Testing Connections and starter with a Test Light?

[outdooz]

Hey Im just getting some info before I try to start my engine tommorow. I have a test light and how can I use it to test my connections. So How do I know if power is getting to my starter. Or if its getting to my Push Button (Instead of Key). right now I have a switch and the botton. The swich either has to be up or down for the engine to start. So how can I test this to see if the switch has to be up or down.

Can the test light on the cable that goes to the start and then put the other end on the body (ground)?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

Attach the alligator clip on the light to the battery negative, and probe with the tip. Different circuits require different techniques. An ohmmeter or continuity tester would be helpful here, too.

 

[outdooz]

Attach the alligator clip on the light to the battery negative, and probe with the tip. Different circuits require different techniques. An ohmmeter or continuity tester would be helpful here, too.

So how do I test to c if power is getting to my starter, and or my ignition button?

 

[CriticalMass]

A voltmeter is better suited for this task. You can use the test light to see if you have voltage at the positive lead on the starter. You can also use the testlight to check your key. Ground the light and probe the terminal on your switch that sends voltage to the starter.

That's about all I got unless I saw your setup. Should work though.

 

[shake this]

A test light (I personally don't like them but it better then using your tongue) basically can work two different ways. The first, and most common, is to test for a 12 volt positive at the source. This will be set up by grounding the alligator clip and testing something like the 12 volt positive side of the starter or key (push button). The second way is to test to make sure you have a good grounding point. You would set up the light by clipping the alligator clip to a constant 12 volt positive feed from say a battery and then using the light to test a kill switch that sends a negative (or ground) signal to the engine. When the switch is in the kill position, the test light will light up.

So to give you a very simple set up, take a battery and clip the alligator to the negative terminal and touch the light to the positive, the light should work. Anything that you add between the negative and positive terminals of a battery is nothing more then just an additional step for the electricity to flow through. Don’t let it over complicate your brain. Just remember that, in order for electricity to flow, you must have a continues circuit. A must flow into B must Flow into C…etc and then back to A.