Testing electrical equipment

[glynnffc]

I am about to fit all the electrical gear that I have accumulated onto my cutter, and wondered if there was an easy way to test each piece BEFORE i fit it.
I am sure i have read on these pages of people setting things up on their kitchen table, but I worry that I might do damage to small items like LED lights and things by just connecting them to my new engine battery, again not yet fitted.

Can I really just run a wire from each piece of kit to the battery and see if it lights, pumps or whatever, or do I need to protect the kit with an in line fuse?

 

[savageseadog]

In general a good idea. Make sure you put the right polarity onto the item. You shouldn't need fuses but a 5 amp or 10 amp one will protect you from a burn out should you touch the ends together. If you can buy yourself a meter that will indicate 10 amps DC it will enable you to verify what each item takes in the way of current. This will enable you to work out the current drain for normal use. Best way altogether is to borrow a variable lab supply and observe the current and voltage. Remember that things like chartplotters have backlights so try those functions out as well.

 

[mainmarine]

I have a portable power pack, used for starting cars etc, the cheap ones are around £30. mine has a 12v cigarette lighter socket on the side, I have made up a lead with a male and female bullet connector on the end. I can connect my 12v equipment and check it out, I also run my chartplotter from it to set up waypoints/routes etc at home

 

[VicS]

If you have many bits to test why not get a couple of screw terminals from Maplin mount then on a board with a fused lead to connect to the battery. Include a switch as well perhaps. Then you can connect each item safely and easily.

 

[glynnffc]

Thanks for all the help.
I think a trip to Maplin is in order.
I have lots of lights, and other gear so the idea of setting up a proper testing board is a good one.
Glynn

 

[VicMallows]

A few days ago ALDI had multimeters at £6.99. They go up to 20A both AC and DC. Couldn't resist buying one and it checks out very well (I know, I have at least 5 other meters and still often revert to the AVO 8).

They also had 'booster' power packs with 3 cig-lighter sockets (as well as jump lead, battery charger, and tyre compressor). Based on a 19Ah lead-acid battery. £19.99.

( I thought VicS description really used the term 'breadboarding' in it's true manner....you might have to search though to find the knife-switches /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif )

Vic