Printable Version | Subscribe | Add to Favourites
New Topic New Poll New Reply
Author: Subject: Testing wiring with 12V Duracel battery?
John.Taylor

posted on 19/3/08 at 10:39 AM Reply With Quote
Testing wiring with 12V Duracel battery?

I have finished my 2.0i pinto engine start/run wiring and I'm reasonable confident that it is correct, but don't want to put the car battery on and risk blowing the ECU etc. until I'm totally sure.

Has anyone tried or can anyone think of a reason why not to try testing the wiring with a smaller 12v battery, such as one of these:

http://www.dixons.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/Portable+Technology/Batteries/Duracell/MN21/197361

I was hoping to connect it to the battery terminals and use one of the Sierra interior bulbs to test the ignition switch, ECU relays, fuel pump wiring (without the pump connected), starter motor wiring (without the ignition feed connected), etc.

Is the smaller battery going to confuse / kill the ECU, TFI module, coil, injectors, etc. if I leave them plugged in?

View User's Profile E-Mail User View All Posts By User U2U Member
jabs

posted on 19/3/08 at 11:10 AM Reply With Quote
Think the ecu etc will kill the battery. Doubt it won't supply the current needed by the ecu
View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
RazMan

posted on 19/3/08 at 12:45 PM Reply With Quote
I used a low current lead acid battery from a burglar alarm for testing purposes. It was great when trying out the lighting circuits in particular, but high current items like fuel pumps, coil pack and ecu would just try and draw too much current and the battery would just shut down.





Cheers,
Raz

When thinking outside the box doesn't work any more, it's time to build a new box

View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
minitici

posted on 19/3/08 at 01:31 PM Reply With Quote
Fit a small auto-reset circuit breaker between battery and lead. It will trip if you have a direct short somewhere.

Maplins

View User's Profile Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
turbodisplay

posted on 19/3/08 at 05:48 PM Reply With Quote
A battery charger is always good for testing, 4 amps will be enought to ensure if you have a short or not.

Darren

NOTE:This user is registered as a LocostBuilders trader and may offer commercial services to other users
View User's Profile E-Mail User Visit User's Homepage View All Posts By User U2U Member
twybrow

posted on 19/3/08 at 06:06 PM Reply With Quote
Or just connect a piece of fuse wire from the car battery. That way if it draws a high current, then you blow the fuse wire rather than melt your loom.

I just bit the bullet and turned mine on - smoke can be a useful indication of a problem!






View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member
MikeRJ

posted on 20/3/08 at 12:13 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by turbodisplay
A battery charger is always good for testing, 4 amps will be enought to ensure if you have a short or not.

Darren


Not if there are any electronics in the car! The unloaded voltage of a battery charger is quite high, 16v or so, and the output is totally unfiltered. Ok for testing lamps, but not much else.

View User's Profile View All Posts By User U2U Member

New Topic New Poll New Reply


go to top






Website design and SEO by Studio Montage

All content © 2001-16 LocostBuilders. Reproduction prohibited
Opinions expressed in public posts are those of the author and do not necessarily represent
the views of other users or any member of the LocostBuilders team.
Running XMB 1.8 Partagium [© 2002 XMB Group] on Apache under CentOS Linux
Founded, built and operated by ChrisW.