The Ford Barn

Dbbc · 10-16-2014, 02:18 PM

Aloha,
Went on a drive and stop to check the surf. Had to push the car to get it restarted. I knew my battery was running low but I guess it does not to seem to be charging while I drive.
What should be the reading on the ammeter while driving? I know it goes down to -4 to -6 while breaking, -10 when I turn the light on (should it get back to 0 when you drive or rev the engine?). Should it show a charge while driving?

Also I plug the battery to a charger without removing the battery wires ( I have a cutout switch on the negative lead) Is that a no no....

Finally how to a check if the alternator to make sure it is charging when the motor run.
mahalo for your help.

billwill · 10-16-2014, 02:34 PM

Always remove the ground wire form the battery when going to gharg hhe batterygoodluck

springerpete · 10-16-2014, 02:49 PM

Watching the surf along the shore should make you forget the electrical problems. Ammeter should read 3-5 amps when running without lights on. You can adjust the 3rd brush to make it change charging rate. Do you have Les Andrews book ? He goes into detail about doing that.

Enjoy the island. Can't wait to get back to Maui next year. Bill

Patrick L. · 10-16-2014, 03:09 PM

You never mentioned if you are getting any charge at all. You also said you have an alternator ???

WestCoast · 10-16-2014, 03:23 PM

if you are running the original gen with the cut out, I should show about 10 amp running, at that amps it should show a couple of amps with the lites on, and here is where I get called an idiot, with the engine running pull the ground cable off the batt. if the engine dies the gen isn't working

johnbuckley · 10-16-2014, 03:30 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by billwill

Always remove the ground wire form the battery when going to charge the battery

Why do you do this? I don't and haven't heard it suggested before

bambooboy · 10-16-2014, 06:19 PM

agree with west coast on pulling grd wire or use your cutout switch,if eng dies,search on here for charging problems.plenty of info.also agree with john buckley---tom

Dbbc · 10-17-2014, 12:47 AM

Aloha,
If I was able to push the car to get it started and drove back home a few miles without any other problems. Should tell me that alternator is working?

So when you drive the ammeter should always be charging when you drive, right?

Mike V. Florida · 10-17-2014, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dbbc

Aloha,
If I was able to push the car to get it started and drove back home a few miles without any other problems. Should tell me that alternator is working?

So when you drive the ammeter should always be charging when you drive, right?

Daytime, no horn, lights, etc, yes it should show a charge.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-17-2014, 01:54 AM

If you can spin the alternator fan with your fingers, then the belt is too loose. I never disconnect anything while charging the battery. When the battery is fully charged the ammeter should read just a hair to the plus side of 0. It sounds like the alternator isn't charging and may have internal problems, because I'm sure you would know if hte belt is too loose. How long since the meter read to the plus side?

Keep the battery fully charged and going low on charge will shorten it's life.

Push starting doesn't mean the alternator is working. The coil only takes and amp or two and the short drive home was easy, even for the low battery.

10-16-2014, 02:18 PM	#1
Dbbc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Honolulu Posts: 116	Ammeter proper functioning Aloha, Went on a drive and stop to check the surf. Had to push the car to get it restarted. I knew my battery was running low but I guess it does not to seem to be charging while I drive. What should be the reading on the ammeter while driving? I know it goes down to -4 to -6 while breaking, -10 when I turn the light on (should it get back to 0 when you drive or rev the engine?). Should it show a charge while driving? Also I plug the battery to a charger without removing the battery wires ( I have a cutout switch on the negative lead) Is that a no no.... Finally how to a check if the alternator to make sure it is charging when the motor run. mahalo for your help.

10-16-2014, 02:34 PM	#2
billwill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: capemaynewjersey Posts: 653	Re: Ammeter proper functioning Always remove the ground wire form the battery when going to gharg hhe batterygoodluck

10-16-2014, 02:49 PM	#3
springerpete Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Central Maine Posts: 644	Re: Ammeter proper functioning Watching the surf along the shore should make you forget the electrical problems. Ammeter should read 3-5 amps when running without lights on. You can adjust the 3rd brush to make it change charging rate. Do you have Les Andrews book ? He goes into detail about doing that. Enjoy the island. Can't wait to get back to Maui next year. Bill

10-16-2014, 03:09 PM	#4
Patrick L. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Largo Florida Posts: 7,225	Re: Ammeter proper functioning You never mentioned if you are getting any charge at all. You also said you have an alternator ???

10-16-2014, 03:23 PM	#5
WestCoast Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: oroville calif Posts: 893	Re: Ammeter proper functioning if you are running the original gen with the cut out, I should show about 10 amp running, at that amps it should show a couple of amps with the lites on, and here is where I get called an idiot, with the engine running pull the ground cable off the batt. if the engine dies the gen isn't working

10-16-2014, 06:19 PM	#7
bambooboy Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: joppa maryland Posts: 209	Re: Ammeter proper functioning agree with west coast on pulling grd wire or use your cutout switch,if eng dies,search on here for charging problems.plenty of info.also agree with john buckley---tom

10-17-2014, 12:47 AM	#8
Dbbc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Honolulu Posts: 116	Re: Ammeter proper functioning Aloha, If I was able to push the car to get it started and drove back home a few miles without any other problems. Should tell me that alternator is working? So when you drive the ammeter should always be charging when you drive, right?

10-17-2014, 01:54 AM	#10
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Ammeter proper functioning If you can spin the alternator fan with your fingers, then the belt is too loose. I never disconnect anything while charging the battery. When the battery is fully charged the ammeter should read just a hair to the plus side of 0. It sounds like the alternator isn't charging and may have internal problems, because I'm sure you would know if hte belt is too loose. How long since the meter read to the plus side? Keep the battery fully charged and going low on charge will shorten it's life. Push starting doesn't mean the alternator is working. The coil only takes and amp or two and the short drive home was easy, even for the low battery.