Dyno Testing the Electrical System

[mrmtr]

The buzz word in the last few years has been "dyno testing". I remember when I was about 18 yrs old a local Chevy dealer bought a chassis dyno and the guys would line up the street waiting for their turn to have their cars "dyno tuned".I worked in a engine rebuilding company for 25 years and we "dyno", or dynomometer tested our engines,which is basically putting them under load to test them. As a instructor in auto tech my students were also crazy about dyno testing ....but when it came to electrical stuff...they would rather forget about that,so I made a paper about dyno testing electrical components. How to dyno test a electrical component or check it under load you can read the amps it puts out under load,but most people don't have the ammeters to test electrical so what you can do is what is called a voltage drop test. Basically you measure the electrical voltage at different parts of the circuit while the circuit is under load,and then compare it to the source voltage. You don't even need specs because they are always the same with very little difference. The general rule is .1 volt per connection,and .3 for circuit.The starter is the exception and you can usuallly allow up to .6 for the starter .In testing a window electrical motor,and you found it to be .4 voltage drop between the switch and the motor,then you would know something was stealing the volts..maybe corrosion etc.If some of you would be interested in a study guide on electrical testing let me know and I will get you one...mr

 

[grumpyvette]

please post all the info you can,but try to package it so your average 60+ OLD GEEZER or 17-19 year old beginning rodder has a decent shot at understanding all the concepts, tests and expected results or usual signs of failure