Power Probe BASIC User manual

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 1
English
Español
www.powerprobe.com
Power Probe Basic
Power Probe Basic
The Ultimate in Circuit Testing
Instruction
Manual
Manual de
Instrucciones

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 2
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................3
WARNING ................................................................................... 3
SAFETY......................................................................................... 4
FEATURES .....................................................................................5
HOOK-UP.................................................................................... 6
QUICK SELF-TEST .........................................................................6
POLARITY TESTING...................................................................... 7
CONTINUITY TESTING ................................................................. 8
ACTIVATING REMOVED COMPONENTS................................... 9
TESTING TRAILER LIGHTS AND CONNECTIONS ......................10
POWER TESTING A GROUND ................................................. 11
ACTIVATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WITH
POSITIVE (+) VOLTAGE ..........................................................12
GROUND SWITCHING A CIRCUIT HAVING AN
ELECTRICAL LOAD ................................................................13
REPLACING OLD ROCKER SWITCH ........................................ 14
ATTACHING THE SWITCH LATCH.............................................. 14
FOLLOWING AND LOCATING SHORT CIRCUITS ................... 15
POWER PROBE WARRANTY..................................................... 15
ENGLISH
TABLE OF CONTENTS

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 3
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing the Power Probe Basic. It’s your best value for
testing automotive electrical problems.
After connecting it to the vehicle’s battery you can now see if a circuit is
Positive, Negative or Open by probing it and observing the RED or GREEN
LED. You can quickly activate electric components with the press of the
power switch and YES, its short circuit protected. Continuity of switches,
relays, diodes, fuses and wires are easily tested by connecting them
between the auxiliary ground lead and the probe tip and observing the
GREEN LED. Check fuses and test for short circuits. Find faulty ground
connections instantly. The 20 ft. long lead will reach from bumper to
bumper and it has the option to connect a 20 foot extension lead to
make it reach up to 40 feet. Great for trucks, trailers and motorhomes.
If you are not using a Power Probe in your electrical testing, you are
wasting time.
Before using the Power Probe Basic, please read the instruction book
carefully.
When the Power Switch is depressed battery current is conducted
directly to the tip which may cause sparks when contacting ground or
certain circuits. Therefore the Power Probe should NOT be used around
ammables such as gasoline or its vapors. The spark of an energized
Power Probe could ignite these vapors. Use the same caution as you
would when using an arc welder.
The Power Probe Basic is NOT designed to be used with 110/220 AC-volt
house current, it is only for use with 6-12 VDC systems.
WARNING!

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 4
SAFETY
Caution - Please Read
Do not connect to electrical system with higher than rated volt-
age specied in this manual.
Do not test voltage exceeding the rated voltage on the Power
Probe Basic.
Check the PP Basic for cracks or damage. Damage to the case
can leak high voltage causing a potential electrocution risk.
Check the PP Basic for any insulation damage or bare wires. If
damaged, do not use the tool, please contact Power Probe
Technical support.
Use only shrouded leads and accessories authorized by Power
Probe to minimize exposed conductive electrical connections to
eliminate shock hazard.
Do not attempt to open the PP Basic, no serviceable parts are
inside. Opening this unit voids the warranty. All repairs should only
be performed by authorized Power Probe service centers.
When maintaining the Power Probe, use only replacement parts
certied by the manufacturer.
Use only in well ventilated areas. Do not operate around amma-
ble materials, vapor or dust.
Be careful when energizing components that have moving parts,
assemblies containing motors or high powered solenoids.
Power Probe, Inc. shall not be liable for damage to vehicles or
components cause by misuse, tampering or accident.
Power Probe, Inc. shall not be liable for any harm caused by
accidents, intentional misuse of our products or tools.
If you have any questions, please go to our website at:
www.powerprobe.com or contact our Technical Support at:
800-655-3585.
To avoid possible electric shock or personal injury and to
avoid damage to this unit, please use the Power Probe Basic
according to the following safety procedures. Power Probe
recommends reading this manual before using the Power
Probe Basic.
The Power Probe BASIC is strictly designed for automotive
electrical systems. It is to be used on 6 to 12 volt DC only.
The power switch should not be pressed when connected to
electronic control modules, sensors or any sensitive electronic
components. DO NOT connect the Power Probe to AC house
electrical such as 115 Volts.

