hats off for not becoming just another old timer (no offense) who says "bah! i hate all the electronics in cars today" its relevant, and you adapted! kudos
The Pico is an invaluable tool, and its price reflects that. All of your videos are educational and excellent. You have a way of explaining things that anyone can follow. Looking forward to the next video. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks very kind of you, thank you. Compression and uploading of these videos is a work in progress, and even today I can't say I'm happy with the compression algorithm. Specifically the disconnect of audio and video at the end is disconcerting, and not present in the original file. But in the end, most of us watch for other reasons, and most video issues are merely a distraction.
Excellent work, good communication skills. Way to always return back to the basics, especially for hobbyists like myself. Much appreciated. [ I heard you mention Eric O towards the end of your video. ]_________ I watch that guy's UA-cam channel sometimes too. I'm making an assumption here that we're both talking about the same guy.
Yeah, cost for tools is an issue. Every time I do a repair I invest savings into better tools. Over four decades I now have an excellent tool set, ha ha. The way I see it, tools really are an investment for the long term. Scanners would be hopelessly outdated over that time frame, although fundamental oscilloscope data would still have value. The weak point would be the computer interface.... What I value most about auto repair is the insight I get when I look at a vehicle and understand a little bit more about how it works. That feeling is priceless. Thank you for watching, I'm hoping the upcoming secondary waveform video will be significantly better.
Hey Dave! I never noticed anything out of the ordinary with the original video, but this one looks good to me from what I can tell. And you probably know this, but you can set ruler cursors inside the software between your ignition peaks. Looking forward to your secondary ignition waveform
Thanks, man! More on the way, but I haven't jumped into pressure transducer work yet. I share your interest in the subject, they get so much more information compared to analog max pressure readings. Cost for the equipment is my main barrier, and also I think one needs to see a lot of waveforms before getting a firm grasp of what is normal. Especially with all the variation in cam timing methodology from each manufacturer, understanding normal is harder than it sounds.
I use the other Pico compression software gives green bar and % of relative compression. you have to sometimes go right to starter with ampclamp to get propper non fail reading.
Good points, thanks for your contribution here. I haven't tried that corner of the software yet, but will do so in the coming weeks when I chase down what's happening in cylinder 4.
Oh yes, I believe most of the functionality translates well. You could consult the Pico website for more details. One thing I think I remember seeing is a description of grounds for each channel which the new scopes have.
Excellent question! A quick way to divide an odd length into equal parts without using any math is to tilt the ruler at an angle. In this case I wanted to divide the distance between the firing spikes for cylinder #2 into four equal parts, corresponding to the four phases of the combustion cycle. The length between the two marks was about 3 1/8th inches, which would be tricky math. So, to avoid any math I tilted the ruler at an angle to increase the length to an even four inches, which made it easy for me to put a mark at each inch mark. In this case I lined up the mark for 1" on the left, and 5" on the right, which gave me exactly four equal 1 inch segments between the two ignition spikes for cylinder #2. Then I put a dot at each of the inch divisions. After that I used a straight edge to bring those marks vertically down to the baseline (easy with vertically lined paper). On the PICO you can do that electronically by just dragging a 720 degree slider, but with pencil and paper it is easy to do with a ruler. You can choose any multiple you like, but in this case the 1" marks worked out fine. Thank you for watching.
Thanks for making yourself available I'm kind enough to share your knowledge, What scan tool in your opinion would be good for a hybrid vehicle? I am not a mechanic nor do I work in that field, I know that the high-dollar ones will do the job in most cases but I can't afford that so I I'm just trying to find me one that will work and give more than just a few coats here and there
I have a love hate relationship with scan tools, mostly hate. A few years ago I was in the same situation as you were, and I chose Autoenginuity (a mistake, but it was only $1000 for their 'pro' model). It's really poor for what they advertise, clunky and buggy with almost no bidirectional control. Lately I've been looking at scan tools again, and the MaxiDAS and Maxisys line from Autel are appealing. I believe you get some bidirectional control, even with MaxiDAS, for a fraction of the $10,000 you would spend on a SnapOn. Ratchets and Wrenches here on UA-cam did a favorable review of the MaxiDAS, which is less than a thousand dollars (search his channel, "My Awesome Scanner"). The truth is, especially for Hybrids, nothing can ever be as good as dealer software, so it's a losing game. I don't like the way Autel have a battery that can't be changed, however with the moving belt of technology there is an obsolescence factor as well. The subscription issue for scan tools is particularly difficult for amateurs, who don't want to pay thousands of dollars every year for updates. Another option is to get a second hand SnapOn off of Ebay, but updates especially for new cars will continue to be a problem, and guys complain about SnapOn functionality, too. Used old tools won't cut it for new technology....
