amp gauge

[Mel S.]

I have a 66. i was working on the horn rely and it sparked when one of the hot leads grounded out. Dumb me for not disconnecting the battery. Now the amp meter is consistently discharging but when i check the battery it is charging 14.2 volts. Is there a fuse in line that i blew? Did i burn out the amp meter?
Mel

[Guest]

Re: amp gauge

Check if your horn works you could of blown a fuseable link on the relay harness or starter harness

[Mel S.]

Re: amp gauge

The horn works along will all of the other electrical in or on the car
Mel

[Guest]

Re: amp gauge

Check voltage behind the amp meter at both rear post you should get the same voltage you get at the battery 14.2 if you do the amp meter is done

[Richard G.]

Re: amp gauge

In theory it is possible to run the shorted current through the amp meter in the situation you described.
The gauge is really a voltage meter not a amp gauge as listed but that's another story.

Another test it to go from one amp gauge terminal to the other with the measuring meter set to 5V or less.
With the motor off:
With the low beam headlights on it should read a nominal .16V
With the high beam headlights on it should read a nominal .2V
If the readings are anywhere close to these readings the circuit is good.

Rick

[Mel S.]

Re: amp gauge

Thanks - i will give it a try. You are right it is a volt meter - my error

[Richard G.]

Re: amp gauge

If the voltages (lead to lead) are somewhere close to the above readings (nominal) it is likely your Amp gauge is defective.
It is more important the readings change when the load changes than what the exact reading is.

The last test I use is a used 1.5 V battery attached to the leads of the amp gauge.
1.5 volts will peg the gauge that's the reason a used battery works better.
Polarity will not matter it just moves the gauge to the - or + side of the gauge.

Best of luck.
Rick