The Ford Barn

Ed in Maine · 12-19-2019, 07:35 AM

I am going through my 31 Victoria and the item that stands out is that the ampere meter stays on zero. I have a new battery and the car came with a 6v alternator. The car runs perfectly. Looking at the schematic it looks to me that the ampere meter may be defective. No charging or discharging is indicated. Since the car starts and runs nicely, it must be the movement portion of the ampere meter. Any other thoughts? Thank you, Ed

eagle · 12-19-2019, 07:40 AM

A good battery will last quite a while without the charging system working. Use a good quality voltmeter , check the voltage right on the battery with engine off, then running at a high idle.

marty in Ohio · 12-19-2019, 07:44 AM

Ed,
If you have to get a new amp meter, good luck. I bought one a couple years ago from a good supplier and before I installed it the needle fell off the post. I called my supplier and they refunded my money. I offered to send the defective part back and they told me "throw it away, the part was junk any way."
Marty

Badpuppy · 12-19-2019, 10:19 AM

Make sure it's a 20-amp meter. With alternator and new battery a larger capacity ammeter may not provide enough deflection to notice 1-2 amps charge.

katy · 12-19-2019, 10:21 AM

FWIW, for the uninformed, the proper terminology is ammeter.

Mike V. Florida · 12-19-2019, 10:56 PM

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If you remove one wire from the meter and the car will not start then you have a bad meter. If the car still starts then you have a wiring error'

Stew Masche · 12-19-2019, 11:43 PM

I had a poor quality reproduction that would occasionally stick. try tapping it lightly while the car is running to see if it will move. Tap too hard, it may fall apart. Good originals can also be found at swap meets, etc.

Synchro909 · 12-19-2019, 11:47 PM

Try turning on the lights or sounding the horn without the motor running. Watch the ammeter and see if it shows a deflection. If yes, things are looking good. If no, you have a wiring issue or a dud ammeter.

Bill G · 12-20-2019, 02:50 AM

Had it been indicating a charge/discharge previously and then quit?

marty in Ohio · 12-20-2019, 06:53 AM

KATY,
You know, I thought the correct term was ammeter also, but before I responded in post #3 I looked in the Snyder's book and they called it an "amp meter."
Go figure.
Marty

Badpuppy · 12-20-2019, 11:40 AM

"Ammeter" is the correct term, but since it's a shortened version of "ampere meter" I see nothing much wrong with "amp meter". Just sounds a little odd to those of us who use the term often in our professional work.

rocket1 · 12-21-2019, 12:39 PM

How many amperes is the ammeter reading! English go figure.

12-19-2019, 07:35 AM	#1
Ed in Maine Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cty., ME or Flagler Cty., FL Posts: 1,106	31 Victoria Ampere Meter I am going through my 31 Victoria and the item that stands out is that the ampere meter stays on zero. I have a new battery and the car came with a 6v alternator. The car runs perfectly. Looking at the schematic it looks to me that the ampere meter may be defective. No charging or discharging is indicated. Since the car starts and runs nicely, it must be the movement portion of the ampere meter. Any other thoughts? Thank you, Ed

12-19-2019, 07:40 AM	#2
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter A good battery will last quite a while without the charging system working. Use a good quality voltmeter , check the voltage right on the battery with engine off, then running at a high idle. __________________ "There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."

12-19-2019, 10:19 AM	#4
Badpuppy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 1,144	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter Make sure it's a 20-amp meter. With alternator and new battery a larger capacity ammeter may not provide enough deflection to notice 1-2 amps charge.

12-19-2019, 10:21 AM	#5
katy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Red Deer, Alberta Posts: 5,042	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter FWIW, for the uninformed, the proper terminology is ammeter. __________________ If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn!

12-19-2019, 10:56 PM	#6
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) If you remove one wire from the meter and the car will not start then you have a bad meter. If the car still starts then you have a wiring error' __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

12-19-2019, 07:44 AM	#3
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 755	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter Ed, If you have to get a new amp meter, good luck. I bought one a couple years ago from a good supplier and before I installed it the needle fell off the post. I called my supplier and they refunded my money. I offered to send the defective part back and they told me "throw it away, the part was junk any way." Marty

12-19-2019, 11:43 PM	#7
Stew Masche Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Lake Mills, WI Posts: 251	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter I had a poor quality reproduction that would occasionally stick. try tapping it lightly while the car is running to see if it will move. Tap too hard, it may fall apart. Good originals can also be found at swap meets, etc. __________________ Always one bad decision away from a good time.

12-19-2019, 11:47 PM	#8
Synchro909 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 7,488	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter Try turning on the lights or sounding the horn without the motor running. Watch the ammeter and see if it shows a deflection. If yes, things are looking good. If no, you have a wiring issue or a dud ammeter. __________________ I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.

12-20-2019, 02:50 AM	#9
Bill G Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Walla Walla, WA Posts: 1,045	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter Had it been indicating a charge/discharge previously and then quit?

12-20-2019, 06:53 AM	#10
marty in Ohio Senior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Elyria, Ohio Posts: 755	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter KATY, You know, I thought the correct term was ammeter also, but before I responded in post #3 I looked in the Snyder's book and they called it an "amp meter." Go figure. Marty

12-20-2019, 11:40 AM	#11
Badpuppy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 1,144	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter "Ammeter" is the correct term, but since it's a shortened version of "ampere meter" I see nothing much wrong with "amp meter". Just sounds a little odd to those of us who use the term often in our professional work.

12-21-2019, 12:39 PM	#12
rocket1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Midland Park,N.J. Posts: 1,108	Re: 31 Victoria Ampere Meter How many amperes is the ammeter reading! English go figure.

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