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 Posted - July 23 2016 : 9:39:02 PM
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Thought I'd post some tools I find useful in electronics that others of you might find useful. Today's post is regarding a battery-powered device called a Bug Light. Basically, it's a small plastic fat pen with two AAA batteries, a 3 volt lamp, and thats' about it. What's it's purpose? To locate shorts and check electrical paths. This particular one was made by Desco, called the Circuitracer. I've had this one for probably 20+ years, I had to overhaul it today, the wiring inside was loose, the springs were corroded from the old batteries, and it had white mold on the plastic from sitting in the humid basement. So I took it all apart, washed it, sanded the spring ends, put a new 3v lamp in it, and soldered the wire back to the base plate inside. While not good AS new, it works again. 
A few pictures -
Since it uses a 3 volt lamp and batteries, it should NEVER be used on a powered DC circuit! Only on dead unpowered circuits. I used to use this tool constantly when looking for electrical shorts on circuit boards many years ago, as the low voltage wouldn't hurt the circuitry. Many were the copper and solder shorts I had to look for.  Still a handy tool today, if you need a quick way to determine if a short is around. It will glow dimly if there is a capacitor in the circuit, though. Anyway, it wouldnt' be hard to make one of these, either, just a light source, a couple batteries, and some long wire leads with test points on them. This is just a nice compact package to carry around. One for the bench could be easily cobbled together from your junkbox ( if you collect junk LOL ). I will be posting more useful hints and tools and such as time goes on.
Jerry in VA, train repair tech
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Country:  USA ~
Posts: 3974 ~
Member Since: January 04 2009 ~
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Posted - July 24 2016 : 2:54:51 PM
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You're funny.
" IF ", he says.
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Country:  Canada ~
Posts: 505 ~
Member Since: August 09 2014 ~
Last Visit: October 11 2022
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