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OK Who is the test equipment WIZARD, I just purchasted a SUN - VOLT/ AMPERE tester , very cheep. It seems to be in very good shape and from years 50s 60s ?? MOD# VAT 43532 for DC. I belive its used for setting / checking volts /amps on generators and cut in and out on regulators.
But i am at a loss as to the correct use, :o I DONT WANT TO TOAST IT. ANY HELP/ LEADS WOULD BE APP.

If memory serves me correctly, the large red & black clamps go to battery, as do the smaller red & black leads, although the small leads can also be used independently as a voltmeter etc (like the pocket kind). The small green lead is field for the alt/gen. If there is an inductive pickup it goes around positive cable or alt/gen output(large) wire. Brian

Thanks for the reply FLEETSIDE but it does not have a green or an inductive pickup. All it has is a volt meter on one side and an amp meter on the other. hookups are a pair of RED and BLACK under each gauge,one pair labeld AMPS., OTHER VOLTS.The clips on the AMPS side have screw down clamps to hold a good connection. In the center is a large red knob LABELD in clock wise rotation, DIRECT, FIXED LOAD, VARIABLE. Above that is the fixed load switch,3 position 3/4,1 1/2,7, OHMS. Below the volt meter is a VOLT METER CHECK push button, And to the right of that is a VOLTS SELECTOR SWITCH, 4,8,16 VOLTS. Ive looked in some older high school auto books and they show similar types [MAYBE SAME BRAND] But are not same mod. [ more options ??] Is seems that i was right in that it is used for ckecking ALT/ GEN / BAT. Charge rate , cut in /out. but to the correct hookup im lost, i hope someone can help and give me some clues :confused:

The amp meter is an older in-line meter, without the inductive pickup. It gets connected in series on whatever is being tested. If it's for testing starter current, you disconnect the cable going from the battery to the starter, and connect the meter in the circuit. How high does the ampmeter read? If it's under 200 amps, it's not for the starter, but the generator. I'm thinking that the Chevy shop manuals show how to hook up these meters.

You have purchased a ' Carbon Pile ' VAT or Voltage Amperage Tester and it's quite a good machine there regardless of who made it - you'll need a shunt or some other kind of switch to cut the battery circut after you've started the engine for most charging system tests ~ Sun used to seel a nifty knife switch that had a female battery clamp on one end and a male battery post on t'other for just this purpose .

When load testing a generator or alternator remember : _NEVER_ load the divice below it's rated voltage ! Ex : 12 volt 35 amp. alternaotr will charge 40 + amps if you load it down to 10 voltsa but you'll prolly kill it doing so .

This device can also test starters on the truck , look for under 150 amps draw .

My guess , if you take it to the local high school auto shop or college evening adult school auto shop the teacher will be able to show you how to use it , make up a crib sheet and laminate it @ Kinko's & keep with it for future reference .

I have been hunting for a SUN VAT40 for some time now , need not be pretty but it's gotta work .

I just picked up a sun tester on the weekend at hershey for $10 with the instructions. there is 2 mini jumper cable ends (red & black) they hook up to the battery to supply power to the unit, there is another smaller set for checking voltages, ohms. i think the green was for the distributer for the dwell and points check. and it also has i built in shunt bar for checking starter draw up to 500 amps. There is also an inductive clip for measuring the HV off the coil.

Tanks for the replies Nate,Albert. NATE it seems unit does not do starters , the amp gauge does not go hi enought, [only to 75 amps]and has a negative 10 amps in the scale LIKE-neg10==O===+75 Is this a BACK FLOW or reverse flow ?? And the volts has a a SET POINTs [IN RED] AT 7 VOLTS in the 0 to 8 volts range, and a 14 volt set point in the 0 to 16 range. I believe this is max charge for 6 and 12 volt bat/ regulator should cut out at or just before this point??? . Im not sure what the 0 to 4 volt would be for?? each cell on older bat/ field winding volts ?? I looked into the hi school shop but were not able to help at that point in time.
HAY Albert it sounds like you got a deal, thanks for the reply, yours has more do-dads than mine. It would be a help if you are willing to post instructions or E mail them Im sure the connections for testing ALT/GEN are the same. Im looking forword to trying this tool, your help is appresciated

My unit is a Sun SP4101 which has two meters top to bottom, have you as yet contacted Sun? my manual is 13 pages double sided.
Sun electric Corporation
Insttument Products division
1560 trimble rd.
San Jose California 95131
(408) 946 7500

Thanks Albert I will give them a call today