for the frugal, this is what I use.
I get an automatic circuit breaker ( a little box with two terminals on it
..
it 'blows' like a curcuit breaker, then resets itself ) and an old amp guage
, with wires and aligator clips.

that's better for finding a dead short..
since the amp meter is not designed to show very small amperage readings.
for those ..
I just use a test light.
but if I think of it I'll take a chance on the cheap stuff from HF and get
one of these dodads.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Alistair Bell" <albell@SHAW.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, November 06, 2011 7:03 PM
Subject: Circuit tester, was Re: D15 connector revealed

Or, if you are cheap, err frugal, like me you can use a burned out fuse and
a multimeter. Littlefuse brand blade fuses have exposed contacts at the
exposed head of the fuse that you can get at with needle probes. Or if you
like, trim away more of the plastic at that end and solder on some leads.
Both work well enough for occasional use.

alistair

On 2011-11-06, at 6:03 PM, Loren Busch wrote:

> On Sat, Nov 5, 2011 at 7:39 AM, Kenneth Lewis
> <kdlewis@northstate.net>wrote:
>
>> Picked this up at Harbor Freight
>>
>> http://www.harborfreight.com/20-amp-automotive-fuse-circuit-tester-67725.html
>> I have found it to be helpful working on this kind of problem.
>> Ken
>>
>
> That looks like the perfect tool for tracking down battery draw when
> everything is supposed to be off.  I'm getting one.
>
>>
>>
>>
>>