Voltage drop testing...

[RichBaker]

Here's a great tutorial on voltage drops, and your electrical system, from Fluke.... I figure it MAY be worth reading.

Voltage drop testing

[Harvy]

Good read Rich......

Harvy

[carsick]

Thank You Rich! Good link. I learned this technique in college for auto tech, it is the best,quickest, most accurate way to find the problem. I am tempted to suggest it every time someone posts an electrical malady, BUT... they usually don't have a proper meter, and it's hard to explain even though it's so simple in practice. Split the system in half and keep dividing it until you find the drop under load (caused by higher than desired resistance) and fix it. Occasionally just changing parts is quicker, but not cheaper, especially at retail for non-returnable components! And heaven forfend if you have a short that draws too much amperage and lets the factory installed smoke out of a new part. I usually find it easier to hook my Fluke 88 on a problem than try to talk someone through it.
Doug

[RichBaker]

Yep, I learned it in 1976..... but with all the electrical problems we've been reading about lately, and considering the age of our bikes, I figured it was a good thing to put up. And, hopefully, it will drive home the true NEED for a decent DMM to those that don't have one.

And I DON'T consider a Harbor Freight $10 special a DECENT meter....

[rktmanfj]

Yep, I learned it in 1976..... but with all the electrical problems we've been reading about lately, and considering the age of our bikes, I figured it was a good thing to put up. And, hopefully, it will drive home the true NEED for a decent DMM to those that don't have one.

And I DON'T consider a Harbor Freight $10 special a DECENT meter....

But there are some decent DMMs out there these days for surprisingly low prices.

I miss my Fluke, though.  If I still used a DMM daily, I'd have to buy another one.

Randy T
Indy

[Pat Conlon]

Thanks Rich. Good reference material. Helpful for our FJ folks with electrical woes.
I will copy this link and post it over to our trouble shooting board in our files section.

This will be helpful, thanks amigo.

pura vida.

[RichBaker]

Looks like they changed the link....  http://support.fluke.com/find-sales/download/asset/2418158_6003_eng_a_w.pdf

It may be a good idea to save the pdf it links to...