Posted 2011-04-30 11:38 AM (#133689 - in reply to #133677) Subject: RE: Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
Elite Veteran
Posts: 798 Location: Tenn/Ala.
I don't think the DVOM will activate the lights though.
Otherwise, we built one years ago mounted on a dolly, complete with battery and amp draw guage, to test various functions. Later mounted a Prodigy on it to use the feature that checks for shorts in the brake circuits. We saw times that using a battery by itself would activate the lights (particularly TM)but a small short would blow the fuse on the towing vehicle. Hence the amp guage. But either way- a function that must be met in a service facility, either via the pre-packaged, or homemade.
Posted 2011-04-30 12:47 PM (#133691 - in reply to #133684) Subject: RE: Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by gard on 2011-04-30 10:54 AM
Digital VOM Harbor Freight $5.00, works well too.
I wanted to know if I buy this,can I have workers with NO electrical knowledge do trailer tests...and leave the vehicle/trailer electrical network in at least as good a shape as when they came in and actually discover something in the process...
Posted 2011-04-30 10:38 PM (#133699 - in reply to #133677) Subject: RE: Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
If I get into a jamb and need to power a circuit, I use my battery charger. It has the guages to tell how much amperage is being used, and you can tell if there is a short or not. It's a much easier power source than using a truck and blowing fuses. If there is a short, the charger has an auto reset and you're good again.
Posted 2011-04-30 11:01 PM (#133701 - in reply to #133691) Subject: RE: Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Paul .. I have my doubts about a worker with no electrical knowledge being able to identify a problem with a plug & play unit. The Tekonsha tester requires adapters for the different trailer plugs. Unless all the trailers you're testing are identical wiring, the one trailer that is different will throw the person for a loop.
For instance: the 6 way trailer plug may have the constant power OR the brake circuit on the same pin. That's a reason adapters to 7 way rv connectors are such trouble
Posted 2011-05-01 9:59 AM (#133709 - in reply to #133691) Subject: RE: Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
I wanted to know if I buy this,can I have workers with NO electrical knowledge do trailer tests...and leave the vehicle/trailer electrical network in at least as good a shape as when they came in and actually discover something in the process...
Why would you expect untrained personnel to effectively test anything? Will they then be blamed for their mistakes and the damage they will cause? If you need common labourers, hire them. If you need electrically skilled technicians, hire the most qualified people you can find.
Posted 2011-05-01 11:21 AM (#133710 - in reply to #133709) Subject: RE: Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
Expert
Posts: 2953 Location: North Carolina
Originally written by gard on 2011-05-01 9:59 AM
I wanted to know if I buy this,can I have workers with NO electrical knowledge do trailer tests...and leave the vehicle/trailer electrical network in at least as good a shape as when they came in and actually discover something in the process...
Why would you expect untrained personnel to effectively test anything? Will they then be blamed for their mistakes and the damage they will cause? If you need common labourers, hire them. If you need electrically skilled technicians, hire the most qualified people you can find.
Gard ... In Paul's defense. It is all about productivity. It is the only path to job security. In the hypothetical case... Paul's electrically untrained trailer washer can, with the tester, screen units coming into the shop. He is now more productive accomplishing more than washing trailers. He doesn't get replaced. Paul's service is faster, less costly and provides more job security to all the employees. Or Paul's trailer washer can get electrical training and find another job. But, Paul's shop is at a disadvantage to the shop with the trailer tester and loses customers. Everybody loses when he closes down.
My original comments were addressed to the limits of the tester, not the idea.
Posted 2011-05-01 11:52 AM (#133713 - in reply to #133710) Subject: RE: Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by hosspuller on 2011-05-01 11:21 AM
Originally written by gard on 2011-05-01 9:59 AM
I wanted to know if I buy this,can I have workers with NO electrical knowledge do trailer tests...and leave the vehicle/trailer electrical network in at least as good a shape as when they came in and actually discover something in the process...
Why would you expect untrained personnel to effectively test anything? Will they then be blamed for their mistakes and the damage they will cause? If you need common labourers, hire them. If you need electrically skilled technicians, hire the most qualified people you can find.
Gard ... In Paul's defense. It is all about productivity. It is the only path to job security. In the hypothetical case... Paul's electrically untrained trailer washer can, with the tester, screen units coming into the shop. He is now more productive accomplishing more than washing trailers. He doesn't get replaced. Paul's service is faster, less costly and provides more job security to all the employees. Or Paul's trailer washer can get electrical training and find another job. But, Paul's shop is at a disadvantage to the shop with the trailer tester and loses customers. Everybody loses when he closes down.
My original comments were addressed to the limits of the tester, not the idea.
Well you have stated my thoughts fairly well, plus I could give he a little more money come the next salary review...I wanted to know if anyone here had actually used this unit because it SEEMED NON-INVASIVE...(notice Gard...I assume this is is a no damage to the system...) The worker would NOT do any repairs but would get a worker who could do the work...
Posted 2011-05-01 3:45 PM (#133720 - in reply to #133677) Subject: RE: Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
This is the same environment found in hospitals. The best trained RN nurses are doing the paperwork, while the least experienced nurse "assistants" attend to the patients. Throughout the world, other than in the US, aircraft repair stations are run with one or two licensed mechanics, signing off the work of hundreds of unskilled workers.
My neighbour just had his quad "repaired". The labour charges were $80/hr, and after having an electrical malfunction misdiagnosed for a carb problem, and then their being incapable of fixing the real problem, he was charged a large amount and given back the broken machine. Apparently the "real" mechanic was on vacation, and they had a window washer or floor sweeper pulling mechanical duties. His lack of knowledge was the same cost to the customer.
My neighbour brought the quad to my garage, we found the magneto problem in ~10 minutes and ordered parts. It took about twenty minutes for their installation.
That dealership has now lost a repeat customer and many future sales. I've worked around mechanics all my life, in the automotive, aircraft and marine businesses. I've worked with experts and many much less so. An untrained person is a danger to your equipment and other co-workers. A business will save a dime, and loose much more using untrained personnel. A good mechanic will attract customers, a poor one will drive them away.
It's said that a satisified customer will tell three people of his pleasant experience, and at least ten with an unwelcomed one. Look at the dealers in our forum. The good ones have survived, the others have gone away. Quality service is what is needed and expected. Anything less is wasteful.
Posted 2011-05-01 7:37 PM (#133734 - in reply to #133720) Subject: RE: Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by gard on 2011-05-01 3:45 PM
This is the same environment found in hospitals. The best trained RN nurses are doing the paperwork, while the least experienced nurse "assistants" attend to the patients. Throughout the world, other than in the US, aircraft repair stations are run with one or two licensed mechanics, signing off the work of hundreds of unskilled workers.
Are you sure?...according to the FAA they only did SEVEN inspections of one carriers outsourced mechanical work and yet that carrier outsourced 44% of its work!!!Non-Certificated Repair Facilities Perform Critical Maintenance With Little FAA Oversight and Often Without FAA’s Knowledge for air carriers and repair stations to report outsourced repairs. However, the system is unreliable because it is based on voluntary reporting—both for volume of repairs and locations of critical repairs. Moreover, FAA inspectors do not validate the reported data. As a result of these weaknesses, FAA cannot determine the type of repairs air carriers outsource or the facilities they use and target its oversight accordingly. http://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/dot/files/H_Hmlnd_Sub_Hrg_For_Rep_Stat...
Tekonsha Trailer Wiring Circuit Tester
