switch issue

[Joseph]

given these following facts regarding a right handlebar light switch :

• 12 V feed to input wire is present

• switch continuity between the 12V input and output wires is tested ok when you switch the switch on

yet

no power through the output wire when the switch is put on ?

Edited April 20, 2023 by Joseph

[TonyGee]

that seams odd   I think what I would do is strip the switch and check/clean the little copper sliders first just to rule them out.

Edited April 20, 2023 by TonyGee

[Rijko]

5 hours ago, Joseph said:

given these following facts regarding a right handlebar light switch :

• 12 V feed to input wire is present

• switch continuity between the 12V input and output wires is tested ok when you switch the switch on

yet

no power through the output wire when the switch is put on ?

Occam's razor ..

if fact 1 (12V input is present) is correct

and fact 3 (no output) is correct ...

fact nr. 2 should be questioned.

+1 on what Tony said

Edited April 20, 2023 by Rijko

[Rijko]

I recently read a nice explanation of the culprit in trusting a continuity test.

Say you have a wire with all strands but 1 broken.

A continuity test would be succesful, but no way that 1 strand would be
able to carry enough amps to power something big.

Only a load test would show the wire to be the problem.

You just did a ok continuity test but the load test failed ...

Edited April 20, 2023 by Rijko

[Joseph]

@Rijkogood points i'll check that out. 

[Devilman]

21 hours ago, Rijko said:

I recently read a nice explanation of the culprit in trusting a continuity test.

Say you have a wire with all strands but 1 broken.

A continuity test would be succesful, but no way that 1 strand would be
able to carry enough amps to power something big.

Only a load test would show the wire to be the problem.

You just did a ok continuity test but the load test failed ...

Very much agree with this.

Testing continuity using a load can be a very effective way of finding a problem.

Rather than using a multimeter, use a (fused) supply from the battery, a bulb and route the wire you're testing to earth. 

Can use a variety of bulbs to simulate different loads. 

60w Headlamp bulb is going to be around 4.5-5A depending on battery voltage.

21w Brake Light bulb is good to simulate a 1.8(ish) amp draw, etc..

Edited April 21, 2023 by Devilman