Post to the EFV-8 Forum
Post Classified Ads
Shop the Online Store

User Login

Not Registered Yet? Click Here to Sign Up!

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

FORUM RULES: Users agree to these Rules when using Forum.

The site administrator reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the user agreement without prior notice to the user. It is the responsibility of the user to regularly review the terms of this agreement.

The user agrees to the following terms:

All information that you provide to us for your membership is correct.
You will not use your membership to spam, harrass, or exploit other members in any way.
Vulgar, Abusive, Racist and Sexist Language will not be tolerated.
Commercial-type sales postings will not be allowed.
No mass posting or flooding of the boards is allowed.
No Advertising of parts or cars; no Ebay or business/commercial ads (please use the "Classified" for ads Wanted or For Sale).
VIEWING MULTIPLE TOPICS ON SCREEN: You can choose to see more than 10 Topics at a time ... Log In and choose "Preferences" from the top bar on the Forum page. Scroll down and Change the "Default Topics Returned" parameter to 25 or 50, and save the changes. Since this setting is stored in your browser 'cookies' (if enabled), it seems to use that stored value even if you are not logged in. So, if you use a PC that you haven't logged into the forum from, the setting still seem to remain at the default.
EXTERNAL PHOTO LINKS ON FORUM: You can still use external photo links in your posts on the new forum. They follow the rules of any link in that they have to have the URL link qualified down to the full image file name (example: .jpg). The links will open in a new browser window, the same as an uploaded image attached to a post. Since an image attachment to any post does not display inline with the post, the results are the same. You can use multiple external links within a post. This link is from photos on a site from Don Clink's 'Deuce@75' albums:

http://donclink.com/deuce_75_1/images/dscn2950.jpg

Using links from photo sites such as Photobucket can help in "size" issue with uploaded attachment files. For best viewing in web browsers, photos should be around the 800x600 pixel range, and probably not more than 1024x768. Most cameras today store HUGE jpg image files, as the default settings are in the 7, 8, 10, and 12Mb image sizes. The image files that are then attached are very large, and the browser can't display the full image size without using the scroll bars. Use the re-sizing functions of your photo editing software to reduce the image to 800x600, which reduces the file sixe and the image load time in the browser. Don uses Google's free Picassa3 software, which is an excellent photo management product. All of the photo albums of the Deuce, Grand National, and Auburn that are links on the NORG site were built using Picassa's web creation functions. And it's free? (THANKS to Don Clink for the info!)
HOW DO I SHOW MY EMAIL ADDRESS ALONG WITH MY USERNAME? You can LogIn on the Forum, and select PREFERENCES. On this page Members can add optional information such as their City,State, Country; Occupation; Hobbies: list a Homepage; list AOL Instant Messanger Handle; Signature; "Make Email Address viewable to others;" and even change the number of Default Topics shown on a page. WHEN others click on your profile, they will see this information.

EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / '40 Ford amp gauge

Reply to Discussion | New Discussion

<< previous || next >>

Posted By

Discussion Topic: '40 Ford amp gauge -- page: 1 2

sarahcecelia

07-23-2017 @ 7:40 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1171
Joined: Mar 2013

Your exactly right!! I looked yesterday at my NOS voltage gauge. I took the two nuts off of it, then the cardboard, and then the piece of metal under them; and There was a little hole in the back and I could see a few small "cogs" that would be to adjust it. When the the key is off my gauge in the car reads about an eighth of an inch to the left of the first red area, so maybe I need to move the needle to the start of that red area? I'm going to test the volt input at the regulator BATT terminal first at 12-1500 RPM's first, and if it is about 7.2-7.4, I''ll adjust The gauge up so it reads in the green at those revs. Problem is how to get to that gauge in the dash to do that! I'll get that figured out; have to! Where does yours read when the key is off? Is it at the start of the first red area? That would be important for me to know before I try to adjust it.

Regards, Steve Lee

TomO

07-04-2017 @ 7:03 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 7244
Joined: Oct 2009

Steve, this is done with all connections in their normal position. You are just checking the output voltage level of the generator and comparing it to what the dash gauge is showing.

