Excessive Amperage Draw

[janobyte]

Good stuff here. Going back to the original set up(voltage regulator vs. single wire) simply because I plan on having the car judged Day 2. I am fortunate enough to be able to retain my harness which is in good shape, including terminal blocks--no corrosion in the fire wall junction.

These posts have been helpful in refreshing my memory in the old system.

[sixt9x33rs]

I switched out the VR with a known good one with the same result. I checked the wiring on the starter and it is hooked up correctly. I have not had the battery checked yet nor have I removed fuses trying to isolate a bad circuit. That is next on the agenda.

Lawrence

[janobyte]

sorry--single wire referring to internally regulated alternator thereby eliminating external voltage regulator.

[sixt9x33rs]

Here is a picture of my amp gauge with the key off and also the ground wire disconnected to the battery. When I start and run the car the gauge needle will move to the right. Sometimes pegging the gauge, but if the gauge was centered the amount of movement would be normal in my experience. Once the car is driven for a while the needle settles down to about where it is now. I should have made this observation before I started this thread.

Is the gauge bad? Can I reset the needle to "0".
Thanks guys

Lawrence

[janobyte]

With no current flowing your "0" is 25amps, sort of understand ? you would zero a multimeter. The members running these gauges will have to give input as far as either being able to set the gauge or replacing.

Car starts and runs so appears battery  and charging system ok. Probably just a faulty gauge--If it's your OE I'd contact someone like Jerry at CHP and inquire about restoring.

 

[janobyte]

Darrell is also very competent-Red Gorilla Restorations. Anyway, the only two people I trust with my valuable OE stuff.

[sixt9x33rs]

its OE

[Mark]

If thats where it sits when the gauge, or the battry is disconnected , just pop the needle off the gauge and re-zero it.  I've pulled needles off with a tiny set of needle nose pliers or even a fork, just get under the needle neat the center pin an pry straight up.  The needle will pop off the pin (hopefully - sometimes the post will come out of the gauge and your done) and you can reinstall it pointing at the 0 point.

[sixt9x33rs]

I changed out the VR again and now have voltage levels that are acceptable. I have 13.5 volts at idle and 14.5 volts at fast idle and cold. The previous VR was the old points style Delco Remy. The one in now is the modern parts store type. I like the DR points style but will run this parts store type until I can get the original looking type.

[philip]

do someone know the millivolts required to show maximum of the scale in a 67 "amperemeter"?

for indiustrial it's 100mV to show max scale when u use a shunt , but for our cars