You can easily recognise if the alternator is charging or not. When
charging, a voltmeter should read around 14Volts with a maximum of I
think 14,7V. If it is reading below 12,8Volts there is something amiss.
Either the alternator is on the way out or to many users are switched on.
Also a reading of over 14,8V indicates trouble. Over charging can be
dangerous as the water in the electrolyte is disintegrating in Hydrogen
and Oxygen, an extremely volatile mixture that you do not want near your
battery/engine.
A voltmeter only needs very simple light gauge wiring as barely any
current will flow. It will fit to any fuse protected live wire e.g. from
the ignition lock/coil/fuel pump etc. with the ignition switched on. An
ammeter will require heavy gauge wiring as a high current will flow,
depending on the charging system from 20 to 50A or more. It is usually
not protected by a fuse. If it shorts out you do have a problem.
So a Voltmeter is preferable as it is safer and gives more information.
Kees Oudesluijs
NL
Op 28-2-2013 18:56, David Nock British Car Specialists schreef:
> You have to look at the amp meter and the volt meter differently.
>
> When the alternator or generator stop charging the ignition light
> should come on to warn you that there is a problem. The problem with
> the light is that you will not see it during the day. So you need to
> have either a volt gauge or an Amp meter to tell the state of the
> charging system.
>
> The volt meter acts like a fuel gauge. It is telling you how much
> electricity is in the battery. So when there is a problem with the
> charging system the voltage starts to go down. The problem here is the
> voltage from full charge to dead is not a very large span. So you will
> not get a warning right away.
>
> Battery voltage is 12.77 volts = 100%
> 12.61 volts =75%
> 12.44 volts = 50%
> 12.22 volts = 25%
> 12.00 volts =Dead
>
> The advantage to a Amp meter is that is will tell you the output of
> the charging system immedially. So if there is a fault in the charging
> system you will know as soon as there is a problem.
>
> My personal preference is to install an amp meter this way if
> something happens i will know right away rather than wait to notice a
> 1 volt drop on a volt gauge to tell me there is a problem with the
> charging system.
>
>
>
> David Nock
>
> British Car Specialists
>
> Stockton Ca 95205
>
> 209-948-8767
>
>
> www.britishcarspecialists.com
>
>
> Please feel free to view an interview with the Nock's in 2009
>
> Enjoy
>
> www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOTTRYkbQzs
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