How to test for current

[delosholly]

Our bathroom light wasn't working. I finally got the cover off and inspected the bulb. It appears to be good, no discoloration and no broken filament.

I am wondering if any current is getting to the bulb. My problem is that the bulb inserts into two extremely tiny holes. My meter's probes are too fat to fit into them. The bulb fits into a tiny ceramic piece with two wires coming out the back. The wires are covered with insulation, no bare wire exposed.

How can I test to see if current is making it to the fitting?
One more piece of info, this fixture would sometimes flicker before it stopped working.

Del

[Reddog1]

delosholly wrote:
... I WILL NOT FORGET AGAIN!!!

You wanna bet? Not only will you forget again, the older you get the more often it happens. You will have those occasions where you stop to think, and forget to start again.

On checking the voltage. If it is the light I think it is, sometimes you can push it in just a little, leaving enough of the small wires to touch your probes to.

[K_Mac]

naturist wrote:
This is why God gave us the Dope Slap™.

And Gibbs has perfected it.

[delosholly]

To answer the question, yes I did have it set on ohms and yes I did touch the leads together first to check if it was working. To make my shame worse, I had just used my meter a few weeks ago to check out a fuse to see if it was bad. Why I did not think to do the same with the bulb will remain a mystery. BUT I WILL NOT FORGET AGAIN!!!

🙂

[WyoTraveler]

In the future if you have meter leads that accept alligator clips clip onto a needle with both leads and normally you can get into small places with your probe. I only recommend this for 12 volts not 110 vac

[Gripnriprod]

jmckelvy wrote:

delosholly wrote:
OK, thanks to all. I just checked the bulb with my meter and no deflection at all, so the bulb is bad.

So simple, I am ashamed.

Again, thanks.

OK, not to rub salt into your wound but you did have the meter set on the ohms scale? 🙂

And you did check to see if the meter showed continuity by touching the probes together?
Sorry. We're having fun at your expense. Not that any of us have ever done any of these things...:R

[BTPO1]

jmckelvy wrote:

delosholly wrote:
OK, thanks to all. I just checked the bulb with my meter and no deflection at all, so the bulb is bad.

So simple, I am ashamed.

Again, thanks.

OK, not to rub salt into your wound but you did have the meter set on the ohms scale? 🙂

I was going to ask the same question, but decided not to. I know that I have done it a few times when not thinking.

[naturist]

This is why God gave us the Dope Slap™.

[Winnebago_Bob]

We all do it from time to time..

[jmckelvy]

delosholly wrote:
OK, thanks to all. I just checked the bulb with my meter and no deflection at all, so the bulb is bad.

So simple, I am ashamed.

Again, thanks.

OK, not to rub salt into your wound but you did have the meter set on the ohms scale? 🙂

[delosholly]

OK, thanks to all. I just checked the bulb with my meter and no deflection at all, so the bulb is bad.

So simple, I am ashamed.

Again, thanks.

[Gripnriprod]

Use two pieces of wire that are about the same diameter as the light bulbs pins to "probe" the socket. Touch your leads to these probes. And yes, you're looking for voltage.
Check the light bulb for continuity if you haven't already.

[delosholly]

AngryBert-63 wrote:
Wrap small solid wire around your meter leads or use a sharp lead to lightly pierce the insulation.

I'm assuming you read out the bulb?

You're looking for voltage - not current.

Red face on me!! I did not check the bulb for continuity!! I will do that now... see, this forum works!!

[Winnebago_Bob]

Wrap small solid wire around your meter leads or use a sharp lead to lightly pierce the insulation.

I'm assuming you read out the bulb?

You're looking for voltage - not current.

[delosholly]

OF course it could not be that easy. All the other bulbs are larger.