In this video I show you how I make my own "test lights" of various amperage's that can be used to substitute for a component on the vehicle that has failed. These range any where from .25amp to 4.5amp and can be used to replace failed fuel pumps, actuators, lights, solenoids etc. so you can preform circuit integrity tests. -Enjoy!
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CHECK OUT OUR "SMA SWAG" STORE! Go on Teespring and get your very own SMA merch!
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If you don't like Patreon feel free to use the "PayPal Me" link: https://www.paypal.me/SouthMainAuto
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Thank you for all the continuing support!
--Eric & Vanessa O.
Feel like sending some swag to SMA because you love the videos but don't know where to send it?
Just ship it here:
South Main Auto Repair
47 S. Main St
PO Box 471
Avoca, NY 14809
Disclaimer:
Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, it cannot guarantee against unauthorized modifications of this information, or improper use of this information. South Main Auto Repair assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. South Main Auto Repair recommends safe practices when working with power tools, automotive lifts, lifting tools, jack stands, electrical equipment, blunt instruments, chemicals, lubricants, or any other tools or equipment seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of South Main Auto Repair, no information contained in this video shall create any express or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or the information contained
Thanks!
i use yellow pill bottles
I find small jam jars work better, drill into the lid & use the glass to stop the heat
instead of plastic cap try a small
3-4oz glass baby food jar with metal cap and label removed. Drill a hole in cap, silicone or epoxy connector into hole. wha la!
Banana plugs.
If I can do it, you can too. Love the testers!!
Let there be light , and there was !!!
Excellent 👍👍
Warning common headlight bulbs can get up to 700 degrees.
One can simply soider the lead wires to the bulb pins
reminds me of when i accidentally soldered a pipe fitting to a paint can lid that I was using to hold the fitting and it really held on there amazingly well i could not pull it off the steel lid . when i am working on house wiring i like the radio tester plug it in and you can listen to when it goes off and on. you could probably do same thing with a 12 volt radio better then listening to a car horn lol
Here I am 3 years later laughing so hard I’m crying when the bit grabbed and made that huge hole. My wife is looking at me like I’m a bloody idiot.
I have an 06 Forester I still try to do my own wrenching! My wife has a new Kia with all the bells an whistle's. I don't work on her car but I will have to get something newer in the future. This was a great video but I don't have an Amp meter. I guess I will have to get one. What type of wrench do you use to get into a very tight spot? I have all of the socket combo's. I was thinking of a set of straight handed ratcheting box wrenches with the tilting head. Thanks for this video I often wondered why you were using different test lights. Thank You for making the video's I watch them all!! It doesn't matter what make or model the vehicle is you can always learn something new. I live about 45 min. from Albany so I am familiar with the corrosion the salt makes. I don't know why they use salt it makes slush which make's things slippery in my opinion. Plain sand and a plow is better in my opinion.
1amp @ 12v = 12w
2amp @ 12v = 24w
3amp @12v = 36w
4amp @ 12v = 48w
I see smoke coming off your light…
So, a light that draws 4amps @ 12v is consuming almost 50w, and that gets very hot…
I don't recommend a plastic shroud, because it could melt or catch fire..
Use a metal cap or sheet metal to make a shield protector for the bulb…
Great stuff Eric
I have a headlight bulb in a pigtail that I use for testing stuff. I figure if the circuit will power a headlight bulb it should be good for about everything else.
I just found this video. Great video. You are a great resource. Thanks for the helpful tip.
Hey my name is David i live in Nova Scotia Canada I have a 2012gmc serria 1500 4×4 do you know how to get codes for ABS without a scanner
— Throw a quick one back at you. Quick test for speakers in your car: Rig up a 9 volt battery with a couple of leads and ping the wires to the speakers. You hear a scratching from said speaker, that'll get you started on whatever issue you have. Then is a few seconds to switch over and test for ohms.
I know that these type videos are hard to make in-depth, but could you talk about where you would use a higher amperage load versus a lower one? I've always used a test light to determine continuity.. What purpose would the various amperage ratings serve? Forgive me for my lack of electronic knowledge please, and thanks for trying to make folks smarter!
Wattage divided by voltage should give you the amperage although I’m not sure if the wattage is stated on automotive bulbs. If this is a repeat of already posted info I apologize.
Old school systems of monitoring 3/phase industrial buildings would use 3 test lights, one on each leg to ground. These were left on all the time in visible areas. If a light started to dim, that leg would be inspected.
Great idea 👍👍👍👍👍💯
LED
question anyone here can answer for me regarding testing 5v refference or 5v circuits
what if i hooked test light to a 5v source to test 5v ref and computer parts that take 5v by getting a 12v to 5v usb cigareete plug adapter,then cut a usb cord and plug this into the 12v to 5v adapter and find which wire is the power/ground and use this to hook test light when probing these 5v computer circuits? this would also drop some of the amperage draw from test light correct? would this be the way to go to prevent damage when testing 5v?
18 minutes? So much for quick tip my god guess I’ll find a less rambling one lol
I THINK UR ERIC THE CAR GUY OR HIS BROTHR ,,,
REALLY CONFUSED
Made a special tips/hacks playlist just for these SMA shorts.
"Brilliant" idea. Thanks, Eric!
Good idea for cheap test lights.
Iven would be proud!
what's recommended for an ac compressor clutch wire? ( amps )
Thanks, you’re a Prince of a fella.
Quick tip Friday. Now that you have that spray cap down pat you can make some Christmas lights for the tire snowman outside the shop. Mrs. O probably wouldn't allow them in the house. Keep on a choochin.
I'm off to the breakers yard……….Ray H. U.K.
I guess I could always use more test leads. Pick and pull here I come, lol
Eric can’t you just divide the number of Watts by the systems Volts and it give you the amp draw for each bulb? For example: 40w bulb/ 12 volts = 3.3 amps
Glad I found this video. I am getting ready to junk an old vehicle, so I removed all of the light bulbs with their connectors in anticipation of making some test lights. I also bought some 10-turn 10-kiloohm potentiometers, so I will make some variable resistors while I am at it. 🙂
Thanks for the tip!
Is there an easy way to determine the amperage load on a circuit? So you know which test light to use? For example, can you test the resistance of the circuit in oms and determine the correct test light to use?
Nice. Also apply +12 volt through a bulb when You want to limit the current. If the test point is shorted to ground the bulb will light up/act as an autofuse preventing fire.
Good shiz man. Comprehensive. Glad you zoomed in so we could see what u were soldering. Handy stuff – gonna check ur other vids in future.
Love it creative and sweet
What light bulb are you using for your test light? Part number?
Show us how to read a schematic please!
Soldering pins on to wires, still puts the heat shrink on first.
Ladies and gentlemen, that's why Eric does the work, and we do the watching.
Love those snap on wire strippers
I really admire that you know your s#:+
Turned into a crafting video there at the end.
Very nifty. Can this be done with say an old lamp or flashlight?
Just wondering if there are any alternatives for someone that cant get access to vehicle bulbs.