The Autonerdz Community Forums - Pico accessory shootout (poll)

PicoFin

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Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Nov 20^th, 2012 at 11:45pm

Looking at the accessories available to a Pico is like being in a candystore..

I assume many users are in the same situation as I am, you have a 2- or 4- channel kit with the amp clamps and secondary clips. Then, you feel you would like to expand your toybox a little. When you can not have it all at once, you would like to get some support when deciding what would be the best sequence in upgrading.

So, what do you find to be the best general purpose accessory for the Pico? And why? And let's not discuss money or such, I tend to think that a $100 useless piece is expensive but on the other hand a very useful piece for $1000 might be a bargain.

So, comes down to: What would be the very first (and second, and third.. Cheesy

) piece to buy to your Pico setup?

Candidates are of course the mA clamp, ignition probes and pressure sensors. Or did you find something outside of the Pico range that proved itself to be IT?

Shoot!! Smiley

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Anthony Lamb

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #1 - Nov 21^st, 2012 at 5:16am

PicoFin wrote on Nov 20^th, 2012 at 11:45pm:

Candidates are of course the mA clamp, ignition probes and pressure sensors

That is pretty much what I trying to do just have the WPS and firstlook left.

I would say get a wps, just seems I'm starting to rely on pressure sensors more and more for diag work.
(I've only got a fluke pv-350 at the moment works well but needs a heap of filtering to get a clear image usable waveform Sad

).

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RtOne

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #2 - Nov 21^st, 2012 at 5:22am

I feel that I couldn't live without the Pressure Transducers and FLS (That can be built very inexpensively, compliments of Brandonb "BLS"). I'm still using the DCTI Set but the WPS is on the Wish List. Mick has shown me the real value of the Five Gas in this work TOO, (I didn't realize how much money I had spent on that thing to have it collect dust until participating in that thread). Cry

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« Last Edit: Nov 21^st, 2012 at 7:18am by RtOne »

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crackerclicker Super Nerd Picogroup Offline Elevation 834 ft Posts: 2,361 Watertown Wisconsin USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #3 - Nov 21^st, 2012 at 4:35pm PicoFin wrote on Nov 20^th, 2012 at 11:45pm: So, what do you find to be the best general purpose accessory for the Pico? autonerdz picogroup .
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RtOne Super Nerd Picogroup Offline "If We Can't Fix It" - "It Ain't Broke" Posts: 657 Westville, Illinois Illinois USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #4 - Nov 21^st, 2012 at 5:47pm crackerclicker wrote on Nov 21^st, 2012 at 4:35pm: autonerdz picogroup And the Prize goes to crackerclicker For the Only Correct Answer, That should be the No. 1 on any LIST. Damn where was my head, Oh Wait I know.
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brandonb Super Nerd Picogroup Offline Posts: 1,414 arizona Arizona USA	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #5 - Nov 21^st, 2012 at 7:04pm rtone, did you get your wife to hold the camera , thats some funny stuff there
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sneaky pete Super Nerd Picogroup Offline Posts: 730 Regina Saskatchewan Canada	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #6 - Nov 21^st, 2012 at 8:16pm pressure transducer kit would be a number one accessory. I picked up the pressure transducer and wps. then bought the coil on plug extensions and mix master. I want the micro amp clamp but can't justify the price yet.
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PicoFin

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #7 - Nov 21^st, 2012 at 10:29pm

RtOne wrote on Nov 21^st, 2012 at 5:47pm:

crackerclicker wrote on Nov 21^st, 2012 at 4:35pm:

autonerdz picogroup

And the Prize goes to crackerclicker Smiley

For the Only Correct Answer, That should be the No. 1 on any LIST. Damn where was my head, Oh Wait I know.

Now, that's a true "heads up" Grin

PS I want to be a little picky, the podium gif has positions 2 and 4 wrong way around

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Erik_1940 Guru Member Picogroup Offline Elevation 25 ft Posts: 406 California California USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #8 - Nov 21^st, 2012 at 10:55pm Anthony Lamb wrote on Nov 21^st, 2012 at 5:16am: I would say get a wps, just seems I'm starting to rely on pressure sensors more and more for diag work. Thats is my number one in the list WPS500 I wanna be able to hang with the big guys
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Erik_1940 Guru Member Picogroup Offline Elevation 25 ft Posts: 406 California California USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #9 - Nov 23^rd, 2012 at 11:16pm I dont see too many post of Nerdz using the COP probe ot the CAN Test Box.
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PicoFin

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #10 - Dec 20^th, 2012 at 9:40pm

Erik_1940 wrote on Nov 23^rd, 2012 at 11:16pm:

I dont see too many post of Nerdz using the COP probe ot the CAN Test Box.

We have merely one single company selling Pico on the automotive field, and when I speaked to the salesman he said his experience with the COP probe is that you see if you have ignition or not, but that it is not getting even close to the standard secondary clips if you bother to hook them up. Any comments on this?

