Relay testers

[signcrafter]

How many of you have or use these relay testers or what I consider more of a relay break out box like this lisle kit http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0070H5XHG/?tag=atomicindus08-20. Or this one http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007QYW4B6/?tag=atomicindus08-20. Here's a youtube video of it,

.

I've been thinking about getting one of these kits for a few years now but just never could justify the cost being I don't make money with my tools. But I've had some electrical issues that these seem like they could have been handy for getting into the circuit through the relay terminals and testing the control side of the relay circuit and also the power side of the relay circuit.

Right now I'm just touching my meter leads to the relay socket tabs and testing like this Loadpro video

. It has worked alright so never "needed" a relay tester kit. But wondering if they would come in handy to help with testing. I kind of like the cal van kit I linked to above because it has a red and green LED to show if each pin of the relay is getting power or ground. It also has a switch to send power to pin 87 to activate whatever is on that circuit. Seems like a nice quick way to get into the relay circuits and test the whole circuit through the relay.

So being cheap I was going to try and make something like that in order to test relay circuits but making the adapters for all the different relays would be a pain to do right and by the time I do that the cost is going to add up and it's not going to be as nice as these kits. So I'm thinking if I'm going to do this I'm just going to buy a kit. Christmas is coming up so this may go on the list. But debating weather I "need" them or not! So looking for advice or opinions on this, should I get one of those kits or just keep doing what I'm doing and save a 100 bucks?

 

[Sebastien]

How about 4 leds, one switch, some terminals and wires? You could easily make your own. Ok it wouldn't be so nice but it would still work the same way.

 

[86k10]

I bought that Lisle kit recently and only have used it once. I got it because sometimes you can't access the relay pins while hooked up to see whats going on so this does work in that aspect. You can check voltage drops and such in real time so I would recommend it. You have to do more manual testing of the actual relay than the auto testers you linked to.

 

[signcrafter]

How about 4 leds, one switch, some terminals and wires? You could easily make your own. Ok it wouldn't be so nice but it would still work the same way.

I was thinking the same thing and was going to do this exact thing. But making the different adapters to plug into the relay socket won't be easy. I could just have the wires hanging and use spade terminals to plug into the relay socket but that didn't sound fun.

I bought that Lisle kit recently and only have used it once. I got it because sometimes you can't access the relay pins while hooked up to see whats going on so this does work in that aspect. You can check voltage drops and such in real time so I would recommend it. You have to do more manual testing of the actual relay than the auto testers you linked to.

That's the nice thing about the lisle kit that the calvan kit can't do, doing "real time" testing.

What do you mean by "more manual testing of the actual relay than the auto testers"? The lisle and calvan don't test the actual relay that I know of, the lisle kind of does. But the calvan just plugs into the relay socket and tests for power and ground at pins 85, 86, and 30 and then lets you send power to pin 87 if you want to. It doesn't actually test the relay. I saw the relay testers like this on amazon, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054WGSD2/?tag=atomicindus08-20. But I'm more interested in testing the actual circuit. If the circuit tests good then the relay is most likely bad and I can put a new relay in to test that. The 50 bucks for the tester to test just the relay is a waste of money to me.

 

[ol'Red]

The Lisle kit is awesome. I wish someone would make a version with some sort of socket you can plug your leads into for hands free operation. when I use lead clips I run the risk of arcing across pins

 

[outdoorsman310]

you could swap relays, test voltages, or take the cover off the relay but then it may be difficult to remove!! for example you want to see if you have a problem with xxxxx a/c relay. you could see if it is the same relay as another like fuel pump and if the vehicle doesnt run after switching them, the relay is a fault.

 

[Brownsfan]

I have that lisle set. It really helps when testing the entire circuit(before and after the relay. It makes it much easier to get your meter probes to the terminal you want to test. These coupled with the Load Pro leads helped me diagnose a corroded wire under the relay/fuse box in a horn circuit. Came to me after a previous shop said it was the clock spring and replaced it and nothing.

