i just bought a digtal multimeter tester from radio shack. how exactly do i test the fuse box for which side of the fuse has constant power with acc? do i just place the red wire on the metal of one of the sides of the fuse and place the black wire on a ground near by like a bolt?

 

yes, that will work, make sure your meter is set to measure DC, not AC.

 

The multimeter will read the same from either side of the fuse. You have to pull the fuse or better yet use a blown fuse so there isn't a complete circuit. does that make sense. if the fuse is good, both sides will be hot. hope it helps

 

or you can just use the little tips of metal on the top of the fuse

 

so by doing that nothing is going to blow up in my face right???

 

nope ull be all good just take the red lead and touch it to just the metal peice on the top of the fuse and not to anything else and you will be fine, and take the black lead and touch it to any screw that would be connecting to the frame and your good to go

 

i'm gonna have to pull the fuse out to test it since if the fuse is in it will read the same thing. is it okay to stick the red medal prong in where the fuse prongs were? also do i first touch that with the red prong then touch the black prong to a ground or does it even matter? Also are the test light bulbs dangerous to use for testing voltage?

 

The order in which you touch the leads to the contacts doesn't matter. The most important things are to check that your meter is set properly for what you're testing. Make sure it is set for the right current (AC or DC) and voltage range, or you WILL blow the meter's internal fuse. Also, NEVER check resistance when there is voltage in the circuit. Remember too that a voltmeter measures voltage difference, so if you measure on both ends of a good fuse it will still show 0 volts even though there is voltage present. As you said, pull the fuse to check if there is power getting to it.

Test bulbs are probably OK as long as they're designed for the voltage/current you're testing. Personally though, I'd prefer a good multimeter.

 

No. If the fuse is plugged in then both sides will be hot.

You need to pull the fuse, set the multimeter on DC voltage, touch the black lead to ground, and carefully insert the red lead into each side of the fuse socket. Only one side should read 12 volts. In order for your new accessory to be protected by the fuse, you want to hook it up to the side of the fuse that doesn't show voltage.

 

this guy on this topic told me that i should not use the fuse box at all

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/electronics-audio-video-49/question-about-using-fuses-10246/

so how am i suppose to get power to my amp??