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amp meter

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 7:45 pm
by 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

Re: amp meter

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 8:05 pm
by 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!! :D

Re: amp meter

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 8:26 pm
by mike.perry
Dynamo 30 - 0 - 30, Alternator 60 - 0 - 60

Re: amp meter

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 9:31 pm
by samuria
thanks guys for the info :D

Re: amp meter

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:21 pm
by 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.

Re: amp meter

Posted: Fri Aug 02, 2013 10:46 pm
by samuria
bmcecosse wrote: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..

Re: amp meter

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:40 pm
by 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]Image[/frame]

Re: amp meter

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 8:59 pm
by 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!

Re: amp meter

Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:05 pm
by 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.