How to Understand your Digital Voltmeter

Voltmeter-only Diagnostics saves time and is far more accurate than any other method. Electricity doesn't need to be this hard - we make it easier.

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[bivideo7]

@Northropfam The circuit must be powered -- that's the advantage. If you pull the component you'll read open-circuit voltage at that location with both red & blk leads in the connector. No jumpers, no disconnections, no ohmmeter, etc. Just try to make the circuit work normally -- then use the tool to read voltage. If you see normal voltage you can't have open or short to gnd. Push button - if voltage doesn't drop, no corrosion. That's all that can be wrong and you ruled all 3 out with one test.

[Northropfam]

@bivideo7 I see so the advantage is just that you can do a "voltage drop" on a circuit that not powered/component removed with the tool?

[bivideo7]

@Northropfam --- nothing -- it is a voltage drop. You just can't do a voltage drop with the component removed because it opens the circuit and open-circuit voltage is on;y partially useful. The tool isn't magic -- it's just convenient, and with ghost and zero volts you see any fault instantly without having anything plugged in or jumped. Powerprobe can't do a loaded voltage test.

[Northropfam]

@bivideo7 It's worked for me so far and I've used one version or another for years. I am interested in your tool just don't get what's different from a voltage drop and "loaded voltage"

[bivideo7]

@Northropfam My only comment about the Powerprobe is that it fails in two critical modes, and the voltmeter he put in it (because of my tool) has no resolution. If you check ground on your finger, with your hand touching ground, you get a full green light and beep. If you read voltage through up to 15KΩ resistance you'll get 12V and a red light. The point suggests poking holes, & there's no ghost & zero voltage. In short, I think the philosophy is bad; red & green lights aren't diagnostic tools.

[Northropfam]

@bivideo7 Well, I'd like to learn what you're teaching. I'm always open to learning new techniques especially if it saves me time. It's funny I argue with guys all the time about power probes too. I always get someone telling me how it blows up computers and it's bad but it's only bad if you don't know what you are doing with it. It's worked fine for me and I like it but I understand what I'm doing (well most of the time)

[bivideo7]

@Northropfam Tried - but the group wasn't all that interested in my help. Several people have asked but many get angry when they decide I'm just a stupid tool salesman, because they don't understand what I was trying to do. I changed the way we diagnose electrical problems but people still get mad at me because I invented the tool and they think I'm being a jerk. Also, too many people on IATN argued with my answers and told me I was wrong. 30 years of teaching electricity wasn't enough. DS

[Northropfam]

@bivideo7 sounds interesting. Are you a member of IATN?

[bivideo7]

@Northropfam Loads the circuit so you can see an instantaneous voltage drop. Do a search for LOADpro on YouTube. Works with a digital meter to find corrosion.

[Northropfam]

What exactly is the button?