It is ridiculous on how much it cost to put in for a good scan tool and then we'll have to pay so much every year for the updates! I recently purchased a used autel Elite and look forward in doing some programming and it does have good bidirectional control
Remember to save your files before shutting down the computer for the day. The next day, boot up the pico software on your laptop, and reload the file you saved with the pico program. I believe pico offer the software for free if you get the file elsewhere or use a different computer. If you saved the entire waveform you can scroll through pages to get the one you want, and conveniently you can zoom in to get the exact shot you want. Zooming out is not as easy if your captured waveform was too magnified and spans two pages, so try to capture everything you want on one screen, even if you plan to magnify later. Remember that zooming in will require higher resolution so you want a high sample rate, so you don't end up with inadequate resolution after zooming. Pico also offer the option to save only one page, which makes for a much smaller file that is better for emailing a page. In that case you want to carefully adjust your fields so you show exactly what you want. Finally, there is also the option to do a screen capture from your computer to create a photograph of your waveform and whatever else is on your screen. Of course saving a screen capture that way won't allow you to manipulate the image or measure qualities inside the pico program, so that option is only for conversion to non pico communication. Good luck, pico is an excellent program.
Hi Dave !!...great video. I just bought myself the 2 channel 4000 series Picoscope a few weeks ago and have been using my "drive only in sunny weather" 2001 Corvette as my "guinea pig" for testing...I'm up to doing the relative compression test using my Pico 2000 Amp clamp (same as yours) and a "sync probe" I purchased from AES Wave. for whatever reason the Amp clamp was unresponsive...do you think a bad clamp ??...now if I set my scales up on the high amp clamp to a low scale would I be able to check say my fuel pump...I have used my low amp clamp to check my fuel pump and it worked great...just want to check to make sure it's not defective...I used the compression test in the Pico's diagnostic program the other evening and that worked fine...just connect to the battery terminals and crank.. Thanks !! p.s. Using the sync probe what probe do you tell the Pico you are using ???... I don't see any clamp named "inductive" clamp in the drop down menu...I guess you use either secondary positive or inverted ??
Check the battery on the 2000A clamp, make sure it doesn't turn itself off while you are setting up the test, it is automatically programmed to turn off after a few minutes of activity. It has an LED light to show when it is on. You can also check amp clamps with a multimeter to try and decide if the issue is with the clamp or the channel or channel wiring. Make sure the channel is turned on and recording. Yes, fuel pump amperage is usually about 6A, although newer pumps use a pulse wave modulated signal so when you look on the scope you see a rapid on/off pattern, with the duty cycle measuring power draw. You probably already know this but for others who read the thread, make sure the amp clamp is only around one wire, a second wire with current going the opposite way cancels the signal. For sync I set it up as secondary voltage, and my gear seems to do better with the inverted button clicked, and of course with capacitive clamps you don't need an attenuator, voltage works at a setting of ~5-50 kV. I discovered those PICO clamps for secondary voltage are actually capacitive rather than inductive, although the end result is the same. If measuring primary side voltage on either the coils or the fuel injectors, make sure to use a 10:1 attenuator because of the sharp voltage spike when the current turns off. Good luck!
Dave, thanks for the quick response. I read that the clamp does turn itself off and one time it did that...now I check...I've read that you can turn off the "sleep" function. My fuel pump checked in at 6.073 amps at 5314 RPM...The amp clamp is around only one positive lead...oh yes, I also purchased the Pico COP probe to use that on my 2016 4 Runner...did not get a signal but when I put it on the Corvette's coil I got a strong signal...Pico told me that some of these newer cars COP's are "screened"...the British term for "heavily insulated" I guess and I should drop down to the Mv range and that worked. I'll try what you suggested and thanks again !!p.s I see you are good friends with Matt from Schodingers Box...a very SHARP tech and a Microbiologist to boot...LOL !!...and Eric O and Paul Danner are "legends"...learned a lot from those 3 gentlemen.
