Pcm control current

Can someone tell me what is MA draw on a control circuit? I know scanner Danner mentions it in several videos. Like on a relay or a driver for a coil? My regular test light puts out about 130 Ma. I was watching this YouTube video on it being a danger to use led one. I know not true I have used regular one for years. Thank you

Without seeing your control circuit diagram to address MA, mA is milliamps. That is 1/1000 of an amp. Your test light puts out 130mA. You used Ma which would be incorrect to address milliamps.

Paul stresses to know the mA for your test light. Notice he uses the incandescent test light almost exclusively but in some rare cases he uses an LED.

Paul is by far the expert in this. I trust and listen to him.

Hope this answers your question.

I understand that. I have used test lights that draw 170 Ma. No problem at all. I know relay control circuits draw about 1 Amp. One of these days going to test the current draw. I have watched every one of his videos when first started on YouTube then on the premium channel

The current draw on a control circuit will vary largely on the circuit. You can sometimes use service info on the circuit/component in question to get the specified resistance and let Ohm's Law give you an *estimate* of what the current draw will be.

That video is a little... confusing. I get the message perfectly. But, if I probed the wrong wire with my incandescent test light during an inspection without understanding the circuit in question, then whatever gets cooked isn't on my test light - it's on ME. Same thing with like-colored wires. You can't go eenie-meenie-minie-mo, pick one, hope for the best then blame equipment when you let the magic smoke out.

'Computer safe' should be rephrased to 'human safe'. :silly:

Thanks for the reply. I understand control circuits just seen many people misunderstand and advise against them. I know test light is a buffer in case you do something wrong. I have a ammeter that will measure down to 1 Ma. Maybe one day I will do some measurements for my own behalf.

autojoe wrote:

I have a ammeter that will measure down to 1 Ma. Maybe one day I will do some measurements for my own behalf.

Let us know what you find.

Since watching SD material, I've made it habit to measure every test light or load bulb I use regularly. I then Sharpie the draw amount on the light/bulb for reference later. Makes choosing the right bulb for the circuit being tested much easier.