fitting a ammeter

Post by **Flying Frog** » 15 Jun 2007, 22:49

hi where do you fit a ammeter to know if there is more amps going in the battery than going out.

thanks

Post by **kevtherev** » 15 Jun 2007, 23:39

er er actually it would be more beneficial to know what is going out.... but if you insist...............

going in is an easy test with a multimeter across the terminals and it should read about 14v and into the leisure about 13v

amps are dependant on the battery condition

Post by **Ian Hulley** » 16 Jun 2007, 09:25

Zig do a little unit with a switch so you can see what's in each battery (i.e. Van and Leisure) That's only a volt meter though. We bought our's from Autocraft Motor Caravans and IIRC it was ~£15.

Ian.

Post by **jamesc76** » 16 Jun 2007, 10:17

just racked my brain and i cant remeber where i used to wire them up on the old series 3 landrovers fited with all the radio gear !! so i did a quick google serch and theres loads on there telling you how too !!!

Post by **HarryMann** » 16 Jun 2007, 11:10

http://www.caigauge.com/ammeterfit.htm

Check your wire ratings, these feeds can take full charging amperage

Post by **toomanytoys** » 16 Jun 2007, 11:50

Unless you have a lot of heavy draw on the system, why bother?
even the std 45 amp alt is big enough to run everything.. its only in winter with all the head lights wipers and blowers etc on that a bigger one could be required.. and only if idleing a lot.. and short journeys

Fitting one means running some big amperage cables about the place if you want to be able to see the gauge.. and that means you have to make surte they are fitted correctly and safely.. one sharp edge and a short means a big fire....

Post by **HarryMann** » 16 Jun 2007, 12:02

Very true, vehicle length high amperage wires not a good idea!

Post by **Rozzo** » 16 Jun 2007, 12:50

the point is tho if you have one fitted you can tell wether you're putting back what you're using,, and if you arent you can switch something off. with a 2 tonne bus thats nigh on impossible to push it sounds like a good idea to me

Post by **tonytech** » 16 Jun 2007, 14:14

Fit a voltmeter.
No thick cables.
Will give you just as much info, Once you learn to read it.

T

Post by **lloyd** » 16 Jun 2007, 15:37

tonytech wrote:Fit a voltmeter.
No thick cables.
Will give you just as much info, Once you learn to read it.

T

Agree.

Post by **Rozzo** » 16 Jun 2007, 15:59

agree but wont give you realtime info as accurately.

Post by **toomanytoys** » 17 Jun 2007, 11:27

Add up what the max current you can draw.... from all the items installed... unless you have some big amps/inverters etc... then I doubt you will get much above 40 amps in the worst situation... and batteries dont take all the 45/60/90 amps that an alt chucks out even when flat..

An ammeter was very usefull on dynamo vehicles.. as output rose the more rpm was added.. not true of an alternator.. (well.. very much less true..) if it cant delicver at least 13.5v at idle then its got a fault