ameter

[scortpower]

i bought a ameter or ampmeter what ever its called i wired it how it told me but no matter what its alway on discharge of 15amps even while moving is that right has anyone else wired one up if so how did they do it.

[simonh1]

It really needs some THICK cable going direct to the battery, same stuff as on your battery connections m8...........

[F1ACK]

Mine sat on about 20 i think, didn't really move no matter what happened, until it caught fire anyway

[Timmy C]

You didnt connect the ammeter across the terminals did you??

[The Ince]

dont ammeters go on just one terminal of the battery and to another electical divice, eg amp. Edited June 13, 2005 by The Ince

[Timmy C]

Yeah that would work

[Rich]

so if you conected it to the main feed to the fuse box that should give a reading for the whole car then?

[simonh1]

The idea of fitting an ammeter is to check that the alternater is charging.

[scortpower]

well it sits about -15 amps when running .. it dont move much only when i turn lights on and heaters and stuff i wired it up how i was told in the instructions. it must be right cos it moves to the - when lights and stuff are on.. whos got one and how did they wire theres.

[JamesFarrell]

If it's showing minus 15, you've got it the wrong way round. Switch the terminals, gain a positive reading.

[scortpower]

yeh but if i did that it would mean i am gaining more amps when i turn the light on which aint right. i know its the right way . unless its to do with having to amps in the car or just must be to do with the wire not being thick enough.

[JamesFarrell]

If you turn the light on then more current is required. Ameters measure current, and thus when you turn the light on should it not go up?

 

Or did I miss something?

[The Ince]

If you turn the light on then more current is required. Ameters measure current, and thus when you turn the light on should it not go up?

 

Or did I miss something?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sounds right to me, as the lights require power the alternator and battery must supply enough power to illuminate the filament, so yes the ampeter will increase.

 

So yes, the wires are the wrong way round, and to confirm, due to the load on the battery and alternator (in terms of amps) being near constant (unless you are constantly switching suff on and off) it will not move alot. Things like air con, big amps, etc would cause larger movements.

[scortpower]

but according to the instructions it says when you turn lights on with engine off the ameter will move to the - not + . unless they have typed it wrong.