Power Probe ECT3000 User manual

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Contents
Congratulations ......................................................................................................................................... 4
Parts ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
The SMART Transmitter ....................................................................................................................... 6
Characteristics of the Short/Grounded Circuit Signal ............................................................................... 8
Characteristics of the Open Circuit Signal ....................................................................................... 9&10
The SMART Receiver ........................................................................................................................... 11
Battery Installation .................................................................................................................................. 12
Testing the SMART Receiver ................................................................................................................. 12
Pulse Mode .............................................................................................................................................. 12
Locking /Setting the Sensitivity of Short/Grounded Circuit Signal ....................................................... 14
Locking /Setting the Sensitivity of Open Circuits ................................................................................. 14
Direction to Short .................................................................................................................................... 15
How to Use the ECT3000 in Diagnosing Circuits .............................................................................. 16
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Contents
How to Trace Out a Short Circuit to Chassis Ground ............................................................................. 17
Isolate your Circuit .................................................................................................................................. 18
Verify the Short Circuit to Ground .......................................................................................................... 18
Short Circuit inside a Wire Harness ........................................................................................................ 19
Reception Distance and What that Means .............................................................................................. 20
Tracing Circuits that are Shielded ........................................................................................................... 21
Open Circuit Signal vs. Grounded Circuit Signal ................................................................................... 22
How to Trace an Open Circuit ................................................................................................................ 23
Verify an Open Circuit............................................................................................................................. 23
Bench Tracing a Wire Harness ................................................................................................................ 24
Tracing Out a Battery Drain or Current Draw ........................................................................................ 25
Circuit Wiggle and Flex Test ................................................................................................................... 26
Index ........................................................................................................................................................ 27
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Congratulations
Thank you for choosing the Power Probe “ECT3000” (Electronic Circuit Tracer- 3000)
The ECT3000 helps quickly locate wiring shorts and opens. The ECT3000 operates just like the trusted Power Probe ECT3000 now with many
improvements in functions and features to increase circuit testing accuracy and speed. This instruction booklet will give you some valuable
diagnosing tips gathered from the field and from our testing lab. This instruction booklet has convenient references that will take you to appro-
priate pages that provide more information and clarification. Taking the time to read this instruction booklet carefully will give you valuable
insight to these detailed techniques in tracing automotive circuits.
We designed the ECT3000 as a quick solution to your automotive circuit problems. The ECT3000 consists of 2 main components. An Intelli-
gent transmitter and a Intelligent receiver along with a set of connection adapters that will help you:
• Locate short circuits without unnecessarily removing plastic panels, molding, and carpet.
• Trace wires to see where they lead
• Find open circuits, switches or breaks in wires
• Trace and locate the cause of a severe battery drain
• Test and find intermittent conditions
• Check continuity with the assistance of the Power Probe III, IV, or Hook
These features are extremely handy for the professional technician. An appropriate schematic or wiring diagram is always useful and many
times necessary when tracing circuits. The better you understand your circuit, the better the ECT3000 can assist you.
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PPTK0003
PPTK0006
PPTK0005
PPTK0007
PPTK0008

The Transmitter
The transmitter is designed to generate Grounded Circuit signals and Open Circuit signals. The grounded and the open circuit signals are very
dierent from each other, so it is very important to understand the dierences in each signal type. (see “Characteristics of the Short/Grounded
Circuit Signal” pg. 8 and Characteristics of the Open Circuit Signal” pg. 9)
Power Lead
The 20 ft. power lead of the Intelligent transmitter supplies power by connecting directly to
the vehicles battery and the long length provides easy access to circuits throughout the vehi-
cle. The RED clip connects to the positive side of the battery and the BLACK clip connects
to the negative. It can be connected to a power source from 12 to 24 volts.
Signal Lead
The signal lead with the green banana jack, plugs into the assortment of adapters, probes,
and clips that are provided for you in the ECT3000 kit. These accessories simplify connect-
ing to your circuit.
Moveable Hanger / Stand
Provides multiple convenient mounting options when testing.
Circuit Status LED indicators
Indicates current circuit staus - Short / Open.Tone On/O - Toggle Tone
“Tone On/O” button toggles the tone of the transmitter’s speaker on or o.
The toggle tone feature of the Intelligent transmitter gives you the ability to detect changes
in the circuit to detect intermittent problems. (See “Circuit Wiggle and Flex Test” pg. 26)
Speaker
Provides Audible circuit status indication.
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After connecting the transmitter’s 20 ft. power lead to the vehicle’s battery, a signal is generated through the green signal wire and banana plug.
This is connected to the circuit you want to trace. The signal will radiate along the circuit, which you can detect by using the receiver. There are
two types of circuit signals that the transmitter generates. They are the Grounded Circuit SIGNAL and the OPEN CIRCUIT SIGNAL.
It is very important to familiarize yourself with both of these signals and how they work in your circuit. The “Grounded Circuit signal” and the
“open circuit signal” are dierent from each other, which you should understand. (See: “Characteristics of the Short/Grounded Circuit Signal”
pg.. 8 and “Characteristics of the Open Circuit Signal” pg. 9&10)
The 2 main features of the ECT3000 is that it transmits a signal into a circuit with the transmitter and then you trace it with the receiver . The
easiest way to insure that you are following the problem circuit is to isolate it from other parallel circuits.
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Complete Circuit Signal
Open Circuit Signal

