Checking wiring before hooking up battery

[IowaBen]

Probably a bit late to be asking this question. I think I have all the wiring laid out and connected. My plan has been to hook everything up, make sure everything works and figure out where everything will land, then go back through and clean up the wiring. I'm about to the point where I can hook up the battery and make an attempt at the first start. I wrapped up the initial wiring feeling pretty confident in all the connections (no extra or unexplained wires, etc.), but this was an all new adventure for me.

That said, is there anything I could/should do to test things out other than hooking up the battery with fingers crossed?

Thanks as always.

[Nigel Allen]

Put a 20 amp fuse between your battery negative post and the negative lead. This should allow you to individually test all circuits one at a time without blowing the fuse or making smoke. Of course don't try and crank the starter motor, as it will blow the fuse. If it passes, then hook up the negative lead and go for start-up.

[Ernie67]

At this point I like the idea of the 20 A fuse. I HAD to know each circuit was working before I went on the the next one. It helped to drive the project with positive motivation.

[edwardb]

Put me in the camp of having to test each circuit as I go. Also in the category of impatient and need the motivation. Just watch for loose bare wires touching something not appropriate. Like positive wires to ground. Will eat a fuse in the panel... ask me how I know. For my testing, I used a regulated power supply that has a 10 amp limiter. So it prevents putting a lot of current into the tested circuit and buzzes if something is wrong (e.g. shorted) or over current. Couple of circuits it won't power. Like the horns and the halogen headlights. I use a Power Probe a lot too. But attached to the same power supply. So has the same current limitation with a little additional functionality. Like showing polarity, voltage, etc. And the ability to apply the 12V with a push of a button. Handy tool.