The Ford Barn

meteorgray · 10-13-2014, 08:10 AM

Hey Guy's, If I place a clamp on ammeter around my ground cable will it give me the correct reading. I don't know if the dash ammeter is giving me the correct reading. Thanks, Roger

Jim/GA · 10-13-2014, 08:16 AM

Yes it will.

Another easy place to put it is on the solid yellow wire that connects to the starter switch. All current to/from the battery (except for the starter itself) goes through that yellow wire.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-13-2014, 08:34 AM

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By clamp on I assume you mean an inductive pickup clamp. I like to remove the wire and put an accurate ammeter in series to check the amps. I don't have an incuctive pickup to check it against for accuracy, but I've always thought an inline meter was the best way to check. I do have an inductive meter that you lay against the stater cable for starter draw, or move it to the other notch to check for generator output, but for generator output I figure it's a rough estimate and mainly shows whether it's working or not.

10-13-2014, 08:10 AM	#1
meteorgray Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: new jersey Posts: 38	Testing Amperage Hey Guy's, If I place a clamp on ammeter around my ground cable will it give me the correct reading. I don't know if the dash ammeter is giving me the correct reading. Thanks, Roger

10-13-2014, 08:16 AM	#2
Jim/GA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Young Harris, GA Posts: 1,821	Re: Testing Amperage Yes it will. Another easy place to put it is on the solid yellow wire that connects to the starter switch. All current to/from the battery (except for the starter itself) goes through that yellow wire. __________________ Jim Cannon Former MAFCA Technical Director "Have a Model A day!"

10-13-2014, 08:34 AM	#3
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Testing Amperage Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) By clamp on I assume you mean an inductive pickup clamp. I like to remove the wire and put an accurate ammeter in series to check the amps. I don't have an incuctive pickup to check it against for accuracy, but I've always thought an inline meter was the best way to check. I do have an inductive meter that you lay against the stater cable for starter draw, or move it to the other notch to check for generator output, but for generator output I figure it's a rough estimate and mainly shows whether it's working or not.