A couple of points. You said in your video - “Exploring the PicoScope as a diagnostic tool - relative compression testing” (time stamp 4.40) - that an internet connection was required to access the help files which are found in the drop down sub-menus under the 'Automotive' menu. You did add a written comment to the screen, and you are right, you don't need an internet connection for these files: they are in the software! There are just over 150 of these generic files in the software. Maybe you initially confused this feature with the 'Waveform Library' accessible from the 'File Menu'? You DO need an internet connection to access the 'Waveform Library' - as well as a user name. You need to sign up for the free forum access, and then use that same user name to access the 'Waveform Library', which is itself only available when connected to the instrument, and to the internet! It’s worth noting that the 'Waveform Library' currently has over 3600 vehicle-specific examples in it. This data base can be searched by make, model, VIN, component, fuel type, etc. Further, many people don't appreciate the true value of this resource. Once you find a file which corresponds to the vehicle or component you wish to analyse, you can use this file as your test file, and it will appear 'ready-to-go' with the same settings, thereby removing the need to make any adjustments to your own settings. Just select the file, hook up to the car and you're ready to go! New users - especially those who consider the tool to be expensive - may not know that apart from this powerful FREE resource, which enables Free file sharing and the instant use of known good waveforms from a worldwide community of experienced PicoScope users, they also get FREE software updates for the life of the tool :) PicoScope comes with 2 software programs - PicoScope 6 and PicoDiagnostics - both of which can be downloaded free, and used in demonstration mode - without buying a PicoScope. Users can see for themselves the features, including all the comprehensive help files which show both generic vehicle information, as well as a massive indexed manual and a tutorial on using the PicoScope software. PicoScope has been designed to get new users started with the oscilloscope, which is one reason why it has pre-set menus, though these can be turned off, allowing the more experienced user to use the plethora of other features. This makes PicoScope so versatile and in my mind the best tool in the world for learning about the operation and diagnosis of any vehicle system. Those who use price or 'it's too complicated' as excuses not to move forward with the changes in technology are really shooting themselves in the foot! Relying uniquely on the 'trusted' scan tool and its limitations is a big mistake! Perhaps an explanation of the differences between the scan tool and the oscilloscope and a broader understanding of how and what they 'see' would make an interesting video, and encourage more people to make the transition to ‘proof testing’ with PicoScope, as opposed to trailing along oblivious to what is actually happening during a particular event, just because the scan tool has indicated a 'problem' - or because it hasn't indicated one, and the vehicle ECM is merrily adding fuel to compensate for a problem which isn't there, or isn't the cause of the problem!? PicoScope gives us that vital information to make sound judgements about the state of operation of almost any component, circuit or vehicle system. Understanding this is key to getting away from the traditional methods which we used to employ, and to getting to grips with finding the origin of faults and to fixing them first time around! Learning should be a continuous and fun part of our everyday work. PicoScope has certainly played an important part in keeping me interested and faintly informed, even though I no longer work on vehicles. In the hope that this helps a few people ;)
Excellent points, David, and very well stated. I've been looking around at scan tool options lately, and the hidden cost for scan tools is in the updates, which are astronomically high. For the Pico, endlessly free. I have used the library and the forum, both useful as well. Knowing what is a normal waveform for a specific car will continue to be a challenge, in part because some dealer repair manuals lack important detail. Dave
Yes, I agree with you on the scan tool update issue. As a diagnostic tool distributor, I'm constantly looking at new tools, but frankly the market here in France isn't quite the same as the rest of the world. If the tool doesn't 'speak' French it's pointless even offering it. (Luckily the Pico does 'parler français' so it's fine here, too!) I tire of people expecting a scan tool to work on every vehicle, and equally of those who sell them claiming that to be the case, when we know that no tool does it all: certainly not in my market where the market is split largely between European and Asian makes. Let's face it, even if the tool communicates with some of the car, so often the coverage of control units is incomplete, rendering it much less use, especially where there is an issue in a system which isn't covered! My interest and efforts are focused on the PicoScope and its accessories since it does what it says on the tin - and more! I've known Pico since the beginning - when I worked next door to their first building - so I've seen the company grow from small beginnings to becoming the world leader in their field. Whilst I'm entirely independent, I distribute their tools in France, French territories, and Africa. It's really rewarding talking with those interested and being in a position to understand their plight and to encourage them to take the step into Oscilloscope diagnostics. Many of my clients are schools and technical colleges, though more and more garages and even individuals are getting the bug! The pressure transducer is also a popular accessory, and this adds another interesting diamension to diagnosing internal engine problems, as well as those which concern pressure in other areas of the vehicle. I'm filling your page again - sorry!! I don't suppose you speak French? Your videos would be perfect here if they were in French! I tried the auto-translate but frankly it doesn't do your videos justice. I could do that for you if it would interest you, but ideally it would need to be voiced over, rather than subtitled, since it's difficult to follow like that. Let me know your thoughts? contact@autotechnique.fr Keep up your great work :)
I really made an effort to learn French, and we sent my son to a French immersion school. Sadly, learning French is one of my major life failures. If you'd like to contribute a voice over, I would support that. I don't know what that would involve or whether it would be worth it to you. Thanks for stopping by, David!