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 5
Probe Tip
LED
Green
LED
Red
Rocker
Switch
Battery
Clips
Heavy-Duty
4mm Male/
Female Keyed
Connectors
20 ft.
Power Lead
FEATURES
6 -12 VOLTS
Switch Latch
(Included)
Auxilliary
Ground
Lead

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 6
HOOK-UP
QUICK SELF-TEST
Unroll the Power Cable.
Attach the RED battery hook-up clip to the POSITIVE terminal of the
vehicle’s battery.
Attach the BLACK battery hook-up clip to the NEGATIVE terminal
of the vehicle’s battery.
Rock the power switch forward (+), the LED indicator should light
RED.
Rock the power switch rearward (-), the LED indicator should light
GREEN.
The Power Probe is now ready to use.
6 -12 VOLTS
BATTERY
Red
LED
Green
LED
Forward
Position
Rearward
Position

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 7
POLARITY TESTING
By contacting the Power Probe tip to a POSITIVE (+), circuit will light
the LED indicator RED.
By contacting the Power Probe tip to a NEGATIVE (-), circuit will
light the LED indicator GREEN.
By contacting the Power Probe tip to an OPEN, circuit will be indi-
cated by the LED indicator not lighting.
Red LED = Positive
Green LED = Negative
6 -12 VOLTS
BATTERY
BATTERY
6 -12 VOLTS

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 8
CONTINUITY TESTING
Continuity Testing Application
By using the Probe Tip together with the auxiliary ground lead, conti-
nuity can be tested on wires and components that are disconnect-
ed from the vehicle’s electrical system.
When continuity is present, the LED indicator will light GREEN.
6 -12 VOLTS
BATTERY BATTERY
6 -12 VOLTS
No LED = No Continuity Green LED = Continuity

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 9
ACTIVATING REMOVED COMPONENTS
By using the Power Probe tip together with the auxiliary ground lead,
components can be activated, thereby testing their function.
Connect the negative auxiliary clip to the negative terminal of the
component being tested.
Contact the probe to the positive terminal of the component, the
LED indicator should light GREEN indicating continuity through the
component.
While keeping an eye on the green LED indicator, quickly depress and
release the power switch forward (+). If the green indicator changed
instantly from GREEN to RED you may proceed with further activation.
If the green indicator went off at that instant or if the circuit breaker
tripped, the Power Probe has been overloaded. This could happen for
the following reasons:
• The contact is a direct ground or negative voltage.
• The component is short-circuited.
• The component is a high amperage component (i.e., starter motor).
If the circuit breaker is tripped, it’ll automatically reset to default
position.
6 -12 VOLTS
BATTERY
Connect the
negative auxiliary
clip to bulb casing
Contact the tip
to the positive
terminal of the bulb
Press the power switch
forward to activate
the bulb
Other than light bulbs, you can also activate
other components like fuel pumps, window
motors, starter solenoids, cooling fans,
blowers, motors, etc.

www.powerprobe.com • 800-655-3585
Power Probe Basic 10
BATTERY
6-12 VOLTS
TESTING TRAILER LIGHTS AND CONNECTIONS
1. Connect the Power Probe Basic to a good battery.
2. Clip the auxiliary ground clip to the trailer ground.
3. Probe the contacts at the jack and apply voltage to them. This lets
you check the function and location of the trailer lights. If the circuit
breaker tripped, it’ll automatically reset after it cools.
• Identify which terminal illuminates specic lights
• Finds shorted wires
• Shows open or broken wires
8 Amps = No Trip
10 Amps = 20 sec.
15 Amps = 6 sec.
25 Amps = 2 sec.
Short Circuit = 0.3 sec.
BREAKER TRIP RESPONSE SPECIFICATIONS