Analog Volt & Amp meters quit at the same time..?

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May 19, 2004
45
C-C 34 Jax
After the hurricanes here I discovered that both amp and volt meters ceased to move when the motor was running. The battery test meter does seem to work and indicates that the charge is improved after charging by motor for a while. There was so little lightning during the hurricanes that I didn't think that a strike was a likely prospect....and I never plug into shore power while away from the boat. The shore charger is also 'suspect' as it does not seem to improve charge after sufficient time. I will have that checked out locally... As I understand things, the volt meter is wired direct and the amp meter is wired via a shunt given the amount of current flowing... right? Can a person check the condition of the individual meters without sending them off? How?
 
Jun 3, 2004
21
Macgregor 19 Lucas Creek, Newport News
Get the model number...

Get the model number and find a manual or drawing for it. You are correct. The voltmeter goes from the hot size to ground. The ampmeter go across a shunt in the hot wire which delivers a small amount of current to the ampmeter. Good luck, Ron
 
Jun 3, 2004
21
Macgregor 19 Lucas Creek, Newport News
Get the model number...

Get the model number and find a manual or drawing for it. You are correct. The voltmeter goes from the hot size to ground. The ampmeter go across a shunt in the hot wire which delivers a small amount of current to the ampmeter. Good luck, Ron
 
Jun 7, 2004
944
Birch Bay Washington
It seems unlikely that both would quit

at the same time. To check the voltmeter, disconnect the wires to it and connect a known good battery to the meter. Watch the polarity. You did not say what kind of meters you have. Are they digital or analog (mechanical needle) meters? You might want to get a multimeter for testing purposes. A digital one is probably best. You can use it to see what the voltage is at the meter terminals. If the voltage is there, the meter is bad. You can also use the ohm meter function to measure the resistance of the meters. Make sure you disconnect the meter before you measure the resistance. The ohm meter uses a small voltage to measure resistance and so if you watch, the needles may move when you touch the probes to the meter terminals. If there is an open circuit (infinite resistance) in the meter, that indicates that the meter is bad.
 
Jun 7, 2004
944
Birch Bay Washington
It seems unlikely that both would quit

at the same time. To check the voltmeter, disconnect the wires to it and connect a known good battery to the meter. Watch the polarity. You did not say what kind of meters you have. Are they digital or analog (mechanical needle) meters? You might want to get a multimeter for testing purposes. A digital one is probably best. You can use it to see what the voltage is at the meter terminals. If the voltage is there, the meter is bad. You can also use the ohm meter function to measure the resistance of the meters. Make sure you disconnect the meter before you measure the resistance. The ohm meter uses a small voltage to measure resistance and so if you watch, the needles may move when you touch the probes to the meter terminals. If there is an open circuit (infinite resistance) in the meter, that indicates that the meter is bad.
 
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