Thanks for your reply, Spelunkerd. After nearly 19 years in France it's still an effort for me, lol! On my next lazy Sunday afternoon I'll try following you in French and see if it's workable. Could be quite a bit of work, but I like what you're doing! Thanks again.
Oh sorry, you just push and twist 1/4 turn clockwise, it's a pretty typical BNC connector (is that what you meant?). Wikipedia have a description of the history and inventors. By using coaxial cables, they get around some inductive effects of two wires in parallel.
hats off for not becoming just another old timer (no offense) who says "bah! i hate all the electronics in cars today" its relevant, and you adapted! kudos
The Pico is an invaluable tool, and its price reflects that. All of your videos are educational and excellent. You have a way of explaining things that anyone can follow. Looking forward to the next video. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks very kind of you, thank you. Compression and uploading of these videos is a work in progress, and even today I can't say I'm happy with the compression algorithm. Specifically the disconnect of audio and video at the end is disconcerting, and not present in the original file. But in the end, most of us watch for other reasons, and most video issues are merely a distraction.
You are a natural teacher. Your explanations are fantastic, and very clear. One of the best videos on UA-cam that deserves 100x these views!
What a kind remark, thank you.
Excellent work, good communication skills. Way to always return back to the basics, especially for hobbyists like myself. Much appreciated. [ I heard you mention Eric O towards the end of your video. ]_________ I watch that guy's UA-cam channel sometimes too. I'm making an assumption here that we're both talking about the same guy.
Yup, Eric is an outstanding teacher and a genuine good person. Thanks for the support!
Thank you! please continue to make these Lab Scope videos!
Lab scopes are great tools that will be even more relevant as cars become more advanced. But they are expensive! Anyway great video.
Yeah, cost for tools is an issue. Every time I do a repair I invest savings into better tools. Over four decades I now have an excellent tool set, ha ha. The way I see it, tools really are an investment for the long term. Scanners would be hopelessly outdated over that time frame, although fundamental oscilloscope data would still have value. The weak point would be the computer interface.... What I value most about auto repair is the insight I get when I look at a vehicle and understand a little bit more about how it works. That feeling is priceless. Thank you for watching, I'm hoping the upcoming secondary waveform video will be significantly better.
Really good info. Thanks
Hey Dave! I never noticed anything out of the ordinary with the original video, but this one looks good to me from what I can tell. And you probably know this, but you can set ruler cursors inside the software between your ignition peaks. Looking forward to your secondary ignition waveform
Yes, I'm reshooting a couple of scenes to get better video. It's turning into a pretty interesting story.
Thank you very much for this
Great video please do some more using the pico, do a cylinder pressure transducer
Thanks, man! More on the way, but I haven't jumped into pressure transducer work yet. I share your interest in the subject, they get so much more information compared to analog max pressure readings. Cost for the equipment is my main barrier, and also I think one needs to see a lot of waveforms before getting a firm grasp of what is normal. Especially with all the variation in cam timing methodology from each manufacturer, understanding normal is harder than it sounds.
I use the other Pico compression software gives green bar and % of relative compression. you have to sometimes go right to starter with ampclamp to get propper non fail reading.
Good points, thanks for your contribution here. I haven't tried that corner of the software yet, but will do so in the coming weeks when I chase down what's happening in cylinder 4.
Is it possible to do these kind of diagonistics with picoscope 2000 series of oscilloscopes?