 

[signcrafter]

The Lisle kit is awesome. I wish someone would make a version with some sort of socket you can plug your leads into for hands free operation. when I use lead clips I run the risk of arcing across pins

Doesn't the lisle kit come with this adapter kit that lets you hook your meter up to it? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004N6Y0TY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The calvan one also has spots for meter leads.

 

[signcrafter]

I have that lisle set. It really helps when testing the entire circuit(before and after the relay. It makes it much easier to get your meter probes to the terminal you want to test. These coupled with the Load Pro leads helped me diagnose a corroded wire under the relay/fuse box in a horn circuit. Came to me after a previous shop said it was the clock spring and replaced it and nothing.

You do a lot of electrical testing, what advantages if any is there to the lisle kit being able to stack the relay on top so in since the circuit is still functional with the tester hooked up? The calvan kit can't do that so you can't "use" the circuit with the calvan tester hooked up. BUT I'm thinking that isn't to big of a deal since like you said you can use a loadpro to test out the whole circuit so I don't really see a need to be able to "use" the circuit like you can with the lisle testers. Unless I'm missing something? I'm liking the calvan set since you plug in the adapter and it tells you right away with leds where you have power and ground. Then can use a loadpro and meter to test further if needed. But you can't stack the relay with it like you can with the lisle testers so you can't "use" that circuit with the tester hooked up like you can with the lisle. Still not sure that is needed though.

 

[86k10]

I was thinking the same thing and was going to do this exact thing. But making the different adapters to plug into the relay socket won't be easy. I could just have the wires hanging and use spade terminals to plug into the relay socket but that didn't sound fun.



That's the nice thing about the lisle kit that the calvan kit can't do, doing "real time" testing.

What do you mean by "more manual testing of the actual relay than the auto testers"? The lisle and calvan don't test the actual relay that I know of, the lisle kind of does. But the calvan just plugs into the relay socket and tests for power and ground at pins 85, 86, and 30 and then lets you send power to pin 87 if you want to. It doesn't actually test the relay. I saw the relay testers like this on amazon, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054WGSD2/?tag=atomicindus08-20. But I'm more interested in testing the actual circuit. If the circuit tests good then the relay is most likely bad and I can put a new relay in to test that. The 50 bucks for the tester to test just the relay is a waste of money to me.

I thought that Calvan ran a test on the relay to test it but I never played with one so I am probably wrong. What I mean be testing the relay is low side and hide side in real time, voltage drop/amp draw while it remains in the circuit vs. removing the relay and plugging it into a separate tool.

 

[CWP1616L]

I bought that Lisle kit recently and only have used it once. I got it because sometimes you can't access the relay pins while hooked up to see whats going on so this does work in that aspect.

Here's another option: LINK

 

[Richard Cranium]

I have the kit also, You will also want to get the relay pliers, I have the small kit, I wish I had spent the extra money to get the deluxe kit, they make 3 kits I think... Rich...

 

[amlv20]

I have the smaller lisle kit rebranded as Mac with just the relay jumper blocks.i use them all the time and are worth the thought for me.you can relay swap and just measure pins and stuff and that can get you by for simple stuff but for the fun diags this kit is so worth it's Value.the system stays intact and operational and can be left like that if it's an intermittent fault and once it happens I can run my tests with out disrupting the circuit and potentially the fault which can happen if you have to remove the relay.i can keep the circuit working and check the primary circuit voltage supply and supply voltage drop.i can see what the relay coil is doing and also what the primary control circuit is doing.i can activate the relay by supplying the control wether it be voltage, ground,or both by using the pins right on the jumper.i can also see what the secondary circuit is doing and what it needs and also voltage drops.

 

[Brownsfan]

You do a lot of electrical testing, what advantages if any is there to the lisle kit being able to stack the relay on top so in since the circuit is still functional with the tester hooked up? The calvan kit can't do that so you can't "use" the circuit with the calvan tester hooked up. BUT I'm thinking that isn't to big of a deal since like you said you can use a loadpro to test out the whole circuit so I don't really see a need to be able to "use" the circuit like you can with the lisle testers. Unless I'm missing something? I'm liking the calvan set since you plug in the adapter and it tells you right away with leds where you have power and ground. Then can use a loadpro and meter to test further if needed. But you can't stack the relay with it like you can with the lisle testers so you can't "use" that circuit with the tester hooked up
like you can with the lisle. Still not sure that is needed though.

