The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay checking starter draw?

Can any one tell me where to set the dial on a volt -ohm meter and how to check if my starter is drawing to much current?the regulator shows 8 volts and the batery is new.already checked and cleaned grounds but still turning over slow.Ron

Slow..Rider,

Don't quote me on this, but you cannot check the current draw with a VOM meter.

Your starter, when functioning properly will draw around 200 amps. Your little meter has no way to measure that amount of current.

By using a small inductive current draw meter you can buy at NAPA, you would be able to do this chore.

Your VOM will show you the voltage on your battery, but this is only a partial representation of its health.

You are right in your thinking though..it is either the battery or the starter.

I know most Bolters like to do things for themselves, but a auto electric shop could answer both your battery and starter draw questions, maybe for free.

{edit} Here is an example.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Blue-Point-by-S...291QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Stuart

Stuart, he should go to the Hot start thread, that would confuse a expert, I have so many things to try I wont be done till winter, Will keep you posted after todays effort.

Gazim,

Ain't it the truth!

Slow..Rider,

I see your post mentioned 8 volts somewhere. I'm not sure what rig this was measured on, or what voltage system that truck has.

About the max a 6 volt charging system should show would be 7.4 volts. A 12 volt system would be around 14.3 volts. I think 8 volts is too high for a 6 volt system.

Maybe your meter is off a tad!

Stuart

Staurt is right,,you need a amp probe w/your mutimeter to measure starter draw, try to borrow one if you can as they are kinda costly, although there are the cheaper inductive meters that are just a small gauge(like the ones linked on ePay) that just sits on top of cables that can give you an idea of current draw(just not as accurate as the hi-dollar ones)but should be fine for this purpose. Brian

atomarc,
I own an inductive style amp meter I think it is a snap-on and 20 years ago was in the $15.00 range. You just lay it against the wire and start the engine, it gives you a very close amperage reading. The guys at the shop teased me for buying such a rinkey dink meter. Then one day one of the guys was hooking up a vat40 (expensive charging system tester) to a car to check starter draw and alternator output. Before he could get it hooked up I ran over and tested it with my new toy. Well he didn't trust my readings so he tested it with the vat-40 and got the same results. Now who is laughing. The next time snap-on cam to the shop he sold 5.

In the army i was taught to do a voltage drop across the battery, each connection, and the starter. It diagnosed bad connections as well as bad battery and/or starter. We only had a voltmeter. Across the battery is different, but by putting the volt meter across a connection and closing the circuit, you will see over 1/10 volt if the connection is compromised, up to 12V if it is totaled. Same in checking the starter drop and starter to ground connection. You need to start with a higher setting on the volt meter and then check at lower settings so you don't fry your meter. I always liked my little inductive amp meter.