"Alternator checkor"

[B18 GPC]

i have a new device just a querie.

it requires 12v DC from the battery. to prevent it being on i can use igniction live. if i take power from the radio wires , will this still be an accuate device ..

also , long term , will i be burning out fuses? or shal i just run wires to the battery from the cabin ?

... ive worded this as well as i can .. sorry if its "jibberish" :idea:

thanks in advance.

graham

[Maria]

I have a 12v adaptor thingy that plugs into the cigarette lighter in the Rover and has a voltage display on it. Could you fit your device with a cigarette lighter type plug?

[B18 GPC]

Good thinking bat woman :)

is it one of these lovely sealey things .. with about 8 lights on ?

thanks 4 the idea too :)

:thumbup:

[tony]

is this checker a volt meter?reads from 11v to 15v ?, then yes run it off the radio power. it will still give you a idea of the cars running voltage.
if what you have is a amp meter , (it will read 30+ to 30-) or even 60+ to 60- then do not fit this . you will set your car on fire.or worst

[B18 GPC]

12V DC battery and alternator checer

[metro]

if what you have is a amp meter , (it will read 30+ to 30-) or even 60+ to 60- then do not fit this . you will set your car on fire.or worst

That is a bit of a sweeping statement. A correctly fitted ammeter will work fine, and won't set your car on fire.

[Steve H]

Trouble with an ammeter is it's a bit like trying to tell if a bath is ready for use yet by knowing how fast the water taps are turned on: you don't know how much water you've already stored in the bath.

The best measure of the state of the battery is by looking at the voltage. You can easily tell if the alternator is charging - the voltage should be around 14 to 14.4V with the engine working, unless you've used a lot of power eg in starting. In this case it should rise steadily from the lower off-charge voltage. Anything less than this figure and the alternator isn't working properly.

There is a possibility in cold wet weather that you might be asking for more current than the alternator can supply. In this case the battery volts will stay low, only rising when you switch something off.

As Tony says, the meter can be wired to any light-current fused supply. The radio supply will be fine for this.

Interrupting the heavy current supply from the alternator to fit an ammeter (+/- 60A) can be done safely but is much more difficult.


Steve H

[B18 GPC]

Thanks all. IL be out wiring tonight then mabey.. if not , this weekend :) thanks all :)

:beer: :thumbup: :beer: