76 amp meter problems
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Lufkin Texas
76 amp meter problems
Checked the alt. seems to be working ok. Read the voltage on the back of the gauge had 14 on one side and 11-12 on the other, does this mean the gaude itself is bad since Im reading voltage at both terminals of the gauge?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
Disconnect the gauge and check it with an ohm meter. Should read a dead short. If not, the winding has burned open. I had to re-wind my gauge twice so far. The gauge wire will burn before a fuse blows when you ground one side by accident 
btw, I found the correct size green wire at radio shack for the rewind.
btw, I found the correct size green wire at radio shack for the rewind.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: S.E. Michigan
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: Jupiter FL
Disconnect the gauge and check it with an ohm meter. Should read a dead short. If not, the winding has burned open. I had to re-wind my gauge twice so far. The gauge wire will burn before a fuse blows when you ground one side by accident
btw, I found the correct size green wire at radio shack for the rewind.
btw, I found the correct size green wire at radio shack for the rewind.
One way to avoid this is to put a 2 amp in-line fuse in. Saves the extra work of having to rewind a burnt gauge.
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 366
Likes: 1
From: Houston Texas
Less expensive to rewind the gauge than to buy a replacement if you have soldering iron/gun, solder, etc. You can drill out the rivets that hold the housing, rewind the coil (12 loops with correct gauge green wire for ammeter if I remember correctly), replace the rivets with small black bolts from the rc model hobby shop and you're back in business.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 751
Likes: 0
From: Lufkin Texas
Thanks for the info.
Less expensive to rewind the gauge than to buy a replacement if you have soldering iron/gun, solder, etc. You can drill out the rivets that hold the housing, rewind the coil (12 loops with correct gauge green wire for ammeter if I remember correctly), replace the rivets with small black bolts from the rc model hobby shop and you're back in business.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
The gauge reads in amps....but it is really a very low voltage voltmeter. It actually reads differential voltage between two 12v. power lines. A length of wire in the circuit acts as a current shunt so that it is calibrated to read amp draw(or charge). Anyway, a 1.5v battery will peg the meter...and burn it out if left on for more than a second or two. It is a good way to determine if the meter is working or not. You should read something in the 12v range at either ammeter terminal on a working system.