Oh yes, I believe most of the functionality translates well. You could consult the Pico website for more details. One thing I think I remember seeing is a description of grounds for each channel which the new scopes have.
thank you sir.. Love from India :)
You're welcome, I have fond memories of visiting India twice, years ago. Beautiful country!
I don't understand what you did with the ruler. What did you measure when making those marks with the ruler at an angle? Good Video.
Excellent question! A quick way to divide an odd length into equal parts without using any math is to tilt the ruler at an angle. In this case I wanted to divide the distance between the firing spikes for cylinder #2 into four equal parts, corresponding to the four phases of the combustion cycle. The length between the two marks was about 3 1/8th inches, which would be tricky math. So, to avoid any math I tilted the ruler at an angle to increase the length to an even four inches, which made it easy for me to put a mark at each inch mark. In this case I lined up the mark for 1" on the left, and 5" on the right, which gave me exactly four equal 1 inch segments between the two ignition spikes for cylinder #2. Then I put a dot at each of the inch divisions. After that I used a straight edge to bring those marks vertically down to the baseline (easy with vertically lined paper). On the PICO you can do that electronically by just dragging a 720 degree slider, but with pencil and paper it is easy to do with a ruler. You can choose any multiple you like, but in this case the 1" marks worked out fine. Thank you for watching.
Interesting. Thank you.
@@spelunkerd: Just brilliant!
Thanks for making yourself available I'm kind enough to share your knowledge, What scan tool in your opinion would be good for a hybrid vehicle? I am not a mechanic nor do I work in that field, I know that the high-dollar ones will do the job in most cases but I can't afford that so I I'm just trying to find me one that will work and give more than just a few coats here and there
I have a love hate relationship with scan tools, mostly hate. A few years ago I was in the same situation as you were, and I chose Autoenginuity (a mistake, but it was only $1000 for their 'pro' model). It's really poor for what they advertise, clunky and buggy with almost no bidirectional control. Lately I've been looking at scan tools again, and the MaxiDAS and Maxisys line from Autel are appealing. I believe you get some bidirectional control, even with MaxiDAS, for a fraction of the $10,000 you would spend on a SnapOn. Ratchets and Wrenches here on UA-cam did a favorable review of the MaxiDAS, which is less than a thousand dollars (search his channel, "My Awesome Scanner"). The truth is, especially for Hybrids, nothing can ever be as good as dealer software, so it's a losing game. I don't like the way Autel have a battery that can't be changed, however with the moving belt of technology there is an obsolescence factor as well. The subscription issue for scan tools is particularly difficult for amateurs, who don't want to pay thousands of dollars every year for updates. Another option is to get a second hand SnapOn off of Ebay, but updates especially for new cars will continue to be a problem, and guys complain about SnapOn functionality, too. Used old tools won't cut it for new technology....
Thanks for your time and work that you put into your great videos!
It is ridiculous on how much it cost to put in for a good scan tool and then we'll have to pay so much every year for the updates! I recently purchased a used autel Elite and look forward in doing some programming and it does have good bidirectional control
Agreed! Please stop by in a few months to let us know how it worked for you, I'm sure many would be interested.
Спасибо.
Very nice vidio...im new to pico .....how can i remove waveforms from files..thanks in advance
Remember to save your files before shutting down the computer for the day. The next day, boot up the pico software on your laptop, and reload the file you saved with the pico program. I believe pico offer the software for free if you get the file elsewhere or use a different computer. If you saved the entire waveform you can scroll through pages to get the one you want, and conveniently you can zoom in to get the exact shot you want. Zooming out is not as easy if your captured waveform was too magnified and spans two pages, so try to capture everything you want on one screen, even if you plan to magnify later. Remember that zooming in will require higher resolution so you want a high sample rate, so you don't end up with inadequate resolution after zooming. Pico also offer the option to save only one page, which makes for a much smaller file that is better for emailing a page. In that case you want to carefully adjust your fields so you show exactly what you want. Finally, there is also the option to do a screen capture from your computer to create a photograph of your waveform and whatever else is on your screen. Of course saving a screen capture that way won't allow you to manipulate the image or measure qualities inside the pico program, so that option is only for conversion to non pico communication. Good luck, pico is an excellent program.
