andy levy <andylevy@yahoo.com> wrote:
: Shane Craven wrote:
:> Thanks to Jon and Andy for the info. How many amps/watts should I be looking for on my multimeter? Or does it even matter? Am I just looking for any wire than is hot only when ignition is on?
: I think you just need to trigger a relay (assuming you have the right
: wire). I didn't use a multimeter, just a test light.
Yep, anything that shows +12v (or thereabouts) when the
ignition is on should work. If all else fails, you know the
cigarette lighter wire will work, or the ignition wire itself.
If you have any spare spots in your fuse box, there might be
a circuit in one of them already that is a switched +12v source.
Just as an FYI, I can't recall any specific circuits offhand,
but I seem to recall a warning in the FSM or some other tech/install
manual saying that a test light can damage some circuits, so a
multimeter (set to read DC voltage in the 0-20v range) might
be a better choice. I don't recall if it said *why* a test light
would damage anything and I don't really know enough about it
to hazard a good guess (sinking too much current is the only
thing I can think of offhand... ?), but anyway, if one is
available, a multimeter might be a safer route to take. But if
not, I wouldn't worry about it too much; I suspect the chances
of damaging something with a test light is pretty slim. But,
it was something I read so I thought I would pass it along on
the off chance that it is useful.
---Jon-
.---- Jon Steiger ------ jon@dakota-truck.net or jon@jonsteiger.com ------. | I'm the: AOPA, DoD, EAA, NMA, NRA, SPA, USUA. Rec & UL Pilot - SEL | | 70 Cuda, 90 Dak 'vert, 92 Ram 4x4, 96 Dak, 96 Intruder 1400, 96 FireFly | `------------------------------------------ http://www.jonsteiger.com ----'
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