Yeah, the CAN test box. Not that it would not be a useful device when you need to check the CAN bus, but how often is that? In the classes I took, they talked about the "usual CAN faults" as short to ground, short to negative, no communications, bad communications. I'm not in any way an expert on CAN, but what I've been working on has never had a CAN fault. I've seen interference in the CAN bus, but every time due to external factors. Comments on this too, please.

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Anthony Lamb

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #11 - Dec 21^st, 2012 at 12:02am

PicoFin wrote on Dec 20^th, 2012 at 9:40pm:

eah, the CAN test box. Not that it would not be a useful device when you need to check the CAN bus, but how often is that?

Normally use the can test box for a scanner extension and also is a quick way to see if pin 16 has good B + voltage without getting under the dash.
Has saved a lot of time in the past as a quick check.

I have been thinking, providing the power is good to pin 16 you could do a relative compression check without opening the bonnet Undecided

.

PicoFin wrote on Dec 20^th, 2012 at 9:40pm:

We have merely one single company selling Pico on the automotive field, and when I speaked to the salesman he said his experience with the COP probe is that you see if you have ignition or not, but that it is not getting even close to the standard secondary clips if you bother to hook them up. Any comments on this?

I normally use it as a quick sync probe.
It can be used like the secondary leads but you won't have a accurate kV, because normally you use the 100mV scale to pick up the the very little magnetic field that some of COP's because they are so well insulated dose take a little time to get a decent signal by moving the probe around.

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Tom Roberts Autonerdz Administrator Picogroup Offline Autonerdz Founder Posts: 8,598 Olympia Washington USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #12 - Dec 21^st, 2012 at 8:16am Another CAN Box discussion here: http://www.autonerdz.com/cgi/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1271904019/10#10
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Brad H Super Nerd Offline Elevation 367 metres Posts: 1,115 Kalgoorlie Western Australia Australia Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #13 - Dec 21^st, 2012 at 4:47pm New coloured Pico leads CAN test box *WPS 500
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Drjekl Senior Member Picogroup Offline I'm an Autonerd Posts: 157 Paraparaumu New Zealand Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #14 - Dec 21^st, 2012 at 11:05pm i bought the deluxe kit, those coloured leads are handy, one down side is the blue and the red leads get a hammering. I got a WPS, absolutely awesome tool, great to se whats going on, i made a FLS again, awesome idea. Im looking at getting the lo amp prode also. Then ill have all the gear and still no idea....
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Brad H

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #15 - Dec 22^nd, 2012 at 2:00am

PicoFin wrote on Dec 20^th, 2012 at 9:40pm:

Yeah, the CAN test box. Not that it would not be a useful device when you need to check the CAN bus, but how often is that? In the classes I took, they talked about the "usual CAN faults" as short to ground, short to negative, no communications, bad communications. I'm not in any way an expert on CAN, but what I've been working on has never had a CAN fault. I've seen interference in the CAN bus, but every time due to external factors. Comments on this too, please.

I think of the CAN box as a illuminated representation of the OBDII connector.
You plug it in and instantly you can see power and earth circuits are complete.I had a 2008 Holden rodeo with a common rail diesel towed in earlier in the week, crank, but no start. Connecting the scantool showed no communication. Now connect the CAN box and see the CAN signals on pins 6 & 14 missing.Cycle the ignition a couple of times and pins lit up, so it's given me a direction to head in as far as which circuit is affected.

It is also a great extension for your scantool lead allowing you to have it at the front of the vehicle or at a toolbox/work station.
Now also imagine a VW coming into your shop with a nice aftermarket radio fitted to it. You plug your scantool into it and smell a strange burning odour emitting from it and the screen goes blank... oh shit!! Thanks to a new adapter harness fitted with the stereo, it's got a 12 volt loop wire on the K line (pin 7) and has just rendered your scantool "smoked".

And my final point, who really likes being jammed in a driver's footwell on their back while trying to poke around an OBDII plug with a voltmeter hey? Here's a little thinking music while you mull it over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=AU&v=vXGhvoekY44&hl=en-GB

Soooo, whatta ya think? The Pico CAN box looks pretty darn attractive now eh ?
Smiley

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BMW Scott Super Nerd Picogroup Offline Posts: 561 High Point, NC North Carolina USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #16 - Jan 15^th, 2013 at 10:40am How do you make a FLS?
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Anthony Lamb Super Nerd Picogroup Offline Posts: 1,202 Brisbane Queensland Australia Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #17 - Jan 15^th, 2013 at 10:04pm BMW Scott wrote on Jan 15^th, 2013 at 10:40am: How do you make a FLS? It is in the picogroup area. You have to be part of picogroup to access the info for it
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Matt H

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #18 - Jan 21^st, 2013 at 6:28am

I really like the COP probe. Everything in Japan is COP, coils burn up all the time, and they're expensive. Rather than pulling couplers to isolate and then swapping coils to verify, the COP probe nails it quickly, every time. Also have four extensions and four inductive clips. Next would be the WPS 500, and then the FLS. Can't justify the cost of the micro amp probe, as the only thing I can see using it for is AF sensor operation, but a scan tool can nail that.

