I've got an Ammeter in my sprite, I think I remember asking the list about
ammeter vs. voltmeter about 6 months ago, voltmeter clearly came out ahead.
I still went ahead and got a smiths ammeter from XKs unlimited and installed
it in my counsel\dash I made. I prefer ammeter because that's what both my
cars have in them, I know how to read them. I can see the current being used
or being generated depending on which way the needle swings + or -. My only
suggestion would be to get a 30 amp ammeter. This jerk in some gauge shop
somehow convinced me to get the 60 amp model, I think the battery connectors
will melt before my sprite will ever have a 60 amp short or my generator
will blow up before in generates 60 amps. All the jerk did was order from
XKs unlimited and charged me twice their price. It was some gauge shop in LA
BTW, But the smith gauge is nice, I got the white faced one to be different.
I too think voltmeters are kinda pointless, I guess I just don't know how to
read them.
Toby Atwater
71 Toyota Land Cruiser, the bruiser.
69 Austin Healey Sprite, the knight.
> > At the risk of starting something I have had a couple of cars with
voltmeters
> > and IMHO they were the most useless gauge I have ever had. It told you
that
> > the alternator was putting out 13.5 volts or it wasn't. I can just look
at
> > my lights an tell that or see the smoke from the shorted wire were the
> > alternator keep trying to pump in amps until it went up in smoke. As
best as
> > I can determine it does nothing to help you if you have a something that
is
> > slowly draining your battery or if something has happen in the
electrical
> > system that is now requiring more amps. Both situations you would
prefer to
> > know about and rectify prior to seeing smoke signals.
> >
> > Flame suit on.
>
> But Bob doesn't a temperture gauge tell you the car overheated after you
> see the steam?
> Oh no, no oil pressure, maybe that explains the rod knock!
> I must say that a voltmeter (which I have in all my LBCs) and an
> ammeter, only tell you if it's charging or not. Although a volt meter
> doesn't need a 10 ga wire running to it and can be fused, I like them
> because if monitered, you can see a problem coming. I saw a problem
> coming on PIECES a week before I left for my Wisconsin trip. If I had no
> voltmeter, I would have been looking for an alternator somewhere in
> Ohio.
> The gauge read 10 volts, the ignition light was working properly, the
> alternator was crapping out but not yet dead.
> On the other hand when a volt gauge read 15 volts (on a generator
> Sprite) I thought maybe the thing just perked up. It did then melted all
> the solder out of it's windings. Bum regulator, but the other way, over
> charging.
> Now I know if it reads off 13.5, there is a problem. But dim or over ly
> bright headlights do tell the same thing.
>
> My .02
> Hey you started it.
>
>
> --
> Frank Clarici
> Toms River, NJ
> Too many Sprites (again)
> There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
> http://www.exit109.com/~spritenut
>
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