Receiving Helpdesk

how to check a fuse

by Dr. Jamel Howe Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Part of a video titled How to Test Fuses in a Car [Beginner's Guide] - YouTube
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On a good fuse the test light will work on both sides. If a test light only works on one side ofMoreOn a good fuse the test light will work on both sides. If a test light only works on one side of that fuse that means the fuse is burnt out and will need to be replaced.

How to test if a fuse is good?

  • Place the fuses into the fuse socket. Don't force them in.
  • Make sure both fuses are secure before closing the plug door. They should be firmly in place in the grooves of the fuse socket.
  • Close the plug door. Use the small flathead screwdriver or kitchen knife to cover the fuses back up.

How to test a fuse [with or without multimeter]?

Testing a fuse with a voltage tester

  • You should have the essential tools required to carry out this test. ...
  • Unlike the digital multimeter test, the voltage test requires the ignition switch to be ON this is because some fuses are only powered while the power is in the ON ...
  • The first thing you should do is; connecting the gator from your test lamp into the negative side of the battery

More items...

How to check a fuse in a live circuit?

This is how you do it:

  1. Take off the faulty fuse from the circuit (and make sure you remember which fuse is which).
  2. Find an identical fuse and determine which circuit it protects.
  3. Remove the known good fuse and exchange it with the fuse (that we think is blown), in the functioning circuit.

Where can I get my fuses checked?

  • Set your multimeter to measure DC.
  • If only one wire goes to the horn. Connect the black lead wire to the vehicle's body and the red to the wire that you unplugged from the horn.
  • If two wires go to the horn. Connect the black lead to the brown or black wire. ...
  • Turn the ignition to ON and have your friend press on the horn.
  • Read the multimeter. ...

How do you check if my fuse is blown?

Remove the fuse from its holder. In some cases you may need a small screwdriver to unscrew the fuse holder cap. Look at the fuse wire. If there is a visible gap in the wire or a dark or metallic smear inside the glass then the fuse is blown and needs to be replaced.

How do I check a fuse with a multimeter?

0:582:41How to Check a Fuse by Testing it with a Multimeter - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMany digital multimeters will make an audible sound during this test in this setting I can touch theMoreMany digital multimeters will make an audible sound during this test in this setting I can touch the two probes together to see if the device is in working order and then place the probes.

What are 3 ways to check fuses?

0:396:21How To Check For a Blown Fuse - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWith a light bulb in it in a probe. And the negative side of it which is the clip side here goes toMoreWith a light bulb in it in a probe. And the negative side of it which is the clip side here goes to the negative battery cable or a good ground somewhere else on the chassis. Or the engine.

How do you diagnose a fuse?

If you're using a digital multimeter set to measure resistance, touch the probes together to get an initial reading. Then put the probes on either side of the fuse and check if the reading is similar. If it is, then the fuse works properly. If you get no reading or "OL", then the fuse has blown.

How do you tell if a fuse is blown without a multimeter?

Put one wire to neutral/common, and one wire on the line side of the fuse. If voltage is present the bulb will light up. Now move the wire from the line side to the load side of the fuse. If the fuse is good the light will come on.

How do you check a fuse without removing it?

0:001:12check automotive fuses WITHOUT removing them - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you can take a voltmeter. And set it to continuity. Which is that mark right there. And check toMoreSo you can take a voltmeter. And set it to continuity. Which is that mark right there. And check to make sure everything is good making good connections.

How do you fix a blown fuse?

Examine the fuses and circuits, looking for the blown one as described above. Unscrew the blown fuse and replace the fuse with a new one. For circuits, flip the tripped circuit from the center position to the off position, and then flip it back to the on position. Turn the main power back on.

How do you check amp fuses?

1:142:53How To Test Amperage / Amp Draw and properly measure and fuse a ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere you could just use a 1 amp that would protect this properly. And if it were to ever fail orMoreHere you could just use a 1 amp that would protect this properly. And if it were to ever fail or short out the 1 amp would do a great job of protecting the circuit.

How do you use a fuse tester?

Stick the metal tip of the probe into the other hole. Watch for the test light to go on to verify that the fuse is fully functional. The 2 holes on each fuse are for testing the power in and the power out, so make sure to check both the holes to ensure the fuse is working 100%.

How do you know if a fuse has power?

Another way to test the fuse is by measuring the voltage across it with a digital multimeter. This is helpful if the fuse is not able to be easily removed from the circuit. To do this, leave the circuit powered on and switch your meter to measure voltage. Make sure to select DC for DC circuits and AC for AC circuits.Aug 23, 2018Testing and Identifying Fuse Problems | DigiKeyhttps://www.digikey.com › blog › testing-and-identifying-...https://www.digikey.com › blog › testing-and-identifying-...Search for: How do you know if a fuse has power?

How do you find a short in a car blown fuse?

0:0810:24Steps to Finding an Electrical Short that Keeps Blowing Fuses - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow let's take a closer look at this fuse here you can see. It's pretty well disintegrated. But itMoreNow let's take a closer look at this fuse here you can see. It's pretty well disintegrated. But it also looks very aged.Steps to Finding an Electrical Short that Keeps Blowing Fuses - YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com › watchhttps://www.youtube.com › watchSearch for: How do you find a short in a car blown fuse?

How to remove a fuse from a car?

Make sure the device, equipment, or vehicle is turned off before the fuse is removed. To remove the fuse, simply pull it straight out of the slot.

What type of fuse does a car use?

Regarding car fuses, most cars use a colored 'blade' type fuse, and looking at the top of the fuse in situ in the fuse box will show that the metal strip that runs along the visible top of the fuse will either be intact (fuse good) or broken (fuse blown). Thanks!

What is blade fuse?

The blade fuse is a common type of automotive fuse that has come into use in the last 20-30 years. They vaguely resemble the plug of a power cord, with two metal prongs emanating from a plastic housing that contains the wire. Previously, most vehicles also contained small glass cartridge fuses.

What is cartridge fuse?

Here is a description of the two you are most likely to see: The cartridge fuse is a cylindrical fuse that has been common in a wide variety of devices for many years, from homes to small electronic devices. They have metal contact or terminal points on either end and consist primarily of a tube that contains the wire.

What happens if too much power goes through a fuse?

If too much power runs through the fuse, it will "burn out," quite literally, and open the circuit, preventing the current from flowing through the circuit. There are several varieties of fuses, but their differences are primarily in appearance. Here is a description of the two you are most likely to see:

Can you replace a fuse with a higher rating?

Never replace a blown or suspect fuse with one of a higher rating. The rating ensures that the current can pass through the wiring safely. Always replace a fuse with the same rating as (or a lower rating than) the old one.

Can you test fuses with a multimeter?

In addition, most car parts can only be tested at repair shops, and to do so will usually cost quite a lot of money. Testing fuses with a multimeter is comparatively simple to do, and the equipment involved is cheap and easy to operate. Many types of fuses allow for visual confirmation that the fuse is still functional.

How to check if a fuse is blown?

Electrical Test of a Fuse. Besides the visual test, the other way to check if a fuse is blown or not is by conducting an electrical test to check for continuity from one end of the fuse to the other. You do this by taking a multimeter and putting it in continuity mode. You place one probe on one end of the fuse and the other probe on the other end.

Why does my multimeter not beep?

If the multimeter does not beep and shows a large resistance, this means the fuse is blown. This is because the connector is not continuous, meaning it's broken and not connected. If your multimeter does not have a continuity mode, you can check the fuse also with the ohmmmeter of the multimeter.

Is a fuse good or bad?

If the reading you get is very low, a few ohms, then the fuse is continuous and, thus, good. If the reading is get is very high, such as severeal Megohms, the fuse is broken and, thus, bad, and should be replaced.

How to check a fuse without tools?

Checking and changing a fuse can be accomplished without tools. Find the fuse box. It usually is a gray or black rectangular metal box with a door on the front , located in a basement, garage or closet on a wall close to the electric meter. Lay the rubber mat on the floor in front of the fuse box and stand on it.

What is a fuse box?

The fuse box found in older homes is a protective device that cuts off the electric current to a circuit that has shorted out or is overloaded. The box contains little screw-in glass or porcelain plugs, each with a little window showing a fusible link that will melt when the electricity flow exceeds the preset limit.

What does it mean when a fuse is blown?

The window on a fuse that has “blown” to cut off the power and protect the circuit will be cloudy black or gray. That is the fuse that needs to be replaced. Identify the circuit affected by the blown fuse. Go around the house turning lights on and off until you find the location where the lights don’t turn on.

Can you replace a fuse with copper?

Never replace a fuse with one of higher amperage, or use a copper penny in place of a fuse to restore power. This creates an electrical fire danger. If the new fuse blows right away, you either haven’t disconnected everything on the circuit or there is a circuit fault you should refer to a licensed electrician.

Method 1. Visual Inspection

This method of testing a car fuse without a multimeter involves checking the metal element of the fuse visually out of the fuse box. A good fuse has a metal element bridge from one end to another end encased in a semi-transparent plastic housing, which is visible from the outside, where you can detect a blown fuse.

Method 2. Swapping The Fuse

This is another method of testing a car fuse without a multimeter. In this method, you can check an automotive fuse without a multimeter by swapping. You can quickly identify a good or bad fuse by exchanging a good fuse with a suspected fuse in a good working circuit within the car.

Method 3. How To Test A Fuse With A Test Light

This is another way of testing a car fuse with a test light. It is one of my favorite methods of testing the car fuse because it is very easy to use. It is the last method of testing a car fuse without a multimeter. In this method, we will use a test light to identify a good or bad fuse.

Method 4. How To Test A Fuse Using An Ohmmeter

In this method, we will learn how to test a car fuse using an ohmmeter. But, before we further go, I want to make you understand how an ohmmeter works so when you test a fuse, you will have no problem diagnosing a bad fuse.

Method 5. How To Test A Car Fuse Using Multimeter Continuity Mode

In this method, you are going to learn how to test a car fuse using multimeter continuity mode. Below is the step-by-step procedure of testing the car fuse with a multimeter.

Method 6. How To Test A Fuse Measuring The Voltage

This is another method of testing a car fuse with a multimeter. In this method, you will learn how to test the car fuse without removing them from the fuse box.

Method 7. Testing The Fuse With Multimeter Using Body Frame Method

You can also test the fuse the other way around by putting the black probe of the multimeter on the battery negative terminal or body frame and the red probe on the fuse terminals one by one. Check the multimeter reading, if the voltage is full supply-voltage in both terminals of the fuse this indicates a good fuse.

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