I always appreciate what the older guys have done to get things running. I spent my 40's around people in their 70's and 50's around people in their 80's. They drop by the shop from time to time and we have conversations that are so valuable. I will miss them. They like stopping by because they know I will have a few questions they can argue among themselves about. Its fun!
The problem comes up when those kinds of guys.. ingenious farmer fixers with great common sense and the best work ethic ever come into contact with present day. We have learned so much more about electronics, technology in general. They like to say "Phooey!"
The reason we are very concerned about things like the shunt on an ammeter and the exact resistance needed is because Alternators are getting cheaper for more amps. More Amps means we can run an inverter, etc. Since 40 amps was the standard for a long time, if you put in a shunt for the stock 30 amp ammeter, you could stuff a piece of coathanger in there and it would work fine. The coathanger would get a little warm maybe. So do that with TWICE the amperage and watch that coathanger start to GLOW. But do a few calculations and you can make that shunt be just right on temperature. A proper shunt is all about heat dissipation and the management of it. The closer to the correct shunt you get, the cooler the gauge stays and the most accurate as is possible too.
Inverters are cool. You can run a small fridge...I think I will do that.. in the bed I will have what looks like a toolbox with half of it refrigerated. Cant be without my uh.. milk. The other half tools. When you go to a salvage yard, how many times did you wish you had your Makita grinder with cutoff wheels with you? The possibilities are endless. 80 amps may not be enough.
I'm learning alot in all of this back and forth. Thanks everyone!
