amp meter

[samuria]

i have been offered a choice of 2 amp meters...
one is rated 30-/30+
the other 60-/60+
which one would be best?
also.... how can they be tested
thanks

[bmcecosse]

Take both.......but 30/30 is enough. Pass a current through them.........into a lamp. it would be interesting to fit the 2 ammeters - the 60 in the feed from the alternator, and the 30 as usual in the battery feed. Then you could see at a glance how much the alternator is churning out -and how much is going in/leaving the battery!!

[mike.perry]

Dynamo 30 - 0 - 30, Alternator 60 - 0 - 60

[samuria]

thanks guys for the info

[bmcecosse]

You will NEVER see even 30 amps going in to the battery - even with an alternator... 60/60 meter won't even move - it will just sit in the middle. It may be from a commercial application - with huge battery and alternator.

[samuria]

You will NEVER see even 30 amps going in to the battery - even with an alternator... 60/60 meter won't even move - it will just sit in the middle. It may be from a commercial application - with huge battery and alternator.

thanks roy i will just try the 30/30 meter..

[IslipMinor]

You will NEVER see even 30 amps going in to the battery

That depends on the alternator output and probably the battery capacity as well. Our alternator is 55A and on starting from cold, with a perfectly good battery, I will see a few seconds at around 40A before it settles back down to the usual trickle charge.

As Mike says, 60-0-60 with an alternator.

The rather blurred picture below was taken a few months ago when a similar topic was raised.
[frame][/frame]

[mike.perry]

You may not see 30 amps going in to a battery but you may see 30 amps coming out if you have a severe problem!

[bmcecosse]

Mine barely ever kicks above the 10 amp mark - after starting. Otherwise - it balances all I have on the car - which is just the standard equipment.