Voltage drop is the amount of voltage dropped or lost as it passes through a component or resistance in a circuit. In order to run a voltage drop test voltage must be present in a circuit. The voltage drop in a circuit is the difference between voltage at the source or battery and the voltage at the component to which the voltage is flowing to. The tester leads are connected in parallel with the circuit being tested.
Use a voltmeter to perform this test. Perhaps one of the headlights is dimmer than the other or a motor is operating slower than normal. It is common to perform a voltage drop test on the starter circuit. This is because a voltage drop test is the best way to find resistance in a high current circuit.
Check all connections and place the probe on the battery post instead of the terminal when testing the positive and negative cables. Test the positive battery cable, negative battery cable, and the starter solenoid. Check these readings against manufacturers specifications. Typically the standard for this cable is no more than 0.5 or 1.0 volt depending on the vehicle. Be careful for aftermarket imitations that may have thicker insulation and less conductor than the original cables.
Check all connections and place the probe on the battery post instead of the terminal when testing the positive and negative cables. Test the positive battery cable, negative battery cable, and the starter solenoid. Check these readings against manufacturers specifications. Typically the standard for this cable is no more than 0.5 or 1.0 volt depending on the vehicle. Be careful for aftermarket imitations that may have thicker insulation and less conductor than the original cables.
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