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Old 06-22-2018, 01:24 PM   #1
grumppyoldman
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Default Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

My original amp guage doesn't work, I want to install an after market gauge to see if my system is charging. I just had the gen. overhauled and replaced the voltage reg. and just want to check if it is working. I know there is a problem running on this type gauge, because if it fails all current is dead. It happened to me once before on another car. It will be a temperary hook up, any suggestions?
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Old 06-22-2018, 01:56 PM   #2
JSeery
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Default Re: Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

Ammeters are normally located between the battery and the rest of the vehcile electrical loads. The idea is to indicate current flow to & from the battery.
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Old 06-22-2018, 02:39 PM   #3
Art Newland
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Default Re: Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

If it's just to test things, get a clamp-on "DC" amp meter. No connections to be made, test then put it away until you need to use it again.
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Old 06-22-2018, 02:49 PM   #4
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Default Re: Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

Thanks for the reply's I know how it works, just don't know about wire size or where to make connections. Al
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Old 06-22-2018, 09:47 PM   #5
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Default Re: Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

Your question is a little confusing but if you want to see if the original ammeter is working then pull the headlights ON and see if the ammeter shows a discharge. You don't need the engine running. The ammeter should show some sort of an amps charge with the engine reeved up a bit. An easier way to test the generator/regulator is to use a voltmeter. At the regulator connect a DC voltmeter between the GEN terminal and ground and rev engine up to 2000 or so RPM for one minute and voltage should be around 7.5 volts. A fully charged 6 volt battery at rest should read 6.3 volts. YOU can see then that the generator voltage when charging is higher than the battery voltage at rest. Report back your findings. Regards, Kevin.
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Old 06-23-2018, 10:34 AM   #6
19Fordy
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Default Re: Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

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Grumpy: Here's some really helpful info for your amp meter question.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-guage.114424/

You might want to consider installing a voltmeter instead.
It's safer and easier to install.
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Old 06-23-2018, 11:11 AM   #7
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Default Re: Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by 19Fordy View Post
Grumpy: Here's some really helpful info for your amp meter question.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...-guage.114424/

You might want to consider installing a voltmeter instead.

It's safer and easier to install.
Just an aside; have you tried to find an automotive voltmeter lately that reads less than 10 volts? I have been looking for one for my test stand (it is dual voltage, 6 or 12). I'd like to add a second voltmeter to the 6 volt side, but can't find one. I'm pretty much resigned to watching eBay and hoping siomething appropriate comes up.
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Old 06-23-2018, 01:21 PM   #8
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Default Re: Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

Quote:
Originally Posted by tubman View Post
Just an aside; have you tried to find an automotive voltmeter lately that reads less than 10 volts? I have been looking for one for my test stand (it is dual voltage, 6 or 12). I'd like to add a second voltmeter to the 6 volt side, but can't find one. I'm pretty much resigned to watching eBay and hoping siomething appropriate comes up.

Not really automotive but here is a panel meter that reads 0 to 15 volts:
https://www.jameco.com/z/AVM6015-Vel...yABEgI_AfD_BwE
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Old 06-23-2018, 01:28 PM   #9
tubman
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Default Re: Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

That would work, and the price is right, but I want something a little more, as you say, "automotive". For now, I have both systems running through the 12 volt voltmeter so I'm not dead in the water, but it's just a guess what the voltage really is when I'm running the stand on 6 volts.
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Old 06-23-2018, 06:27 PM   #10
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Default Re: Hooking up an amp. meter on a 41 Delux 6 volt sys. ?

I got -er-done,fixed me a wire that I hooked to an amp gauge. Connected it to the yellow wire under dash, to meter to yellow wire on solanoid got a small movement on gauge. Didn't expect much, since battery was fully charged. Now I know that the generator and regulator are working.Thanks for your input. Al
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