ammeter issue- I think simple??

[rosedale123]

I have a new ammeter hooked up in a one wire alt system. I have one wire from the alt going to one post of the ammeter and the other post on the ammeter going to the battery. With the motor reved up I show 14 volts ( or close to that) on each post of the alternator and also at the positive post of the battery. The gage however reads NOTHING..not even a flinch....what have I done wrong or is the gage bad?

Many thanks
 

[old]

One post of the amp gauge should go to battery the other to the alternator charge plus that same post should have any load like ignition off of it
 

[rosedale123]

that is how I have I have it but it doesnt read anything...If a battery is fully charged will an ammeter not read anything? Just thinking.....
 

[rustyfarmall]

[Russ from MN]

It sounds like the ammeter either isn't working or has too large a range. You could temporarily hook some load onto it to see what happens. I use my big hand-held spotlight for things like that, it draws 8 amps.
 

[old]

Gauge could also be bad even if it is a new one
 

[mattofvinings]

My Ammeter will only "read" charge for about 2 minutes after I start the Super A. Similar 1-wire 30A alternator setup. The battery isn't drawn down very much. The ignition load is so low I can't really tell the discharge. I am guessing I would see more movement with lighting but I don't cut grass at night and so I never wired them up
 

[Janicholson]

It is just fine. Alternators are so much better than generators that they fill up the battery and just maintain it. Your numbers are OK, normal. Jim
 

[John T]

If its increasing battery voltage to 14 it is charging. If the battery is full charged which doesn't take a good alternator long to achieve the ammeter may not show many charging amps. With engine off see if turning on lights or ignition shows a discharge as it should if meter is working and is wired right. BAT on one side, alternator and lights and ignition all on other.

John T
 

[pinball]

watch the meter closely. turn your key and it should flinch to the left. start your tractor and it should go to the right and as soon as your tractor starts and your bat is charged it will go back to zero. that's the way it is suppose to work.
 

[John T]

If its full charged there will be few charging amps delivered SUBJECT TO Voltage Regulator parameters and RPM.

If its a 60 amp ammeter you wont hardly see anything but if its a 20 or 30 there's a better chance you will see needle deflection once full charged

What size is your meter ???????????

John T