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fitting a ammeter
Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 22:49
by Flying Frog
hi where do you fit a ammeter to know if there is more amps going in the battery than going out.
thanks
Posted: 15 Jun 2007, 23:39
by kevtherev
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
Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 09:25
by Ian Hulley
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.
Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 10:17
by jamesc76
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 !!!
Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 11:10
by HarryMann
http://www.caigauge.com/ammeterfit.htm
Check your wire ratings, these feeds can take full charging amperage
Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 11:50
by toomanytoys
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....
Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 12:02
by HarryMann
Very true, vehicle length high amperage wires not a good idea!
Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 12:50
by Rozzo
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
Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 14:14
by tonytech
Fit a voltmeter.
No thick cables.
Will give you just as much info, Once you learn to read it.
T
Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 15:37
by lloyd
tonytech wrote:Fit a voltmeter.
No thick cables.
Will give you just as much info, Once you learn to read it.
T
Agree.
Posted: 16 Jun 2007, 15:59
by Rozzo
agree but wont give you realtime info as accurately.
Posted: 17 Jun 2007, 11:27
by toomanytoys
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