CAPT OF B733 PERFORMED STANDBY ELECTRICAL PWR TEST INCORRECTLY DURING PREFLT. FLEW SUBSEQUENT LEG WITH STANDBY SYS THAT WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.

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WHILE PERFORMING THE STANDBY PWR CHK; I DO REMEMBER THAT THE STANDBY PWR-OFF LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. HOWEVER; SINCE THE ACTUAL PWR SHOWED A DISCONNECT ON THE GAUGES; IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME THAT THE LIGHT WAS ALSO SUPPOSED TO ILLUMINATE. ENRTE TO PHX ON OUR 5 HR FLT; I BEGAN LOOKING AROUND AT GAUGES AND THUMBING THROUGH MY FOM REVIEWING DIFFERENT PROCS; WHEN IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT I SHOULD LOOK UP THE PROC FOR THE STANDBY PWR CHK. I FOUND THAT THE STANDBY PWR LIGHT MUST ILLUMINATE WHEN THE STANDBY PWR SWITCH IS MOVED TO OFF. WHEN WE ARRIVED IN PHX; I ONCE AGAIN PERFORMED THE STANDBY PWR TEST; AND SURE ENOUGH; THE LIGHT REMAINED OUT WHEN THE SWITCH WAS PLACED TO THE OFF POS. MAINT WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE LIGHT COME ON ONCE; BUT HE DECIDED TO CHANGE THE RELAY FOR THE STANDBY PWR LIGHT AS HE FELT IT WAS GOING BAD. A WHILE BACK THERE WAS AN ARTICLE FROM THE CHIEF PLTS ASKING US WHERE OUR OWN PREFLTS HAD GOTTEN SLOPPY; AND TO EXAMINE OUR PREFLTS TO MAKE THEM MORE ACCURATE. I HAD ALLOWED THAT PORTION OF MY PREFLT TO SLIP. JUST AS I REVIEW BASIC LIMITATIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS FOR MODELS OF THE B737; I RARELY FLY; I MUST KNOW IN THE FUTURE TO REVIEW THE PROCS FOR AM FLTS AFTER I HAVE HAD A LONG SPELL OF PM FLTS.