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PicoFin Guru Member Offline Posts: 276 Parainen Finland Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #19 - Mar 1^st, 2013 at 12:24am Made my choice on what to throw my money at. One WPS500X, with some accessories, please!! Should be here in little more than a week..
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RtOne Super Nerd Picogroup Offline "If We Can't Fix It" - "It Ain't Broke" Posts: 657 Westville, Illinois Illinois USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #20 - Mar 1^st, 2013 at 5:02am You Will Not Be Sorry, you chose to make that acquisition, I may be right on your trail, and add it to the DCTI Kit.
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Jamez Senior Member Picogroup Offline Posts: 155 Kawartha Lakes Ontario Canada Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #21 - Mar 1^st, 2013 at 9:24pm Drjekl wrote on Dec 21^st, 2012 at 11:05pm: Then ill have all the gear and still no idea.... Me too
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Erik_1940 Guru Member Picogroup Offline Elevation 25 ft Posts: 406 California California USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #22 - Mar 1^st, 2013 at 11:09pm Jamez wrote on Mar 1^st, 2013 at 9:24pm: Then ill have all the gear and still no idea.... Jamez wrote on Mar 1^st, 2013 at 9:24pm: Me too Me three
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PicoFin Guru Member Offline Posts: 276 Parainen Finland Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #23 - Mar 5^th, 2013 at 6:58am My goodies arrived I did unpack, now I need to sit back for a few hours for them to get room temperature, then the games begin
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magicmatt Senior Member Offline LSD is better than a BFH Posts: 138 savage Minnesota USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #24 - Apr 4^th, 2013 at 4:21pm My first purchase was a firstlook and sync probe, because I could use them with my vantage pro. Then I bought wps about a year ago. 2 weeks ago bought Autonerdz deluxe kit. I'm now saving for a micro amp clamp
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autosparky Super Nerd Picogroup Offline blind worker Posts: 2,537 Porirua New Zealand Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #25 - Apr 4^th, 2013 at 10:49pm magicmatt wrote on Apr 4^th, 2013 at 4:21pm: I'm now saving for a micro amp clamp IMO I'm highly disappointed, not that it doesnt work but now I know what the patterns look like on wheel speed sensors or a/f sensors, I can get the same results looking at the voltage patterns. I'll try to post some examples soon
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Anthony Lamb Super Nerd Picogroup Offline Posts: 1,202 Brisbane Queensland Australia Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #26 - Apr 4^th, 2013 at 11:36pm autosparky wrote on Apr 4^th, 2013 at 10:49pm: I'll try to post some examples soon Here is a wheel speed sensor and a maf sensor. Haven't tried a a/f or wide band sensor yet. I have only started to use mine a fair bit lately mainly just checking maf sensors.
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Neil

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #27 - Apr 5^th, 2013 at 1:51pm

Quote:

So, what do you find to be the best general purpose accessory for the Pico?

Quote:

autonerdz picogroup Wink.

I'm new to the scope world, just recently bought a 4–Channel Advanced Kit direct from "Pico"

DHO! Only recently found "Autonerdz" just noted the price difference and how much more you get with the "Autonerdz" deluxe kit Cry

....... I could be buying extra toys instead I'm going to have to subscribe to the "autonerdz picogroup"

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PRESTON

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #28 - Apr 5^th, 2013 at 9:29pm

Neil wrote on Apr 5^th, 2013 at 1:51pm:

I could be buying extra toys instead I'm going to have to subscribe to the "autonerdz picogroup"

Geez, you make it sound like you are super bummed out about drinking the Koolaid Wink

Sell your stuff to somebody then buy again from Tom, Brian and Phoenix.

P.S. at least you found us anyway though, welcome.

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Superglide78 Junior Member Offline Posts: 77 St. Charles Illinois USA Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #29 - Apr 27^th, 2013 at 8:23pm Well I am extremely glad I did the research and purchased my Pico from Autonerdz. The information and resources are excellent.
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autosparky

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Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll)
Reply #30 - Apr 28^th, 2013 at 11:00pm

Anthony Lamb wrote on Apr 4^th, 2013 at 11:36pm:

autosparky wrote on Apr 4^th, 2013 at 10:49pm:

I'll try to post some examples soon

Here is a wheel speed sensor and a maf sensor.
Haven't tried a a/f or wide band sensor yet.

I have only started to use mine a fair bit lately mainly just checking maf sensors.

thanks, you just proved my point Wink

spend the money on something else

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Anthony Lamb Super Nerd Picogroup Offline Posts: 1,202 Brisbane Queensland Australia Gender:	Re: Pico accessory shootout (poll) Reply #31 - Apr 29^th, 2013 at 12:58am That is ok. Got my WPS last week and have probably used it more in the past week than I used my old PV-350 since I bought it. You dunno what you are missing until you have one.
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