Just spotted at Harbor Freight
https://www.harborfreight.com/30-amp-automotive-fuse-circuit-tester-67724.html

30 Amp Automotive Fuse Circuit Tester $15.99
CEN-TECH
Test automotive circuits at the fuse box, plugging into ATC blade-style fuse slots
Simplify electrical diagnosis
Protects automotive circuits during use
Power-save auto shutoff after 30 seconds of non-use

There's no real specs or user manual
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/363185350750?epid=1823314886&hash=item548f88a85e:g:qwAAAOSwuE9ftV0v
Electronic Specialties Inc
Fuse Buddy 20Amp Circuit Tester for ATC Fuses $22.99

Description

Blowing fuses? Get the Fuse Buddy.
Can test circuit current up to 20 Amps.
Clever design allows for easy connection into fuse sockets.
Fuse Buddy ends are molded into the shape of the fuse itself.
During testing the fuse is removed and replaced into the Fuse Buddy.
This way, the circuit being tested maintains fuse protection.
The Fuse Buddy stays put and won’t fall out of the socket,
like test probes do.
Can even be used to test for parasitic drains!
Tests circuit current from 0 to 20 Amps/48 Volts
Resolution .01A (10 milliamps), accuracy + 2%
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More options:
Fuse Buddy- 20 and 30 Amp packages (700/900/850 use ATC fuses)
https://www.esitest.com/305-306.html

#305M 30 Amp FUSE BUDDYTM
- MINI #306B 30 Amp FUSE BUDDYTM - ATCY

Fuse Buddy Testers can test circuit current up to 30 Amps.
Two 30 Amp models, #305M used with Mini size fuses and #306B used with ATC size fuses.
Blowing fuses? Get the Fuse Buddy, a great new product.
Clever design allows for easy connection into fuse sockets.
30 Amp models have resolution of .1A, while 20 Amp models have .01A resolution.
Fuse Buddy ends are molded into the shape of the fuse itself.
During testing the fuse is removed and replaced into the Fuse Buddy. This way, the circuit being tested maintains fuse protection.
The Fuse Buddy stays put and won't fall out of the socket, like test probes do. 305M & 306B Specifications
Tests circuit current from 0 to 30 Amps/48 Volts
Resolution .1A (100 milliamps), accuracy + 2%

305M & 306B Specifications:
Tests circuit current from 0 to 30 Amps/48 Volts
Resolution .1A (100 milliamps), accuracy + 2%

305M Price: $30.98

306B Price: $30.98

Hi,

These are supposed to be convenient tools but I don't think they are. Looks like the "probe" end of the fuse buddy won't fit into the narrow space above the fuse row of 940 (behind the ashtray). Its too tall. You'd have to remove the radio box above first. Thats why a "fuse puller" tool is provided by Volvo. They know how narrow the space is, its difficult (but not impossible) even to insert your hand to pull a fuse out.

For 960 its a different story.

Amarin

Hi Amarin,

There's a lot of room above the fuse block when you remove the box with the cigar lighter. You can get your meter leads onto the tops of fuses OK and use the handy ground plug from the cigar lighter to ground your VOM and measure voltage.
I've never had the after market AM/FM/cassette player out. How is that removed?

I rechecked the two fuel circuits yesterday with a never used freebee HF Cen-Tec VOM. I got much different voltage drop readings. Maybe the little HF fuse checker can be more accurate than using the voltage chart with various and different VOM's ? I'll get the HF tester today and report back.
There's a 50 Amp ammeter and shunt due tomorrow, so I'll be able to make some
sense out of the different readings with the voltage drop chart.

I checked my LED headlights and found quite different voltage drop readings with
the two Lasfit units. These LEDs read high and quickly read lower current draw.

You might report on the current draw of your LEDs?

Cheers, Bill

Hi,

I see a use for a blown up ATC fuse blade now.
Clip my voltmeter/ammeter leads to the top side where I removed some plastic and stick it in.

Of course I have the normal ten ampere range but I also have a 50 ampere panel analog meter mounted into a block of wood for heavier readings.
Actually now I use some flat spade terminals in alligator clips and call it good.
This might be a setup for more of a steady separator.
I’ll have to ponder this idea the next time I ever need to do such a thing.

Specialty items are tricky as some are only good for one purpose.
I don’t like cluttering my tool boxes with very many of those “limited use” tools.
It monitors a whole circuit only. I check components individually, so you are back to using leads again.

I have lots of good ATC type fuses laying about that were handed down to me.
Trick is, they are for newer vehicles than most the things I own.
I own several Battery Tenders to maintain batteries across several vehicles.
They are the 3 ampere models and come with a 7.5 ampere fuses in the leads.

Have you ever tried to find one of those translucent brown Doobie-Jobs before? A little bit odd in sets.
The ones I found were so expensive for what they are made of and how fast too.
They want my arm and my neighbor’s leg for one or two of them at any place I checked.
$or$$ each! Ridiculous huh?
This is Mainly because, the neighbor, won’t give up his leg to me. (:)
He was still a nice “stand up guy” though he has passed away. (:-(

I later found this out from his wife, that he had so many because he was color blind. I remember seeing wiring on the ocean fishing boat.)
The ATCs have nice markings that helped him I’m sure!
That’s where I got the large bunch I have now.
But no 7.5s (:(
The glass ones make me squint nowadays.
But how often does one have to use a fuse?
ONCE? (:-)

The gadgetry above, that started all of this could use a variable and resettable circuit breaker on or in it.
Nah! That’s crazy.
I’ll never ever see a “variable” one of those for the safety reasons of the true dummies out there!


Phil

Hi Phil,

>I see a use for a blown up ATC fuse blade now.
>Clip my voltmeter/ammeter leads to the top side where I removed some plastic and stick it in.

I'd like to do that, or maybe solder some wires to the top of the ATC fuse posts
since the posts are short. It's tricky to remove plastic and have enough to
grab and remove the ATC plug from the socket. It's another trick to solder without melting the plastic.

Send a picture of your ATC fuse artwork with the Dremel tool if you make something useable.

Your idea of using female spade lugs to probe the sockets is good providing you
mike the lugs and be sure they are not thicker than the ATC fuse legs.
You don't want to loosen the socket connector.

OK on the sticker shock on 7.5 A fuses. That goes for fuses in general.
Several decades ago AGC fuses were 10c each, and the next day they were maybe
50c each. I suspect this happened just after the CEO's of Littlefuse and Buss had lunch. You could complain to congress, but they're on the payroll.

Cheers, Bill