Bkitterer@aol.com wrote:
>
> At the risk of starting something I have had a couple of cars with voltmeters
> and IMHO they were the most useless gauge I have ever had. It told you that
> the alternator was putting out 13.5 volts or it wasn't. I can just look at
> my lights an tell that or see the smoke from the shorted wire were the
> alternator keep trying to pump in amps until it went up in smoke. As best as
> I can determine it does nothing to help you if you have a something that is
> slowly draining your battery or if something has happen in the electrical
> system that is now requiring more amps. Both situations you would prefer to
> know about and rectify prior to seeing smoke signals.
>
> Flame suit on.
But Bob doesn't a temperture gauge tell you the car overheated after you
see the steam?
Oh no, no oil pressure, maybe that explains the rod knock!
I must say that a voltmeter (which I have in all my LBCs) and an
ammeter, only tell you if it's charging or not. Although a volt meter
doesn't need a 10 ga wire running to it and can be fused, I like them
because if monitered, you can see a problem coming. I saw a problem
coming on PIECES a week before I left for my Wisconsin trip. If I had no
voltmeter, I would have been looking for an alternator somewhere in
Ohio.
The gauge read 10 volts, the ignition light was working properly, the
alternator was crapping out but not yet dead.
On the other hand when a volt gauge read 15 volts (on a generator
Sprite) I thought maybe the thing just perked up. It did then melted all
the solder out of it's windings. Bum regulator, but the other way, over
charging.
Now I know if it reads off 13.5, there is a problem. But dim or over ly
bright headlights do tell the same thing.
My .02
Hey you started it.
--
Frank Clarici
Toms River, NJ
Too many Sprites (again)
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
http://www.exit109.com/~spritenut
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