Motor Age How2 #10 - An Every Day Scope Test (Battery/Charging System)

[@kevincampbell8298]

I have worked as an electronics tech for a few decades now. Most of what I have seen with people is they want to come in and in a fraction of a second everything be ready. Even with good test Equiptment it needs to be at operating temperature and much like getting out of bed it takes a bit of time! More people need show put to work not early but just in time... I serviced electrons test equipment and I always let the things being tested stay on for at least an hour ahead of time.... Yes a lot of it was analog scopes, spectrum analysers and what not but I did it for everything.. Show up turn your stuff on, do a few things and then they will be ready to give you accurate readings! Awesome advice for everyone!

[@kevincampbell8298]

Sorry for original typing mistakes! My eyes aren't what they use t be! All corrected now!

[@startedat36yearsold33]

You're are a cut above the rest, Pete! Best Automotive videos I've found through hundreds of hours of training videos! Keep it up Motor Age!!

[@redvision350]

Thanks for another great video. I have caught so many bad batteries with the scope. I had a carbon pile load tester and digital resistance tester tell me batteries were fine when the scope showed otherwise. This is even "new" batteries off the shelf that were bad.

Very nice scope usage tutorial, thank you. Scopes show electricity working over time...meters only show a moment in time. Just be aware of 'ground loops' when using laptop charger, and when using 'floating' grounds like some injectors. Love the 'sulfated cell' analysis near the end.

[@nickayivor8432]

PRODIGY Sir Pete Meier Motor Age My teacher Tutorial great video brilliant start to finish loved it 👍 thank you very much Take care and have a great Evening PRODIGY Sir Pete Meier Motor Age From Nick Ayivor from London England UK 🇬🇧

[@DependableAutoTruck]

great information in my shop most of the time what comes in is found visually bad brakes, leaking hose, something noticible but i see if i perform these checks even for free could bring in some work which is money will have to start trying to do better thanks

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

When you do things for the right reason, the rest will take care of itself.

[@supersam1914]

These videos are awesome I wish I had something like this back in 2006

[@samr.m.7709]

Pete, in regards to your closing comments..i could not agree more. My most educational scope time is on the weekends experimenting at home with my vehicle. Thank you for a another quality video.

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Thanks Sammy!

[@REPOOCNITSUJ]

Love the video, but as a new scope user, I would really appreciate seeing how the leads are connected.

same, but i think those videos are done everywhere. but maybe just 10-20 seconds showing it

[@juanmgomezb]

One of the best ways to justify using an oscilloscope. Great explanation. Keep going.

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Thanks!

[@johnswilley6764]

Thank you Sir, for your efforts to educate us. My Pico 4425 will be here in the morning, and as soon as it warms up enough (Orlando @ 50 degrees) I'll be out there trying to duplicate the class which you just gave . Thanks again! And best wishes.

[@PaulysAuto]

This is a great video and was extremely helpful, thanks Pete!

[@johnmckamy6398]

cant wait to get a scope , most excellent Mr Pete

[@vincebauer4777]

I use my scope at work and home every day my neighbors think I am weird lol your right u have to use your scopes all the time I have 3 of them Pico modus ultra vantage pro

[@cornwasher]

Very intuitive of you to reach out to the infrequent scope user. Thanks for the tips...

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Appreciate the comment!

[@jae9843]

Such an underrated channel. Awesome info as always. Also you seem to have a ghost problem @2:15.

[@marco320033]

hey Pete. got my scope out first thing this morning. keep up the good work!

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Awesome! Keep using it - it gets easier, I swear.

[@ricardocamacho5466]

Man really loving your videos, keep on doing it mate all best from your new friend from UK 🇬🇧

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Ricardo Camacho Glad you liked it!

[@johnkimmel2612]

Hey Pete, thank you much.

[@josephquattrocchi5620]

Hey Pete have you or the staff over at Motor Age found a spec for a heavy-duty diesel truck, that utilizes either a 24v charging systems with two 12v batteries in series or the other option of using both batteries in parallel ? I feel you would test them the same way, by placing your scope leads on the main positive cable and the main negative cable. If both batteries are bad that would be easier to see than a single battery with a fault. Identifying a single battery fault would be something I would very much like to learn.

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

I don't have any experience checking these systems with a scope. Perhaps one of our KZbin fans has some info to share?

[@feeneysmechanical6215]

Joseph Quattrocchi. You can use a scope on a heavy truck. I personally haven't tried it on a 24 volt system. But a 12 volt system on a big truck yes you can. I do it all the time. In fact my mac tools scope I used that the other night out in the yard to check starting and charging voltage after installing new batteries on a garbage truck.Also my scope can light the screen on the scope up so I can get a voltage reading at night. For fun the other day I used my scope in graph mode on a turn signal circuit.

[@mike-yp1uk]

Great video. I admire your dedication in making better technicians out of the genuine techs that train daily to provide the best service. Cars have really changed and you keep us up to date. Thanks. That reminds of the time this lady had two alternators put in and she brought it into our shop and the negative battery terminal was corroded and semi loose. Those universal terminals are a pain.

[@Jpilgrim30]

The other program that comes in the pico software suite actually has a battery test program that automates the whole test and gives you a result to print out with battery and charging system health. I guess the way you did it though would apply to anyone using any kind of scope.

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

That's the hope, John!

[@ChicoMds]

Thanks dude!

[@TheThreeLeggedChair]

since i only have a uscope, i guess i can just combine it with a multimeter to get 2 readings with the car running.

[@modernaautodiagnostika1994]

A lot of good info. Thank you.

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Thanks for watching!

[@richardmcwhirter9396]

Great lesson again Pete thanks,would 8.5v also be the threshold for a diesel engine car

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Thanks for adding the CI spec.!

[@billyr9840]

Nice !

[@marktirabassi7873]

Can u please tell me what’s a good software to buy for my lap top? And what I need to use to get it to work

[@SouthernBikerTV]

The software is no good without the related hardware. However, you can try out the demo version of the Pico software for free. Just go to their website!

i have a question. because I have my ford e350 5.4l van hooked up so that when I flip a switch it starts charging my two auxiliary 6v deep cycle batteries (wired as 12v) in the back. I have been doing this for like 8,000 miles and haven't yet had any problem, but would you say that this could be leading me to overheating my alternator and eating it up?

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

If you're finding yourself replacing alternators on a regular basis, yes. Have you looked at overall current output (net, not total) to see how high it is when you have the additional loads on?

[@SE45CX]

This guy knows what he is talking about. Not the average mechanic Joe who just bought a scope and already thinks he is an electronic expert, by making bullshit diagnostic claims. There are already too many of them.

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

SE45CX Thanks for the kind words.

[@SE45CX]

@@MotorAgeMagazine Alright, you know I had to get something of my chest obviously. Good luck with your channel!

[@mike-yp1uk]

Great

[@Ashroyer86]

Is that laptop a Gateway?

[@gussingh3948]

Nice video. Would have been better if the camera was focused on the screen instead of on you !

[@MotorAgeMagazine]

Thanks for the tip