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| | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 | Hi, When I turn on my lights the amp needle on my gauge spikes to the left from normal.. what could be causing this? This will also happen when the engine is running. New wire harness from YNZ. I have checked and the wires (as far as I can tell) are wired right. I checked and followed the manual. Thanks guys! Jon
Last edited by UnklRod; 08/12/2010 12:55 AM.
1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton TruckIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pixThe coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!! | | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 89 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: May 2010 Posts: 89 | It is normal it's just the lag time before the gen. or alt. kicks in. Just showing the amprage flow.do'nt worry be happy it swings back to charge.
theres a tool for every job,and that tool is a hammer. it's easy to give advice if it's not your pocket book at stake. A well thought out plan,Is nothing. Untill exacuted twice.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Jul 2001 Posts: 3,887 | if it just spikes and returns, yes, no worry .... if it stays like that whenever the lights are on, either the generator isn't genning or there's a short someplace - under any condition, the ammeter shows the flow into or out of the battery, any discharge shown [like during starting] should immediately jump toward neutral and quickly show a charging condition, replacing the juice drained
Bill | | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 | I will keep an eye on it. It moves to the left just a bit with the parking lights only...but when I turn on head lights it moves even more to the left.
I am not running the truck that much as it is on jacks and I keep the battery (poss) lead off the battery. the battery is close to needing to be charged...
Cool...thanks guys just want to be sure it is OK
Last edited by UnklRod; 08/12/2010 3:09 AM.
1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton TruckIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pixThe coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!! | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | the battery is close to needing to be charged... Don't let it sit in a discharged state. You'll ruin the battery.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 | How do I check if the gen is charging the battery?
Last edited by UnklRod; 08/12/2010 11:33 PM.
1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton TruckIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pixThe coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!! | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Start it up and put a volt meter across the terminals while it's running (charging). Should show a voltage of around 14 volts. A good 12v battery will often show 13.8 volts fully charged.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | You can to tell by the amp gauge if it is charging. If it shows a charge, it is charging.
You need to start with a charged battery though. It doesn't take very many times of starting and shutting it off without letting the battery recover, to discharge the battery. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 714 | OK,
Thanks!
I will check with volt meter. Then I will start to trust what the gauge is telling me...
Jon
1957 Chevy 1/2-Ton TruckIn the Stovebolt GalleryMore pixThe coldest winter I ever saw was a summer I spent in San Francisco M. Twain
If at first you don't succeed...skydiving is not for you!
If you don't like my carbon foot print, stick it up your Prius!! | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | Regarding you battery question, if you charge your battery with a small charger, when it is fully charged it will be taking about 2 amps or so. If the battery is in poor shape, it will take a lot more continuously. Sometimes when the battery is completely shot, it will not take a charging current at all. | | |
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