That's why I chose the lisle set. I can test the circuit with everything in tact like it rolled in. So you can test the circuit as well as the relay at the same time. It really amazes me the amount of techs around me anyway that either are afraid or don't understand electrical diagnosis. I think they just over think it or don't have the proper tools or training.

 

[signcrafter]

Alright so sounds like being able to test the circuit while the relay is plugged in like with the lisle kit is a must? The calvan kit can't do this, it plugs in place of the relay and tests the circuits but can't be plugged in with the relay and test while the circuit is in use. So I shouldn't get that one and stick with the lisle kit?

 

[The Gambler]

have a set and love them

 

[signcrafter]

That's why I chose the lisle set. I can test the circuit with everything in tact like it rolled in. So you can test the circuit as well as the relay at the same time. It really amazes me the amount of techs around me anyway that either are afraid or don't understand electrical diagnosis. I think they just over think it or don't have the proper tools or training.

I was typing while you posted. I'm one of those guys that over thinks everything! I like electrical diagnosis but since I don't do this every day I don't get a lot of experience. That is a good thing and a bad thing. But I like to learn and also be able to do almost anything I might need to on my own vehicles and family and friends.

So looks like everyone recommends the lisle kit then.

 

[Danglerb]

For me and my old cars the hard part is removing a 30 year old relay for the first time since installed at the factory. So far about half the time I destroy the old relay getting it out. I do have a nice selection of relay pliers, plastic pry things etc., but my relay panel is tight both on connectors and spacing.

I bought the Lisle relay test lead kit by mistake, so that makes buying the rest of the kit a bit more tempting, but none of the tools do all of what I would like, guessing its about avoiding patents of others.

I have a bad habit of buying stuff I don't use, but this is high up on the list of things you only need to use once to make it worth having.

Lisle does sell the jumpers singly. Jumper in Lisle talk is the relay socket extension module with test points on the side.

 

[Deadhead]

Here are two that are on the Matco truck

http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/RTK825/MASTER-RELAY-KIT-WITH-TERMINAL-LEAD/


http://www.matcotools.com/catalog/product/RTK810/RELAY-TEST-JUMPER-KIT/?source=igodigital

then I noticed that the Lisle version of the Master kit is the same but for about 140 bucks less

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0070H5XHG/?tag=atomicindus08-20


You plug your relay into the adapter then plug the adapter into the vehicle and there are test prongs on the side of the adapter to test operations.

 

[richfinn]

I use the load pro to test the trigger circuit and jump the power supply to the component with my DVOM set to amps/or a fused lead.

I sometimes will put a 9v battery across the trigger pins and measure continuity across the main pins if I want to test a relay I have pulled out of a junk car or fuse board.

 

[spotco2]

Simplest way to test a relay to see if it's working is to take a regular boy scout compass and set on top of it. When the relay is energized it creates a magnetic field causing the needle of the compass to change direction by 180°.

 

[signcrafter]

Simplest way to test a relay to see if it's working is to take a regular boy scout compass and set on top of it. When the relay is energized it creates a magnetic field causing the needle of the compass to change direction by 180°.

I'm not so much looking to test relays, I know the title is a little misleading but didn't know what to call it. I'm looking to get into the relay circuits and test the whole circuit through the relay socket. Test the power and ground tabs of the trigger circuit for the coil, 85 and 86. Then test the power coming into the relay on the power side, 30. Then test out the circuit going to the part the relay controls, post 87 or 87a.

 

[richfinn]

I'm not so much looking to test relays, I know the title is a little misleading but didn't know what to call it. I'm looking to get into the relay circuits and test the whole circuit through the relay socket. Test the power and ground tabs of the trigger circuit for the coil, 85 and 86. Then test the power coming into the relay on the power side, 30. Then test out the circuit going to the part the relay controls, post 87 or 87a.

