Backprobing and T-Pins

Hello-

Ive seen quite a few various videos of people backprobing harnesses and looks fairly simple but I wanted to make sure I do this correctly even as a Retired/DIYer. I know you not supposed to just ram jam the probe in and looks like the proper way is to not drive the pin directly into the wire, but towards the top edge and connect to the actual connector inside the harness?

The other question I had is what size T-Pins should I get or can I just make some homemade ones out of paper clips?

Thanks-

You have to be extra careful not to cause a short using T-Pins especially when back probing more than one connection on a multi-connector block. You will see them in older videos most techs don't use them since proper acupuncture probes became available.

MrMike wrote:

The other question I had is what size T-Pins should I get or can I just make some homemade ones out of paper clips?

I wouldn't recommend using paper clips. However, I would be lying if I said that I have never used paperclips (with a the end filed to a point). You can get a box of "T" pins in the sewing section of Wal-mart, or a similar store. As for the size, the smaller (and less intrusive), the better.

the proper way is to not drive the pin directly into the wire, but towards the top edge and connect to the actual connector inside the harness?

That is correct. Slide the probe along the outside of the wire, in between the weather seal and the wire. Slide it in, just far enough to make contact with the wire terminal, inside the connector.

The most important thing to remember, as Andy pointed out, is that there is a danger of shorting "T" pins together, especially when using more than one in the same connector. Even with the preferred acupuncture probes, there is a danger of shorting terminals together, inside of the connector, if you do not insert them straight.

OK- I got it- Thanks you techs

If you see yourself doing much backprobe testing at all, I'd suggest investing in a set of the uMicroBackProbes:

www.aeswave.com/uMicroBackProbe-Minimum-...onnectors-p9481.html

The cost per probe is significantly more than a box of T-pins. :silly: But they're that nice.

Tyler- those are some nice probes- I think I might get a set