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..  :D ) 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=ShotGun5.gif]

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 :().

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). :'(

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  ;).

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

autonerdz picogroup

And the Prize goes to crackerclicker [smiley=smileys-winner-903068.gif]  For the Only Correct Answer, That should be the No. 1 on any LIST. Damn where was my head, Oh Wait I know.

---

rtone, did you get your wife to hold the camera :P, thats some funny stuff there

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.

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

crackerclicker wrote on Nov 21st, 2012 at 4:35pm: autonerdz picogroup  And the Prize goes to crackerclicker [smiley=smileys-winner-903068.gif]  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"  ;D ;D ;D

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

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  :D

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

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.

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  :-/.


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.

Another CAN Box discussion here:

http://www.autonerdz.com/cgi/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1271904019/10#10

*New coloured Pico leads

*CAN test box

*WPS 500

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....

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=thumbsup2.gif]

How do you make a FLS?

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

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.

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..

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.

Drjekl wrote on Dec 21^st, 2012 at 11:05pm:

Then ill have all the gear and still no idea....

Me too  [smiley=laughing2.gif]

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  [smiley=laughing2.gif]

My goodies arrived  [smiley=jump.gif] [smiley=jump.gif]

I did unpack, now I need to sit back for a few hours for them to get room temperature, then the games begin  [smiley=devious.gif]

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

magicmatt wrote on Apr 4^th, 2013 at 5:21pm:

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

autosparky wrote on Apr 4^th, 2013 at 11:49pm:

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.

---

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

Neil wrote on Apr 5^th, 2013 at 2:51pm:

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

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

Well I am extremely glad I did the research and purchased my Pico from Autonerdz. The information and resources are excellent.

Anthony Lamb wrote on Apr 5^th, 2013 at 12:36am:

autosparky wrote on Apr 4th, 2013 at 11:49pm: 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 ;)
spend the money on something else

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.