Is the easiest way to tell how many amps the generator is putting out is to put the leads across the cut out?
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I use to ground the fields for a couple of seconds. This bypasses the reg. Not sure if this will work on A's. Did on all the rest. -
No, I would take it to Mitch's if I were that close !.png "smile")
Model A's and of course the famous AA'sComment
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Yes, but as soon as you remove the terminals from the cutout and connect them to the ammeter, the current will flow, so start the engine quickly and read the meter.
As soon as you read the meter, then you can shut it down and disconnect the meter. Don't attach the lights/horn terminal for this test.Comment
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Tom if I just leave the cut out hooked up and jump my multimeter across it would it not give me a good reading. I have a modern diode cut out.Comment
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What about checking for volts at the generator output stud or across the batteryComment
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My amp meter is showing about 7 to 8 amps when driving. My battery only shows about 6.3 volts. It is a new battery. I'd like to know if my amp meter is accurate or if I need to turn up the charging rate a little.Comment
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My original ammeter is very accurate.Originally posted by WMWS View Post
If I didn't use an electronic voltage regulator, I'd set the ammeter to show about 2 amps.
If I did night driving, then I'd adjust it for more amps to power the lights.Comment
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Ok so I hooked up the multimeter disconnecting the cut out. There are two wires coming out of the generator. One goes to the cut out and the other is grounded to the gen. case. So I hooked the meter to the wire that would go to the rear of the cut out and the other lead to the wire that would go to the front of the cutout. The lights etc. were also disconnected. I got no amperage reading with the engine running about 1500 rpm. Also when hooked up like that I had no reading on the Amp Meter in the car. Next I tried a voltage reading across the battery. With the engine stopped it was about 6.33. With the engine running at 1500 RPM it read about 6.44. Why don't I get an amperage reading and do you think the generator is working. I guess I could see if the lights dim when I turn the engine off.Comment
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Your voltage went up so it's putting out.. Check your voltage also at the cut out where the light and horn connection is. It should be within of about .5 volts of what your reading was at the battery.
At 6.44 volts your putting out about 5 AmpsComment
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Take the car wires off the cutout. Connect the meter in between the cutout and the harness. So you would have the generator to the cutout, the cutout to the meter the meter to the harness.You do not have permission to view this gallery.
This gallery has 1 photos.Comment
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For a SIMPLE, QUICK test, jist rev it up & look at the AMMETER!
Dad SimpleComment
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Yes Mike V that is how I hooked it up but got no reading. A friend had an (inductive) Amp meter that you lay over the wire. I layed it on the wire coming out of the cut out and it showed about 4 amps. Maybe the amp part of my multimeter does't work. Bill my amp meter in the car shows about 7 amps when I rev it up.Comment
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You might want to check to see if the fuse is blown in your multi meter. Most all have one for protection when reading amps. If the meter was hooked up wrong when doing a test this will blow it.Comment
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Is your meter supposed to have that large a fuse?
Most meter movements are very sensitive and swing to full scale with very little current, so they are often protected by a fuse of less than one amp.Comment
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Yes it has two fuses. The one is twenty and the other is a mini fuse I don't know the rating. Can I check it by doing a continuity check on it or can I check it by using a test light through a battery.Comment
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I have seen some multimeters with the hi amp range fused, and others not fused, and with a warning instead, ie you are gonna blow the movement if you are not carefulComment
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It is a 500 mA fuse. I did a continuity check on it just to see if it is still good. It seems to be.Comment
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I have found the easiest way to check the electrical system current is with a DC (DC, not AC) clamp on ammeter. Available from Harbor Freight, Fluke makes them, and several other companies. Might be some at Lowe's and Home Depot also. Just check the package or specs. Nice thing about these is that you don't have to disconnect any wires or worry about blowing the meter fuse. Just need to find enough slack in whatever wire you are trying to measure the current in to get the jaws of the ammeter around it.
These DC clamp on ammeters use a Hall effect or other sensor to measure the magnetic field generated by the current flowing thru the wire. The AC clamp on type uses the jaws as a transformer secondary and only works on AC. Most clamp-on meters that have DC amps capability also have AC measurement of current built in.
I bought three on sale at Harbor Freight a few years ago, and keep one in my Model A's. They were about $49 each on closeout, though not sure they sell them any longer. It also measures AC and DC voltage, ohms and audible continuity. So I also use it to set the points for timing, test the charging and battery condition, test light bulbs, wiring connections and lots more. Can't beat keeping one in the trunk tools for use on the road.Comment
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Hey Kirk Ellis, WELCOME to the VFF!!
Merry ChristmasYou wana look waaay far up da road and plan yer route because the brakes are far more of a suggestion than a command!Comment
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I last drove our '28 Sport Coupe on Saturday and, according to the ammeter the generator is not producing a charge. The gauge appears to be working as it does show a discharge when I turn on the lights so I suppose I'll be removing the generator to check it out. So now I need to take my Model T generator and Model A generator to the local shop to be repaired.11-21-2019, 02:30 AM -
I'm running a 6 volt generator on a pos. ground system. I was afraid the old cut out was over charging the battery. I replaced the old cut out with a new NUREX semi-conductor cut out. At regular idle the amp meter shows about 5-6 amps of charge. Running down the road- 40mph it shows around 12 amps charge. No lights on. What is the correct charge rate? Maybe the old cut out wasn't bad after...08-17-2017, 10:28 AM -
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My 20-year-old Peterson voltage regulator has shorted out for the last time. I’m on the waiting list for a new fun projects. In the meantime I was going to just rebuild a generator out of the 30 or so junkers I have laying around and I found one with brand new red field windings in it. But I don’t know if they are 12 or 6 V. The other thing is, I found a horrible generator with a electronic board...You do not have permission to view this gallery.
This gallery has 2 photos.10-31-2019, 07:14 PM -
my ammeter is reading discharge when running,when not running and lights on it reads full charge.genorater rebuilt by pro new cut out same time,only 500 miles.was working fine.genorater is putting out.help!...08-08-2018, 07:56 AM -
OK here is my current head scratcher. I am running a stock 6 volt positive ground system in my “30 Tudor. I had concerns because the ammeter would always show a discharge of 4-5 amps no matter what the rpm.
When I bought the car the previous owner’s son who was selling his deceased Grandfathers “A” had replaced the battery. OOPS, he installed it Negative Ground and drove it a...12-10-2018, 06:03 AM -
I was helping a guy get his A started today. Shorted ignition switch. After it ran the ampmeter showed no charge. Would show discharge with lights on. The output of the generator post was the same as the output side of the cutout. 6.1 v. At idle or revved up. Does this indicate the generator is not putting out. Will the output stud of the generator show an output before the cutout closes? Tia
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Besides an alternator having the ability to charge at a very low rpm, is there any other reason to switch from a generator?
I am running led's in the rear, 32/50's in the front and a Tickin through tIme hidden directional light system, and 6 V.08-06-2018, 04:52 PM -
A friend just called and said as soon as he turns the ignition switch on the generator runs or tries very hard against the belt.The first thing he did was replace the generator and same problem.Going down tomorrow to look.
Ideas on possible causes very welcome.This one has me stumped off the top of my head.07-01-2019, 06:38 PM -
Just back from dinner out. AM started jumping everywhere on the negative side. It would eventually go back into the pos side. Seems it starts doing that around 45 mph. Battery is just over 1 year old, 6v with 1 year warranty. Bad cell maybe? Any thoughts?05-13-2019, 05:22 PM
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