Super H Ammeter Discharging

Oars

New User
I have done everything I can think of to test this gauge to find out why it indicates that it is discharging when the tractor is running. It seems like the battery is charging because the voltage on the battery goes up from 6.3 to 7+ when the tractor is running. Yet the gage indicates just a slight discharge while running. When I turn the lights on it really goes minus. But the tractor runs, starts, and even continues to run if I disconnect battery while it is running. Is this, or should this, be a concern of mine? Why does it indicate discharge when the tractor is running? :x
 
#1 one should NEVER disconnect the battery while the engine is running because that is a good way to let the smoke out of things and can even get you hurt.

So with it not running and you turn on the lights what does the amp gauge do?? Does it show a charge?? If yes then you simply have the wires on the gauge on back wards.
 
Look at the diagrams I linked to (thanks to Bob M) there is a possibility that it is wired wrong, and the bat wire
from the regulator is attached to the wrong side of the amp meter. if so it will only show load, and not the charge
amount. DO not remove the connection to the battery while running (it needs the battery in the circuit to set the
voltage, (and with other vehicles), it can let all the smoke out and even kill you with high voltage.
Bobs diagrams
 
If battery voltage rises from 6 or so to 7 and 7 + volts when running at fast RPM that tells me the genny is actually getting to the battery somewhere and she's charging.

If the ammeters SUPPLY side is wired to the battery (as correct) while its other LOAD side is wired to light/ignition switch (as correct) and lights on causes more discharge, that tells me those two wires are on the correct SUPPLY AND LOAD sides of the ammeter.

If wired correct, the SUPPLY side has but ONE connection to the battery often via where the big battery cable attaches to a starter switch/solenoid. The other LOAD side often has TWO wires, one to lights/ignition as described above, other to the BAT terminal on a Voltage Regulator or Cutout Relay.

INSURE THE AMMEETR IS WIRED THAT WAY. The wire from BAT on VR or Cutout Relay NEEDS TO BE ON SAME SIDE OF AMMETER AS THE WIRE TO LIGHT OR IGNITION SWITCH.

John T
 
I would determine if the gauge is ok first. some of them gauges are as old as the tractor. have seen that before.
 

Looks like your diagrams 2 and 8 apply to my situation. Although my 1953 tractor does have a dimmer resistor on it. I do have two more questions: I am assuming the BAT terminal goes to the discharge side of the gauge. Is that correct? And what the heck does let the "smoke out of things" means?
 
Let the smoke out means does as it sounds. Thing do not like to be shorted out of in this case by pulling the battery cable off makes then generator go to max charge which can fry the V.R. or generator.
 
YES the BAT terminal on a Voltage Regulator or a Cutout Relay wires to what I call the LOAD (you call discharge) side of the ammeter.

Again the ammeters SUPPLY side gets to the hot ungrounded battery post often via attaching to where the big battery cable attaches to a starter switch or solenoids input, or could get to battery itself not passing through ammeter as it should...??.

The LOAD (you call discharge) side of the ammeter wires to BOTH the BAT terminal on a VR or Relay PLUS feeds hot battery voltage to the Input of Light and Ignition switches.

If the battery voltage is rising at fast RPM from 6 or so volts up to 7 or so, sounds like the charging system is working.
If the ammeter shows more discharge if lights are turned on sounds like its wired correct on the ammeters LOAD side which is
where the wire from BAT on VR is also wired
If the ammeter isn't reflecting charging amps flowing INTO the battery maybe its not wired to the correct ammeter terminal or
wired somehow to the battery and NOT flowing through the ammeter as it should be

FINALLY maybe the ammeter itself is bad ????????????????????????? I have seen them stuck or rusted/corroded

Any other questions??

Hope this helps

John T
 
I had a 1954 Case tractor with 6 volt generator. A couple different times when working on wires, i accidentally shorted a live wire thru the ammeter. It did something to the ?zero? point of the gauge and then, with the engine off, the gauge showed some charge (or discharge, i forgot which)
Several weeks later, it seemed to heal itself up and then read normal.
So, does the gauge read ?0? (is it centered) with the engine iff?
 
Simple question, is the battery hooked up right, when I was a kid I put the battery in wrong and the ammeter was doing the same thing. Thought everything was negative ground.
 
"Letting the smoke out." means you have burned something up. This is usually accompanied by an acrid smell and a small to large puff of smoke. This followed by replacing the affected piece part....

OTJ
 

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