Using Test Light

[SDUCTV33]

Ey guys i am just about to install a new alarm in my car and im wondering about how to use a testlight for searching for wires underneath the dash, does it work by putting it on the wire etc?? totally lost with the whole thing??

Thanxx

[danielr34]

Now I'm scared

[08yannch]

i vote get a experienced alarm fitter to do the job for u. from the sound of ur post ur just going to be wasting ur time trying to fit it.

and nobody here will be able to help u to set it up because of the risk a thief well see.

but any way a testlight is a wast of money and time. all it shows is if there is power or not. what u need is a good multi-meter +$15 and install instructions and wiring diagrams i dont think u will find any.

but i still stand by my first statement. get a experienced alarm fitter.

[Chris Rogers]

Now I'm scared

test light + yellow harness = fun

multimeter my friend OR get your wallet out and pay someone.

[08yannch]

test light + yellow harness = fun

so any progress "SDUCTV33"

[Carbon 34]

test light + yellow harness = fun

multimeter my friend OR get your wallet out and pay someone.

I worked in a high end shop in USA and one of the other seasoned installer's torched a ECU for a 959 Porsche with 0 miles on it, funny enough it controlled everything and cost a boat load to replace.all from the use of a 2 buck "test light" to try to interface with a after market alarm...... lets say he didn't get a paycheck for a month to cover it.

Edited August 6, 2010 by sapphiregraphics

[Chris Rogers]

two words troy - FLUKE 78. (or a DSO depending on what I am chasing.)

[08yannch]

whats wrong with the $10 ones lol

[cavell]

lol, nuthing wrong with a $10 test light if you know what your doing and how to use it without causing damage, but if he doesnt even know how to use a testlight dont think he should be installing an alarm. like everyone else suggested, for out some cash get a pro to fit it or someone like me who use to fit them and knows what i am doing.

[Carbon 34]

two words troy - FLUKE 78. (or a DSO depending on what I am chasing.)

wanna see my fluke.. 87 if you want a laugh its in pieces on my table,,,,the LCD plugs and IC driver got salt water corrosion from a downpour of rain a few drops must have entered the case thru the LCD area. when my R31 broke down in the dark I had to sort the lights out in the rain, some previous owner had hacked the wires behind the battery for some fog lights and used 3 different pieces of wires to extend the circuit off the relays. dickhead..lol

but good old Fluke, a little toothbrush and baking soda scrub off and circuit board cleaner, works good again, now to fix the light on it...grrrrr

I've had this thing since it came out, dropped a million times, nothing beats a FLUKE, but on my current budget I bought a jaycar top of the line one to measure High current thru a clamp rather then shunt 300amps

Fluke 87 cost a boat load in OZ, and someone stole my 78 off the workbench when I worked in Denver

Fluke is backup now. till light is fixed.

Nothing wrong with some cheaper ones, some even test transistors and diodes by simple plug in. great for circuit level board work. I have a few cheapos for that very thing, lol

tools are like porn,,,, you can never have enough..lol kidding on the porn..lol

Edited August 10, 2010 by sapphiregraphics

[Carbon 34]

lol, nuthing wrong with a $10 test light if you know what your doing and how to use it without causing damage, but if he doesnt even know how to use a testlight dont think he should be installing an alarm. like everyone else suggested, for out some cash get a pro to fit it or someone like me who use to fit them and knows what i am doing.

a incandescent Test light is fatal to a newer car, LED bulb ones not so bad but still draw too much current for some circuits. like a airbag /ECU ???

and wont tell you if its 5 volts or 13volts on the wire ? both light up the dumb test light

and I don't know how many times a rookie installer uses a dash/dimmer light wire for grounds, cause it shows as a ground on most cars, until you flick on the lights, then positive voltage hits the radio ground. and floats the ground on the radio thru the antenna jack...not a good thing

[08yannch]

lol, nuthing wrong with a $10 test light if you know what your doing and how to use it without causing damage, but if he doesnt even know how to use a testlight dont think he should be installing an alarm. like everyone else suggested, for out some cash get a pro to fit it or someone like me who use to fit them and knows what i am doing.

i was actually referring to a $10 multimeter sorry for the confusion every one