, something is not right here.
The battery in the PPDRAW is rated at 3200mAH. The tool limits output to no more than 10A... so even at a continuous 10A draw (and that is definitely a problem!) the tool should run almost 20 minutes. At normal draw rates
Turn your timer off!
trying to probe both sides of the fuse under the dash is easier said than done
PPDRAW ... so it's a catheter?
What if vechile has 2 batteries
Main battery
Auxiliary battery
Do you just disconnect the Main battery and leave the auxiliary battery alone
Just asking for a friend ❤😂
Disconnect both! you need the entire system running on the draw monitor and the draw monitor alone in order to get an accurate reading
OUT OF STOCK!!!
we have units available and in stock on our website.
@@PowerProbeUSA no you dont
@@CJ.A-C shop.powerprobe.com/products/power-probe-ppdraw-parasitic-drain-monitor
Heres an uncommon complaint... obviously always great products but.. I wish yall would modernize the logo I feel like I'm using a kids toy when a non automotive industry person sees me holding something with 1980s lookin super hero font
Hey Andrew! We changed the logo a few years back, and it was a disaster! People have come to know that logo, and they were worried that something bad happened to us when we made the change. That logo has been good for 32 years and we're hoping to keep it for another 32 years or more!
No one should ever wear those shirts.
This tool seems really pointless... maybe good for people that don't understand how a MM works i guess.. lol
Well, when you do an in-line test to quantify the amount of current on the sleep state of a vehicle, you must disconnect the battery, thereby interrupting the flow of 12V causing the loss of radio memory, TPS settings, etc. This is so that flow of 12V is never interrupted and you can Bluetooth to it, work on another car in the meantime, while monitoring the draw to wait for the modules to go to sleep. Just like our other tools, it's meant to be a timesaver to make you more efficient and also happens to have memory saving capabilities.
Dang now I got talk the wife into this 🫤