If you have load pro and a meter that measures amps I can't see how they will help you????

 

[Danglerb]

What seems ideal to me are the following features;

Socket extension, plug into the relay socket with a couple feet of cable.
Breakout box, all the pins brought out into test points that fit probes.
Socket on the breakout box to plug relay into the circuit.
LED status indicators on both hot pins, coil and contacts.
Breaker protected source of power and ground that can be applied to any pins.

Testing the relay I'm not so sure about, as a relay can be flaky. If a jumper "fixes" the problem, try a new relay, and if that works pitch the old one.

Anybody on the fence, Amazon has three of the old model Cal-Van 75 relay testers for $60 shipped, about half normal price, and I see no difference with the newer 1976 model. For myself I think I am going to make up a socket extender with spades and Yed test points and just carefully label each of the leads with a shrink or collar.

 

[richfinn]

I still don't get it, if you volt drop the trigger circuit using the polarity indicator on your DVOM and load pro you have confirmed it is good or bad.

If you the jump battery supply 30 to component output using an ammeter and the device runs/or doesn't you have confirmed where the fault lies.

I don't get why you need the relay in the circuit, the whole point of load pro is that you remove the component and use the 25ohm resistor as the load.

 

[fxgmech]

I still don't get it, if you volt drop the trigger circuit using the polarity indicator on your DVOM and load pro you have confirmed it is good or bad.

If you the jump battery supply 30 to component output using an ammeter and the device runs/or doesn't you have confirmed where the fault lies.

I don't get why you need the relay in the circuit, the whole point of load pro is that you remove the component and use the 25ohm resistor as the load.

I want the relay in the circuit when testing for intermittent faults. The relay jumpers give access to all the circuits while everything is working, and then not working. If you're tracing a fault that is there when you are just tap the relay. If it still doesn't cycle I mark it and swap it with another and see if it works there or if the fault moves with it. No tools needed to test a relay most times. The rest of the system will though.
I bought the Lisle 60660 deluxe kit (labeled Blue-Point) just recently but I've been I've doing the same tests for years with jumper wires. The Lisle relay jumpers just make it a little quicker and a lot more convenient.
BTW, the Matco, Mac, etc relay jumper kits mentioned upthread are relabled Lisle. (I bought the Blue-Point labeled version from my Snap-on dealer on sale for only $4 more than online just so I could get a credit for the relay pliers I already had.)

 

[signcrafter]

If you have load pro and a meter that measures amps I can't see how they will help you????

Did you get my PM this morning?

 

[Danglerb]

Sometimes you want to do a repeated job quickly, sometimes you need all the help you can get. Sometimes the relays need to respond dynamically. I have headlights that pop up by running a motor until an internal switch trips, then they turn on.

The two dozen weird relays in my car are mostly in the passenger foot well, I need some kind extension socket to keep from climbing in upside down.

 

[neomirav]

Portable relay tester PRT-MS1

Portable relay test system designed to facilitate rapid verification of relay condition. The system is battery powered (lasts 8 hours standard use)

 

[Mr_B]

I was thinking the same thing and was going to do this exact thing. But making the different adapters to plug into the relay socket won't be easy. I could just have the wires hanging and use spade terminals to plug into the relay socket but that didn't sound fun.

When I started out not much available for relay breakout and after costs of setting up my own shop I couldn't spend hundreds on bits of plastic.

Trip to pull-a-part yard and bag selection of relay, chop tops off and solder in leads leads switches female banana plugs relay plug bases as you see fit and seal with black pu40.

I still make lot of probes and common sensor harness break outs as so cheap buy the parts online .

 

[usdemt]

I know you are asking for testing the whole circuit. But kind of related I found one of these at a pawn shop for cheap and I'm pretty impressed. It only tests the relay itself.
http://Electronic Specialties 190 Relay Buddy Automotive Relay Tester https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054WGSD2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5qMUDb78RFE5G

Video of how it works