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Discussion Topic:
'40 Ford N.O.S VOLT GAUGE
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kubes40 |
07-25-2017 @ 9:52 AM
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Senior
Posts: 3414
Joined: Oct 2009
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Steve, I may have been mistaken about the purpose of that strap and if so, I apologize. I've done so many of the '39 - '40 Fords, I rarely even think about, much less look at a schematic. I have to tell ya, TomO in my opinion has this electrical stuff down to a science. I'd not hesitate to listen carefully to any advice he may offer.
Mike "Kube" Kubarth
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TomO |
07-25-2017 @ 6:56 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7263
Joined: Oct 2009
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Here is a copy of the wiring diagram from the shop notes. Your gauges should be wired as shown.
Tom
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sarahcecelia |
07-24-2017 @ 7:44 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
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Tom, I have some wiring on the oil + volt gauges in this car that I don't understand. There was a strap between the oil and volt gauges, passenger side, and the post on the voltmeter (w/the strap on it,) had (2) grn./ blk. wires connected to it.The other side of the voltmeter had nothing on it. "Kubes" said that strap was a ground, but It looks like it provides power to oil and volts gauges, and the case of the volt gauge was providing ground. The other terminal which had nothing on it, should have a ground wire on it? The right side terminal on volts, is insulated w/cardboard, so that to me should be power side. What's the story? Would it be possible to call me to get this straightened out? It seems to take a lot of typing to+fro to sort all this out, where one phone call could do it. 352. 666 .9916 Florida
Regards, Steve Lee
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sarahcecelia |
07-24-2017 @ 1:39 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
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Mike "Kubes" Kubarth, I sent you a PM yesterday, Sunday the 23rd of July. Did you get it? It was about how my old gauge was wired, and the fact the it was "hot'ed" to the ground strap.I need a reply please.
Regards, Steve Lee
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sarahcecelia |
07-23-2017 @ 3:30 PM
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Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
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With my El Cheapo meter it jumps all over. (Actually "bounces" back and forth rapidly.It doesn't do that on any other test I have done, like battery voltage etc. Weird, huh??
Regards, Steve Lee
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sarahcecelia |
07-23-2017 @ 7:49 AM
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Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
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Mike" Kubes", Where should the 1940 voltage gauge needle be when power is off? Mine is about 1 eighth of an inch below the first red area. There is an adjustment area on the back, so maybe I need to adjust it if the volts are right at the regulator "Batt" Terminal. 7.2-7.4 @12-1500 rpm's.
Regards, Steve Lee
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TomO |
07-22-2017 @ 7:35 AM
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Posts: 7263
Joined: Oct 2009
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Steve, the voltage and current readings on the test setup have no bearing on the reading of the dash gauge. The only voltage check that has a bearing on the accuracy of the dash gauge is the one taken at the gauge posts. It is much more difficult to get under the dash to connect a voltmeter to the dash gauge, so the first step is to measure the voltage at the voltage regulator. If that shows the dash gauge reading is inaccurate, the next step is to measure the voltage at the dash gauge or do a voltage drop test to determine if there is excessive voltage loss between the battery and the dash gauge. The readings shown on the dash unit are never exact as you just have color bands to show the voltage. The dash gauge is there to alert you to signs of trouble. If the needle is in the red at the right side of the gauge, it means stop the engine right now, before you damage the generator. If it reads in the red at the left side of the gauge, your charging system is not working and your battery is discharging. The orange section means that the battery is fully charged, but the charging system is not keeping up with the battery drain. The green section means that the charging system is keeping uo with the drain. My dash unit will read just into the green when the car is at road speeds and the battery needs some charging. When the battery is fully charged, it will read at the left edge of the green band. With the lights on, it will move back into the green band and with the lights and radio on, it will be at the left edge of the orange band. The dash gauge is not an instant reading unit, like an ammeter, it takes approximately 1 minute to reach equilibrium. When you have read this post carefully, spend some time digesting he information and then read it again and make a list of how to connect your voltmeter to test the dash unit. Then goi back and read the post again to see if you are doing it correctly.
Tom
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sarahcecelia |
07-22-2017 @ 6:01 AM
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Senior
Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
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Tom, I just had the generator rebuilt, ( new brushes and clean commutator) and regulator replaced, and the guy who did it is well up in age, did that stuff for years with (4) employees, now semi-retired. He showed me the readings as he ran the generator, and new regulator, with me present, and all of his gauges running . All were good readings. My battery reads about 6.2 or 6.4volts, w/o the motor running. I'll connect the NOS gauge w/jumpers, to BATT on the regulator, and other terminal to ground, and run motor at 12-1500RPMS and see what it reads.
Regards, Steve Lee
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sarahcecelia |
07-21-2017 @ 7:24 PM
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Posts: 1194
Joined: Mar 2013
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Tom O what do you have to say???
Regards, Steve Lee
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TomO |
07-20-2017 @ 9:37 AM
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Senior
Posts: 7263
Joined: Oct 2009
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The battery gauge is a volt meter so you can test it by connecting it between the BAT terminal on the voltage regulator and ground. The dash gauge does not care how many amps that your generator is putting out, only the voltage. The gauge is slow acting, so be patient. You never stated what voltage you are reading at the BAT terminal of the voltage regulator when you raise the RPMs to 1200 RPM. This is important, as a weak battery or one that is not fully charged will affect the gauge reading. Here is a link to your post where you were given what the gauge should read for https://www.earlyfordv8.org/forum/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=18&Topic=10914&keywords=gauge The voltage readings should be taken at the dash gauge and could vary as much as 0.2V from the voltage regulator readings.
Tom
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