ampere guage
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=114417
Printed Date: May 14, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Topic: ampere guage
Posted By: coolen
Subject: ampere guage
Date Posted: June 12, 2009 at 8:31 PM
Hello to all. I just picked up an ampere guage for my nissan truck. I have a lot of accessories on my truck and I'd like to make sure that my alternator is keeping up with everything ok. I need a bit of direction for this. Thanks
Replies:
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 12, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Did it come with any instructions? How many connections are on the gauge? How many large and how many small?
Posted By: coolen
Date Posted: June 13, 2009 at 5:31 AM
It has a postive and a negitive on the back side of the guage, and one wire for illumination....the directions that came with it aren't very clear.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 13, 2009 at 5:14 PM
i am an idiot wrote:
How many large and how many small?
The terminals, how many, and which ones are large, and which ones are smaller in size?
Did it come with a metal bar or metal rod?
Posted By: coolen
Date Posted: June 17, 2009 at 7:32 AM
there are 2 terminals on the back of the guage. one neg and one pos- both the same length and diameter. it did not come with a metal bar or rod. thanks. would i be better off with a volt guage here? I just wanna make sure my alternator is keeping up with my accessoreis at idle.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 17, 2009 at 3:12 PM
In order for an ammeter to work, there needs to be a shunt. It may be inside the meter movement. Would you consider the terminals large enough to carry 100 amps of current? Is the meter heavy enough for it to have a pretty massive piece of metal inside of it? Using an ohm meter, what is the resistance between the 2 terminals?
Posted By: coolen
Date Posted: June 17, 2009 at 9:07 PM
i'll try to describe it to you. both terminals are the same size. if i were to take an educated guess, i'd say that each pole is approx 3/16'' in diameter, and 1-1/2 long. looking at the guage it is 0-60 on either side of the 0. To the left it says discharge, to the right of 0, it's charge. it's your average run of the mill after market guage. I wouldn't think it would handle 100 amps, but I dunno.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 17, 2009 at 10:01 PM
i am an idiot wrote:
Using an ohm meter, what is the resistance between the 2 terminals?
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 17, 2009 at 10:04 PM
Where does the needle rest? all the way to the left or in the middle.
Posted By: coolen
Date Posted: June 17, 2009 at 10:06 PM
the needle rests on 0. I'll check the resistance in the morn.
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 17, 2009 at 10:20 PM
The only thing that I can figure is that they are using the wire between the alternator and the battery as the shunt. Connect one terminal to the positive post of the battery, and connect the other to the output terminal of the alternator. Have someone inside the vehicle to make sure the meter does not peg out. (I do not think it will) Start the vehicle, notice the reading, then turn your headlights on, notice if it moves the meter. If it moves the wrong way, reverse the battery and alternator connections.
Posted By: coolen
Date Posted: June 17, 2009 at 10:23 PM
ok. that sounds easy enough, thanks a lot!! am i still looking at a 4g wire for this?
Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: June 17, 2009 at 10:34 PM
I have no idea what kind of vehicle we are dealing with. If you upgraded the wire from the alternator to the battery then maybe yes. If no upgrades have been done, I really doubt that it will have a 4 Ga. wire. An 8 Ga. or maybe a 6 Ga., but doubtfully a 4 Ga. It will be the largest wire connected to the alternator, and the positive terminal of the battery.
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