Hi Dave !!...great video. I just bought myself the 2 channel 4000 series Picoscope a few weeks ago and have been using my "drive only in sunny weather" 2001 Corvette as my "guinea pig" for testing...I'm up to doing the relative compression test using my Pico 2000 Amp clamp (same as yours) and a "sync probe" I purchased from AES Wave. for whatever reason the Amp clamp was unresponsive...do you think a bad clamp ??...now if I set my scales up on the high amp clamp to a low scale would I be able to check say my fuel pump...I have used my low amp clamp to check my fuel pump and it worked great...just want to check to make sure it's not defective...I used the compression test in the Pico's diagnostic program the other evening and that worked fine...just connect to the battery terminals and crank.. Thanks !! p.s. Using the sync probe what probe do you tell the Pico you are using ???... I don't see any clamp named "inductive" clamp in the drop down menu...I guess you use either secondary positive or inverted ??
Check the battery on the 2000A clamp, make sure it doesn't turn itself off while you are setting up the test, it is automatically programmed to turn off after a few minutes of activity. It has an LED light to show when it is on. You can also check amp clamps with a multimeter to try and decide if the issue is with the clamp or the channel or channel wiring. Make sure the channel is turned on and recording. Yes, fuel pump amperage is usually about 6A, although newer pumps use a pulse wave modulated signal so when you look on the scope you see a rapid on/off pattern, with the duty cycle measuring power draw. You probably already know this but for others who read the thread, make sure the amp clamp is only around one wire, a second wire with current going the opposite way cancels the signal. For sync I set it up as secondary voltage, and my gear seems to do better with the inverted button clicked, and of course with capacitive clamps you don't need an attenuator, voltage works at a setting of ~5-50 kV. I discovered those PICO clamps for secondary voltage are actually capacitive rather than inductive, although the end result is the same. If measuring primary side voltage on either the coils or the fuel injectors, make sure to use a 10:1 attenuator because of the sharp voltage spike when the current turns off. Good luck!
Dave, thanks for the quick response. I read that the clamp does turn itself off and one time it did that...now I check...I've read that you can turn off the "sleep" function. My fuel pump checked in at 6.073 amps at 5314 RPM...The amp clamp is around only one positive lead...oh yes, I also purchased the Pico COP probe to use that on my 2016 4 Runner...did not get a signal but when I put it on the Corvette's coil I got a strong signal...Pico told me that some of these newer cars COP's are "screened"...the British term for "heavily insulated" I guess and I should drop down to the Mv range and that worked. I'll try what you suggested and thanks again !!p.s I see you are good friends with Matt from Schodingers Box...a very SHARP tech and a Microbiologist to boot...LOL !!...and Eric O and Paul Danner are "legends"...learned a lot from those 3 gentlemen.
A couple of points. You said in your video - “Exploring the PicoScope as a diagnostic tool - relative compression testing” (time stamp 4.40) - that an internet connection was required to access the help files which are found in the drop down sub-menus under the 'Automotive' menu. You did add a written comment to the screen, and you are right, you don't need an internet connection for these files: they are in the software! There are just over 150 of these generic files in the software.
Maybe you initially confused this feature with the 'Waveform Library' accessible from the 'File Menu'? You DO need an internet connection to access the 'Waveform Library' - as well as a user name. You need to sign up for the free forum access, and then use that same user name to access the 'Waveform Library', which is itself only available when connected to the instrument, and to the internet!
It’s worth noting that the 'Waveform Library' currently has over 3600 vehicle-specific examples in it. This data base can be searched by make, model, VIN, component, fuel type, etc. Further, many people don't appreciate the true value of this resource. Once you find a file which corresponds to the vehicle or component you wish to analyse, you can use this file as your test file, and it will appear 'ready-to-go' with the same settings, thereby removing the need to make any adjustments to your own settings. Just select the file, hook up to the car and you're ready to go!
New users - especially those who consider the tool to be expensive - may not know that apart from this powerful FREE resource, which enables Free file sharing and the instant use of known good waveforms from a worldwide community of experienced PicoScope users, they also get FREE software updates for the life of the tool :)
PicoScope comes with 2 software programs - PicoScope 6 and PicoDiagnostics - both of which can be downloaded free, and used in demonstration mode - without buying a PicoScope. Users can see for themselves the features, including all the comprehensive help files which show both generic vehicle information, as well as a massive indexed manual and a tutorial on using the PicoScope software.