Characteristics of the Short/Grounded Circuit Signal:
1. Strongest when flowing exclusively through one wire
When the signal is conducting through only one wire, the signal
strength is at its maximum because 100% of the signal is travel-
ing through that wire exclusively to return back to the negative
side of the battery. If the signal branches out to parallel circuits,
its strength divides and of course is weaker in each branch of
the divided circuit. But when the signal recollects through the
single negative cable to return to the battery, the signal strength
is at its maximum again because 100% of the signal is concen-
trated through the single negative battery cable. (see “Isolate the
Circuit You are Tracing” pg. 18)
2. Travels the path of least resistance
In case of a short circuit that blows its fuse reliably, you can
sometimes get away with not having to isolate the circuit. The
majority of the signal will follow the path of least resistance
through the short and then back to the battery. In fig.1, you can
see the majority of the signal travels right to the short circuit.
You can also see only a small portion of the signal running
through parallel wires.
3. A 4 KHz Polarized Signal
The fact that the Grounded Circuit signal is a 4 KHz polarized signal provides directional information for the receiver to pick up. This capabili-
ty to indicate the direction to the short or ground takes the guesswork out of tracing grounded circuits. (See “Direction to the Short” pg. 15)
4. Carries a current of only 100 mA.
When generating a Short/Grounded Circuit signal, a maximum of 100 milliamp flows from the signal lead. This keeps you safe from damaging
sensitive computer circuits.
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Path of Least Resistance
Major portion of signal goes
into short (ground)
Very small traces of signal
branch into parallel circuits
Lights have resistance
and limit signal flow

Characteristics of the Open Circuit Signal are:
1. Transmits through NON Conductive Materials
The signal that the ECT transmits when tracing open circuits, radiates
what is called an E-field. We will refer to an E-field in this manual as an
“Open Circuit Signal”.
The open circuit signal radiates from wires and passes through non con-
ductive material such as dry carpet, plastic panels or plastic molding. The
receiver is used to detect these signals so you can trace and locate the
open or break in the circuit.
(See “Locking the Sensitivity” pg. 14)
2. Easily Shielded by Conductive Materials
The open circuit signal is however easily shielded by conductive mate-
rials such as metal, wet carpet, neighboring wires in a harness and even
your hand. This means that if conductive materials are between the trans-
mitting wire and the receiver, the open circuit signal will not penetrate
through and therefore not be detected by the receiver. So it is necessary
to be aware of possible shielding issues and try to avoid them as much as
possible.
A great alternative to the receiver in detecting open circuit signals is to
use the Power Probe III, IV, or Hook by direct contact.
(see “Verify an Open Circuit” pg. 23)
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Dry Carpet / Plastic Panels & Molding
Holding the receiver by this corner,
prevents your hand from sheilding
the
open circuitsignal.
Wet Carpet / Metal/ Shielding Wire Harness
Holding the receiver by this corner
prevents your hand from shielding
the open circuit signal.
Wet Carpet/ Metal/ Shielding Wire Harness
Dry Carpet / Plastic Panels and Mouldings
Open signal passes
through dry non
-conductive material

3. Signal Capacitive Coupling to Parallel Floating Circuits
Another characteristic of the open circuit signal is that it will capacitive couple to parallel floating circuits.
(See: “Bench Tracing a Wire Harness” pg. 24)
4. Travels to ALL Open Ends
In Fig. 1 we are injecting an open circuit signal into a
parallel circuit that has three wires. Two of those wires lead to
open switches and the other leads to the open/break. As you
can see the open circuit signal travels to all open ends. This
makes it necessary to isolate the problem circuit away from the
others.
5. Can only be present in a circuit when there is a resis-
tance greater than 100 ohms
(See: Open Circuit Signal vs Grounded Circuit Signal” pg. 22)
6. Has NO Polarity
The open circuit signal does not have a polarity therefore the
ECT receiver gives no direction indication as to a break in
the wire. You will need to logically reason the direction of the
break in the circuit and then continue to trace it.
7. 8 Volt amplitude and 4 kilo-Hertz signal
The 4 Kilo-Hertz signal of the open circuit signal can be de-
tected by the receiver. (See: “Locking the Sensitivity for Open
Circuits” pg. 14) You can also use the Power Probe III, or Power probe IV for open circuit signal detection by direct contact.
(See: “Verify an Open Circuit” pg. 23)
Problem circuit not
isolated
Signals are all
over the
place, because
the problem
circuit has not
been
isolated
Fig. 1
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Signals are all
over the place,
because the
problem circuit
has not been
isolated
Problem circuit not isolated