Battery Gauge
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 331
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From: El Cajon CA.
Battery Gauge
65 vert, 327/365...new engine wiring harness, rebuilt alternator, good battery.......Battery gauge initially shows 13 or so at start up, then gradually drops to near 0 as the car warms up. Does this mean the battery is maintaining a full charge and doesn't need and more elec. ?? Or is there something else I should check ?? Any help is appreciated. 
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
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From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
It's an ammeter, not a battery gauge or voltmeter.
Yes, when you fire the car up, it'll show a charge. When the battery is charged, it'll go back to the "O" mark.
If you turn on the headlights, it'll drop below the "O", then return to the "O" and maybe go above.
This is normal. It's unlike a voltmeter that'll show 14-15 volts at all times if everything's OK.
Chuck
Yes, when you fire the car up, it'll show a charge. When the battery is charged, it'll go back to the "O" mark.
If you turn on the headlights, it'll drop below the "O", then return to the "O" and maybe go above.
This is normal. It's unlike a voltmeter that'll show 14-15 volts at all times if everything's OK.
Chuck
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 7,631
Likes: 11
From: Rocklin California
It's an ammeter, not a battery gauge or voltmeter.
Yes, when you fire the car up, it'll show a charge. When the battery is charged, it'll go back to the "O" mark.
If you turn on the headlights, it'll drop below the "O", then return to the "O" and maybe go above.
This is normal. It's unlike a voltmeter that'll show 14-15 volts at all times if everything's OK.
Chuck
Yes, when you fire the car up, it'll show a charge. When the battery is charged, it'll go back to the "O" mark.
If you turn on the headlights, it'll drop below the "O", then return to the "O" and maybe go above.
This is normal. It's unlike a voltmeter that'll show 14-15 volts at all times if everything's OK.
Chuck
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,576
Likes: 118
From: Conroe Texas
65 vert, 327/365...new engine wiring harness, rebuilt alternator, good battery.......Battery gauge initially shows 13 or so at start up, then gradually drops to near 0 as the car warms up. Does this mean the battery is maintaining a full charge and doesn't need and more elec. ?? Or is there something else I should check ?? Any help is appreciated.
My 65 has a meter that ranges from -40, to +40, with a 0 in the center. A "13" would be just over half-way to the mid-mark between 0 and 40.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: El Cajon CA.
My battery gauge is acting just as Chuck described. So I guess that's normal. He's correct, when I turn on the lights, the gauge dips slightly below 0, and back above 0 when lights are turned off. I said "13" because I guess it looked like about 13-ish on the gauge. Thanks for all replies..
