Use a voltmeter to answer the following questions:
• Does the circuit have voltage?
• What is the voltage reading?
• What is the voltage drop across a load device?
To check for voltage to a load device, connect the positive meter lead to the input connection of the device (positive side) and connect the negative meter lead to a good vehicle ground.
Voltage to a device can also be measured by disconnecting the harness connector and using the correct tool in the Terminal Test Adapter Kit.
To check the voltage drop across a load device, connect the positive lead of the voltmeter to the positive side of the device and the negative meter lead to the negative side of the device.
With the device operating, this will measure the voltage drop across the device. With only one device, all of the voltage should be dropped at the device. In any circuit, the voltage applied will equal the voltage dropped in the circuit. If this circuit only dropped 9 V across the load, it indicates the wires and connections dropped 3 V, indicating excessive circuit resistance.