PicoScope has been designed to get new users started with the oscilloscope, which is one reason why it has pre-set menus, though these can be turned off, allowing the more experienced user to use the plethora of other features. This makes PicoScope so versatile and in my mind the best tool in the world for learning about the operation and diagnosis of any vehicle system.
Those who use price or 'it's too complicated' as excuses not to move forward with the changes in technology are really shooting themselves in the foot! Relying uniquely on the 'trusted' scan tool and its limitations is a big mistake!
Perhaps an explanation of the differences between the scan tool and the oscilloscope and a broader understanding of how and what they 'see' would make an interesting video, and encourage more people to make the transition to ‘proof testing’ with PicoScope, as opposed to trailing along oblivious to what is actually happening during a particular event, just because the scan tool has indicated a 'problem' - or because it hasn't indicated one, and the vehicle ECM is merrily adding fuel to compensate for a problem which isn't there, or isn't the cause of the problem!?
PicoScope gives us that vital information to make sound judgements about the state of operation of almost any component, circuit or vehicle system. Understanding this is key to getting away from the traditional methods which we used to employ, and to getting to grips with finding the origin of faults and to fixing them first time around!
Learning should be a continuous and fun part of our everyday work. PicoScope has certainly played an important part in keeping me interested and faintly informed, even though I no longer work on vehicles.
In the hope that this helps a few people ;)
Excellent points, David, and very well stated. I've been looking around at scan tool options lately, and the hidden cost for scan tools is in the updates, which are astronomically high. For the Pico, endlessly free. I have used the library and the forum, both useful as well. Knowing what is a normal waveform for a specific car will continue to be a challenge, in part because some dealer repair manuals lack important detail.
Dave
Yes, I agree with you on the scan tool update issue. As a diagnostic tool distributor, I'm constantly looking at new tools, but frankly the market here in France isn't quite the same as the rest of the world. If the tool doesn't 'speak' French it's pointless even offering it. (Luckily the Pico does 'parler français' so it's fine here, too!)
I tire of people expecting a scan tool to work on every vehicle, and equally of those who sell them claiming that to be the case, when we know that no tool does it all: certainly not in my market where the market is split largely between European and Asian makes. Let's face it, even if the tool communicates with some of the car, so often the coverage of control units is incomplete, rendering it much less use, especially where there is an issue in a system which isn't covered!
My interest and efforts are focused on the PicoScope and its accessories since it does what it says on the tin - and more! I've known Pico since the beginning - when I worked next door to their first building - so I've seen the company grow from small beginnings to becoming the world leader in their field. Whilst I'm entirely independent, I distribute their tools in France, French territories, and Africa.
It's really rewarding talking with those interested and being in a position to understand their plight and to encourage them to take the step into Oscilloscope diagnostics. Many of my clients are schools and technical colleges, though more and more garages and even individuals are getting the bug!
The pressure transducer is also a popular accessory, and this adds another interesting diamension to diagnosing internal engine problems, as well as those which concern pressure in other areas of the vehicle.
I'm filling your page again - sorry!! I don't suppose you speak French? Your videos would be perfect here if they were in French! I tried the auto-translate but frankly it doesn't do your videos justice. I could do that for you if it would interest you, but ideally it would need to be voiced over, rather than subtitled, since it's difficult to follow like that.
Let me know your thoughts? contact@autotechnique.fr
Keep up your great work :)
I really made an effort to learn French, and we sent my son to a French immersion school. Sadly, learning French is one of my major life failures. If you'd like to contribute a voice over, I would support that. I don't know what that would involve or whether it would be worth it to you. Thanks for stopping by, David!
Thanks for your reply, Spelunkerd. After nearly 19 years in France it's still an effort for me, lol! On my next lazy Sunday afternoon I'll try following you in French and see if it's workable. Could be quite a bit of work, but I like what you're doing! Thanks again.
Thank you David, that's very kind.
i wish you could have showed me how u connected it . I would have gave you a 5 star.
Oh sorry, you just push and twist 1/4 turn clockwise, it's a pretty typical BNC connector (is that what you meant?). Wikipedia have a description of the history and inventors. By using coaxial cables, they get around some inductive effects of two wires in parallel.
Cool diaq
Thanks, man. More to come in the next few months.