Need Help From Electrician/car Mechanic

[lawman0210]

Is there a tool/meter that will allow you to touch it to wires in bundles/harnesses to detect power? Ie I have some harnesses wires in the middle of a run that I want to tap to put a power receptacle in. I want to figure out what wires are hot with key in ignition and if the power goes off when key is taken out. I know you can use a meter if you have a access to the ends. I don't want to cut into the wires. A/c has a cool little tool that you can touch it to see if a wire is hot. I was told that car voltage is so low its hard to detect. One guy told me I could get a "neon light" detector. He said neon light uses low voltage. I asked 3 auto stores and home depot and no one knows what I'm talking about.

Any help?

 

[xmetalmaniac]

I have been working on vehicles for approx. 25+ years. PM me your vehicle info and what you are attempting to do....

 

[Gecko]

Amp clamp

 

[lawman0210]

Amp clamp won't measure down that low I don't believe and these are small bundles of wires

 

[lawman0210]

I have heardnu can take a multi meter and sharpen thebpositive tip to pierce into wire and it will self heal

 

[dr.chop]

one way we did it when I used to do car stereo and alarm stuff was to take strippers and bite into the wire without cutting it and then use the multimeter/test light from there. The surface of the strippers will be your contact point. Will just break the insulation a hair, but not cut the wire. Or, if it is a thick enough wire, do like mentioned above and poke it, but be careful not to break through and stab yourself.

use this type of stripper
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-stri...=00982544000&kispla=00982544000P#crumbWrapper

not this type
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-prof...1x000001&kpid=00945749000&kispla=00945749000P

 

[SpeakForYou]

A multimeter would be the best bet. Can use it to detect low voltages etc and also to test of a cable is broke. We use them alot in college to test motorbike circuits.