testing electronics

[Jake91]

how would i go about testing some car electronics such as a digital guage cluster, dic, ect without wireing them into the car

[pocket-rocket]

Find wiring diagrams to find out what pins take voltage and apply voltage to them. I would start small with like 5 volts just in case and slowly move up to 12 just in case they aren't 12 volt electronics (digital electronics like gates and stuff like to operate at 5 volts, which is why I suggested to start small and slowly move up).

[bszopi]

If you have schematics to determine where to supply the voltage, then you should be able to figure out what voltage it needs.

I have used old wall transformers before to power up car electronics, as you can usually find them in a variety of voltages, including 5, 9 and 12v.

[pocket-rocket]

True, I had a brain fart and was thinking most of the gauge cluster was run from the ECM though (besides the gauges) :P Then again it could just get power from somewhere and signals from the ECM for the things the ECM does run.

[Jake91]

okay thanks