Phil in Jackson
Member
8n 12 volt conversion side mount dist. rewired. Now meter shows a discharge. I'm thinking of changing meter to a volt meter. any suggestions should I do this or not. Pros and cons.
- Thread starter Phil in Jackson
- Start date
tractorguy2
Well-known Member
Before you do anything. Put your volt meter on your battery and see if it is charging. Your problem could be as simple as having the wire connected backwards on the amp gauge.
If the wires are backwards. it will show discharge when it's working and charge when it's not.
If the wires are backwards. it will show discharge when it's working and charge when it's not.
I agree with tractorguy2, see what it is really doing.
Battery voltage across the two big terminals should go up when
running. If it does and the meter shows discharge, likely wired
backwards. Another possible test, do you have lights? Turn them
on, tractor off. Does the gauge show charge or discharge?
It should show discharge if anything. If it shows charge, the
wires need to be swapped on the gauge.
There are pros and cons to a voltmeter vs a ammeter.
For example, we're asking you to measure voltage to make sure
your ammeter is wired correctly. A voltmeter is easier to understand,
but an ammeter can tell you more if you know how to read it correctly.
I find an ammeter more helpful on 6V systems.
Battery voltage across the two big terminals should go up when
running. If it does and the meter shows discharge, likely wired
backwards. Another possible test, do you have lights? Turn them
on, tractor off. Does the gauge show charge or discharge?
It should show discharge if anything. If it shows charge, the
wires need to be swapped on the gauge.
There are pros and cons to a voltmeter vs a ammeter.
For example, we're asking you to measure voltage to make sure
your ammeter is wired correctly. A voltmeter is easier to understand,
but an ammeter can tell you more if you know how to read it correctly.
I find an ammeter more helpful on 6V systems.
Phil in Jackson
Member
This is a 12 volt system would that matter
Phil in Jackson
Member
meter set at 5, needle went all the way over and bottomed out Good or bad?
You gotta help us out a little here Phil.
What meter? Set at 5 what? Hooked to where?
Under what conditions? Bottomed out which direction?
If you are measuring battery voltage on a 12V battery you will
want a voltmeter or multi-meter set on a DC voltage scale above
12V. Say 20V. A well charged 12V battery will read roughly 13.6V
at idle and 14+ volts when being charged by an alternator.
If you have an analog voltage meter/multimeter (recommended for
old tractors) then close counts. 13~ish engine off, 15+~ish running.
Either way the voltage across the battery terminals should
increase if the system is charging. Single wire alternators may
not charge at idle, so you may need to speed the engine up.
What meter? Set at 5 what? Hooked to where?
Under what conditions? Bottomed out which direction?
If you are measuring battery voltage on a 12V battery you will
want a voltmeter or multi-meter set on a DC voltage scale above
12V. Say 20V. A well charged 12V battery will read roughly 13.6V
at idle and 14+ volts when being charged by an alternator.
If you have an analog voltage meter/multimeter (recommended for
old tractors) then close counts. 13~ish engine off, 15+~ish running.
Either way the voltage across the battery terminals should
increase if the system is charging. Single wire alternators may
not charge at idle, so you may need to speed the engine up.
Phil in Jackson
Member
Sorry Micronta multi meter set on dcv setting the number 5
That meter will work fine Phil. Set it to 25 V DC instead of 5.
Across the battery terminals you should see it read about where
the blue mark is I made when the tractor is off.
After you start the engine is should be about where the green mark is.
It's not a big difference on the dial, but its still a noticeable increase.
Across the battery terminals you should see it read about where
the blue mark is I made when the tractor is off.
After you start the engine is should be about where the green mark is.
It's not a big difference on the dial, but its still a noticeable increase.
If you changed from a 6 volt positive ground system to a 12 volt negative system, the ammeter would show a discharge if the wires on it were not reversed. Had this happen on a 1952 Ford truck that was my first vehicle as a teenager.
There are a lot smarter heads on here than me though!
Garry
There are a lot smarter heads on here than me though!
Garry
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