[DeTomaso] Amp gauge

[Forest Goodhart]

Think of the ammeter as a flow meter that measures how much current is flowing 
and which way. All loads except the starter should be on the downstream side of 
the meter so that only the net added or reduced flow of current to or from the 
battery is measured. Mike's statement is mostly correct except that any load on 
the battery side will show as a high flow to the battery when in fact it is 
flowing to the load when the alternator is charging. In that case you can't tell 
whether the current is going into the battery or the load.




________________________________
From: John Buckman <jb841 at cox.net>
To: detomaso at realbig.com
Sent: Fri, May 18, 2012 7:47:42 PM
Subject: [DeTomaso] Amp gauge

>I have always been under the impression that if an electrical component is 
powered directly from the battery, that the ammeter will not register that 
load, because the current that drives that component does not pass through 
the ammeter.  That's what I meant by wiring 'outside' the ammeter.

>Not true?  I can't see how that could be not true.  But edjumacate me if 
I'm wrong?

Mike,

Yes, and no.  With the alternator not charging (engine off), any electrical load 
that is 

connected on the battery side of the ammeter will not register on the ammeter, 
as its 

current comes directly from the battery.  With the alternator charging (engine 
running), 

any load connected on the battery side of the ammeter will receive its current 
from the 

alternator, which passes through the ammeter to the load, thus causing the 
ammeter
to indicate a flow of current.  In this case, the ammeter needle will move to 
the plus side,
giving the "appearance" of a "charge".  The ammeter (for this load) has become a 
"load"
meter instead of a "charge" meter.

John 
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