"Battery" Gauge
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 1
From: Northwest Iowa
"Battery" Gauge
Some one please explain exactly what the Battery Gauge is telling me. When I reads slightly to the plus side of the 0, is that telling me that the battery is recieving a slight charge, and also what does the 40 on either side of the 0 represent ( amps)?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: "Battery" Gauge (Rich's75)
The gauge you describe is an amp gauge and measures the RATE of charge (or discharge). With a fully charged battery and the system working correctly the needle should stay almost on zero or just to the + side. If you crank the starter or leave the lights on, it should go up toward the 40 and the gradually return back to zero as the battery becomes charged IF the alternator is putting out enough current (not volts) to offset the current being used. I actually prefer amp gauges over volt meters.
[Modified by silvervetteman, 6:23 AM 8/4/2002]
[Modified by silvervetteman, 6:23 AM 8/4/2002]
Racer
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 499
Likes: 0
From: Kristiansand
Re: "Battery" Gauge (Rich's75)
The amp-meter measures the current flowing to or from the battery and is the best way of estimating the battery charging level.
When charged by a constant voltage (ideal 14.4V at room temperature), the battery is a self regulating device, if empty it takes a lot of charging current, if full nearly nothing.
So a close to zero positive reading shows that your battery is fully charged, a +40A reading shows that it's empty and charging up.
The meter should never be on the negative side, that means that you are consuming more power than the alternator can deliver and current is drawn from the battery.
When charged by a constant voltage (ideal 14.4V at room temperature), the battery is a self regulating device, if empty it takes a lot of charging current, if full nearly nothing.
So a close to zero positive reading shows that your battery is fully charged, a +40A reading shows that it's empty and charging up.
The meter should never be on the negative side, that means that you are consuming more power than the alternator can deliver and current is drawn from the battery.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 1
From: Northwest Iowa
Re: "Battery" Gauge (Ingar, Norway)
OK, So I'm not as dumb as I thought I was.
Thanks for your responces.
Now, on to my problem.
I went up to Minneapolis friday night and everything was fine. My "battery" gauge usually would always read slightly above 0 for the most part.
Saturday Morning, I get in the Vette to go the the Treasure Island Cruise and Show, the gauge starts to flutter around quite a bit, anywhere from +40 down to -20 area. After driving ( very cautiously for a while) down the freeway, it seemed to level back off around slight + side, but still jiggling around slightly( noticed it seemed to level off only over 2500 RPM's).
Did this most of the day, and all the way home. At night, with Air working (finallly got it fixed) and lights on, it finally started to get progressively worse the last ten miles of the 200 mile trip home ( run around -20 to -40 range).
Made it home without lossing all power, but was nervous for a while.
Now I suspect this is the alternator going bad? Or battery old and bad?
Any other advice?
Thanks for your responces.
Now, on to my problem.
I went up to Minneapolis friday night and everything was fine. My "battery" gauge usually would always read slightly above 0 for the most part.
Saturday Morning, I get in the Vette to go the the Treasure Island Cruise and Show, the gauge starts to flutter around quite a bit, anywhere from +40 down to -20 area. After driving ( very cautiously for a while) down the freeway, it seemed to level back off around slight + side, but still jiggling around slightly( noticed it seemed to level off only over 2500 RPM's).
Did this most of the day, and all the way home. At night, with Air working (finallly got it fixed) and lights on, it finally started to get progressively worse the last ten miles of the 200 mile trip home ( run around -20 to -40 range).
Made it home without lossing all power, but was nervous for a while.
Now I suspect this is the alternator going bad? Or battery old and bad?
Any other advice?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,635
Likes: 4
From: Orlando Floriduh
Re: "Battery" Gauge (Rich's75)
Do you have any BIG power amps?.. They may need more than the stock alternator can cope with with all of the accessories going. Another thing that happens is that most if not all aftermarket parts houses usually list and sell Chevrolet alternators for Corvettes. Because the crankshaft pulley is smaller than a Chevy, the alternator turns slower at a given RPM. this causes discharge at idle with everthing on at night. Corvettes use a Corvette specific alternator for most applications (not always). The difference is NOT the pulley size, the alternator is made different. The corvette alternator puts out more current at lower RPM. You will have a tough time convincing the "catalogue readers" behind the counter though. Keep this in mind it and when you get another alternator.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: Rolla MO
Re: "Battery" Gauge (Rich's75)
Given the erratic nature of your ammeter readings, I would check the
connections on your altenator. Also sounds like the brushes inside
your altenator might be worn down just enough that you sometimes
get enough current and sometimes you don't, depending on the load.
Hank
connections on your altenator. Also sounds like the brushes inside
your altenator might be worn down just enough that you sometimes
get enough current and sometimes you don't, depending on the load.
Hank
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 1
From: Northwest Iowa
Re: "Battery" Gauge (silvervetteman)
No, big power devices. My 75 is strickly stock.
The only other thing that I will mention is that I recently got the Air conditioning running again. Did the recharge myself and fixed a couple of loose wire connections. Had ran fine since doing the work (a couple of weeks ago).
But the Friday night, right before getting ready to go up to Minneapolis, I tightened up the AC belt, because it had been slipping a bit a few days before.
Thanks, guys for all you help and advice.
[Modified by Rich's75, 12:10 PM 8/4/2002]
The only other thing that I will mention is that I recently got the Air conditioning running again. Did the recharge myself and fixed a couple of loose wire connections. Had ran fine since doing the work (a couple of weeks ago).
But the Friday night, right before getting ready to go up to Minneapolis, I tightened up the AC belt, because it had been slipping a bit a few days before.
Thanks, guys for all you help and advice.
[Modified by Rich's75, 12:10 PM 8/4/2002]
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,975
Likes: 1
From: Northwest Iowa
Re: "Battery" Gauge (rollavette71)
Given the erratic nature of your ammeter readings, I would check the
connections on your altenator. Also sounds like the brushes inside
your altenator might be worn down just enough that you sometimes
get enough current and sometimes you don't, depending on the load.
Hank
connections on your altenator. Also sounds like the brushes inside
your altenator might be worn down just enough that you sometimes
get enough current and sometimes you don't, depending on the load.
Hank
Thanks
