Use a 6-12 volt circuit tester for checking a car circuit. It has a short metal probe, and the translucent insulated handle contains a 12 volt bulb and has a length of cable attached that can be clipped to the car body as an earth. The probe is used to test the live side of the circuit. Where there is current, the bulb lights up.

To make a simple test lamp, use a single filament bulb and two lengths of low-current carrying wire. Solder one length to the bulb basecap metal (earth), the other to the single centre contact (live). Fix crocodile clips to the wire ends.

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