LOADpro

Just got my LOADpro from aeswave. Sorry that I suck at unboxing and review vids so I'll try to update on it's performance when I get used to it.

I find it useful, others like Eric O at South Main Auto, and Ivan at Pine Hollow Diagnostics (both VERY talented and intelligent individuals) don't see much in it. The prevailing argument seems to be that an incandescent test light would be sufficient load to expose a voltage drop in the form of a dimly lit bulb.
They're the leads I leave in my old MT2400 Vantage meter. I tried them in the Verus when I first got them, and noticed an arc from the positive lead to the battery terminal when I went to check my ground.
They don't go on the Verus anymore. Just from a safety standpoint. I don't want any unexpected arcing in the presence of fuel vapor or a gassing battery.

Also, be warned that it is essentially a jumper wire (all be it with a resistor) when you press that button. I accidentally started a Saab with mine checking powers at the ignition switch. Thank God no one was working under the hood!

I have given serious consideration to buying one I really can see the usefulness of it, . but but I came to the conclusion it would be too tempting and courting disaster to use as the "go to" tool rather than a tool to use only with caution.

Andy.MacFadyen wrote: I have given serious consideration to buying one I really can see the usefulness of it, . but but I came to the conclusion it would be too tempting and courting disaster to use as the "go to" tool rather than a tool to use only with caution.

I feel the same way about the Power Probe IV I really want one, but I'm scared I'll cook something.

You just have to 1) know your tool and what it can do and 2) know the circuit design of what you are testing. A PP4 is no different than a PP3 or even a PP1. A load pro is the same deal. While I don't have a load pro myself (i find other ways of loading a circuit... like energizing it and testing a loaded circuit) I can see when at times it could be useful/convenient to have.

I have the original "testlite" leads which came before LoadPro, I used to use them all the time but found that they didn't load a circuit enough so results were hit and miss.
I think feedback like mine led to the evolution into LoadPro leads, a lot of my fellow diag techs bought them but I found the original leads too large and cumbersome, especially working in the confines of small european cars and the tips too easy to break that I didn't bother upgrading.
They definitely have their uses and warrant a place in the toolbox, I just wish they were smaller and more durable.
Cheers

I like the tip design on the positive lead. The divot in the tip is great for probing male terminals. A task of great difficulty with a traditional pointed lead.
There's a time and place for every tool, and the load pro is no different.
It is my go to tool for testing powers and grounds at the PCM of Mercedes and Volvo vehicles where the connector isn't even visible until the computer is removed.

Noah, I agree with you on the tip dimple / divot - too many folk think of probe tips as being stabbing tools.
Cheers

Hello
I haven't used the load pro yet?
But I use the power probe hook all the time (a bit like paul uses his old snapon vantage)
I also use test light & power probe 4 (mainly as a volt meter ) it's a good quick easy to use tool
Only problem with the power probe 4 ,I found was the frequency setting dose not correspond with the verus
Frequency (when looking at mass air flow sensors

I have it and think it is a great tool, if I remember Ivan and Eric O had once trouble finding a fault I think it was a bad ground with a test light in that case a loadpro would be handy. Shrodingerbox was testing a faulty fuel circuit with a test light it was bright and you thought it was a good circuit but loadpro showed high resistance and that was the problem, I would like to have some testing with loadpro from Eric O South main auto in real world testing hope Ivan send him the tool.

spit64 wrote: I would like to have some testing with loadpro from Eric O South main auto in real world testing hope Ivan send him the tool.

I wouldn't count on it. I have immense respect for Eric and Ivan. They're both VERY good at what they do.
Neither one of them seems to find much value in that tool, and that's fine. If we all liked Chevy's, nobody would drive a Ford.

I think the case study you're referring to was a Jeep Cherokee. I believe the symptom was the cluster going offline when the lamps were switched on. It ended up being

I have to mark myself in the 'don't much see a point in it crowd' as it just a power resistor, but...I don't do this for a living and if I did it might be worth it as a time saver. Since I mostly work on only my own vehicles if I need to load test something I'll use a test light or if I need a larger load I'll use an taillight bulb in a pigtail socket or for a larger load an old headlight.

I think the Power Probe is a nifty tool but I can find other ways to do what it does. If I were doing this work for a living it would likely be abig time saver in many cases though.

wow,,, the guy who makes this tool is ranting on youtube again,, this time yelling about scannerdanner, ivan and some others,, demanding they do some challenge with this tool....... yelling at people in the comments of the video...


really unprofessional for someone trying to hock a tool few would buy to start with, all while alienating this very small group of potential buyers.

in all fairness I seen this guys videos for the last year and he seems to be having some sort of breakdown over a lawsuit.

anyway,,, its an interesting few mins wasted

tony.redolfi wrote: wow,,, the guy who makes this tool is ranting on youtube again,, this time yelling about scannerdanner, ivan and some others,, demanding they do some challenge with this tool....... yelling at people in the comments of the video...


really unprofessional for someone trying to hock a tool few would buy to start with, all while alienating this very small group of potential buyers.

in all fairness I seen this guys videos for the last year and he seems to be having some sort of breakdown over a lawsuit.

anyway,,, its an interesting few mins wasted

All I ask is that you guys please read my comments and Dan's replies. You guys have been asking me for years why I do not have this tool. Now you know why. Thank you for posting this Tony. I was just about to myself.

I watched a few minutes of one his vids a while back that was enough --- Basil Fawltey on speed. But reading the comments now he is really throwing his toys out the pram at the wrong people.

Absolutely ridiculous. Very unprofessional, regardless of what his leads can or can't do. It's enough to turn me away.

Tyler wrote:

Andy.MacFadyen wrote: I have given serious consideration to buying one I really can see the usefulness of it, . but but I came to the conclusion it would be too tempting and courting disaster to use as the "go to" tool rather than a tool to use only with caution.

I feel the same way about the Power Probe IV I really want one, but I'm scared I'll cook something.

I didn't see this post earlier Tyler. Do you own any PP gear already? I so, don't bother. If you already have a scope you probably won't bother with the extra features of the IV. If you don't have one, it depends on your work. If you're purely a diagnostic guy then it probably isn't worth it. Me, I wish I could get more diagnostics but I get it all. I don't put mine anywhere near the engine electronics or even many modules. One really great place that springs to mind is power windows. To see the voltage and polarity change on a 2 pin power window motor without looking for good powers and grounds and switching them around is fantastic. And as the last check you can unplug the motor and power it up yourself just to confirm.
After hanging around on the www with you lot for a while I prefer my test light and old vantage plus to a PP on engine electronics though.

I understand promoting/hyping a product you manufacture but acting like it is the greatest thing since sliced bread and you can't test a circuit without it is just silly. It is a resistor in a box with a switch and a few wires, nothing fancy, nothing revolutionary. BUT, in the right circumstance for the right user it could be a big time saver.

Years ago I bought a set of 'open ended ratcheting wrenches', basically one side has a notch cut out of it so that it slips in one direction and only catches in the other direction. For most people in most use cases they are not very useful and offer nothing over a regular open end wrench. For the work I was doing at the time, assembling and leveling mounting pedestals for large industrial plasma cutting tables, they were a big time saver and well worth the cost of having a specialized set of wrenches.

I feel as this continues, that Dan is going to delete or disable comments on his video, so I've copied my comments and his replies so my future forum readers and subscribers will know first hand why I do not use or recommend the Load Pro.