Tom

sarahcecelia

07-04-2017 @ 6:18 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1171
Joined: Mar 2013

Is this done with the wire on the BAT terminal on or off??I would think on, and the one probe on the terminal and the other probe to a ground; Right?

This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 7-4-17 @ 1:20 PM

sarahcecelia

07-04-2017 @ 5:03 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1171
Joined: Mar 2013

Thanks Tom, That's what I thought. They cost upwards of $75- $200. I'll check it with my "El Cheapo" digital and If I have to have it adjusted I would go to a shop with a good calibrated voltmeter like a garage, or starter/ generator shop.Thank you again for your very kind and informative reply!! I love this forum; I read all of the problems guys are having, and learn a lot about how to do things that I haven't done before, and get different ideas about how to solve problems and/or fix things.

Regards, Steve Lee

This message was edited by sarahcecelia on 7-4-17 @ 1:16 PM

TomO

07-03-2017 @ 8:26 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 7244
Joined: Oct 2009

You can use your digital meter to read the voltage, but if the regulator needs adjusting, take it to a generator repair shop or buy a new one.

By calibrated, I mean one that has been checked against a standard voltage source. It should be a precision meter and they are expensive.

Tom

sarahcecelia

07-03-2017 @ 3:11 PM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1171
Joined: Mar 2013

Tom, Can I use my digital multi meter (I assume by calibrated you mean "Factory calibrated"?)to go from the Bat terminal to ground to just read the volts?if you do mean "Factory Calibrated" I don't own a calibrated volt meter, and if I find that the regulator needs adjusting I'll go to my friendly garage and see if they have a calibrated volt meter, and if so, see if they can adjust the regulator. Are calibrated Volt meters inexpensive, and where is the best place to purchase one? Oreilly, Advance auto, etc. Can you name a brand to buy?

TomO

07-03-2017 @ 10:30 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 7244
Joined: Oct 2009

Warm the engine to operating temperatures. Connect a voltmeter between the BAT terminal of the voltage regulator and ground. Next increase the engine speed to around 1,200 RPM. The volt meter should read 7.2-7.6 Volts and the dash gauge should be be in the lower end of the green band. The orange band starts at 6.2V and goes up to 7.1V. The green sector is 7.1V-8.25V.

Your dash gauge may be alright and your voltage regulator may need adjusting. It takes about 5 minutes for the voltage regulator to reach its operating range after the cover has been off. Do not try to adjust the regulator without having a calibrated analog meter. A digital meter can give false readings in this area, but will be accurate enough to check the output of the generator and the accuracy of the BATT gauge.

Tom

sarahcecelia

07-03-2017 @ 9:59 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1171
Joined: Mar 2013

I took the paper disc off the new battery gauge (It is NOS#01A-10844) and there is no adjustment, so I doubt the old one has an adjustment either.I cleaned the (3)contacts on the regulator with 360 paper and then pulled a business card through them to clean any residue off them. I also spayed them with Radio Shack contact cleaner.I tried leaving the headlights on for about 10 minutes before I started the motor and rev'd it to about 1,000 RPM's. After a minute or so the needle stopped movement at the first edge of the tan area; It should go to somewhere in the green about 5/32" more and it NEVER does! Can I remove the BAT connection on the regulator and put a digital multi meter from Bat connection and it's wire to to read the voltage?Even after starting the car, it never goes to the green area, and starters draw about 230 amps, so I would think it would go to green for a few minutes. My '50 ford does. The battery is 6V and is always on a Battery Butler.

40 Coupe

07-01-2017 @ 5:01 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1650
Joined: Oct 2009

To check, connect the gauge to the power supply and dial in the proper output voltage. I believe there is an adjustment on the rear of the gauge under the cardboard cover. Give the gauge time to come up to the proper reading. You can also adjust your old gauge.

This message was edited by 40 Coupe on 7-1-17 @ 5:02 AM

sarahcecelia

06-30-2017 @ 11:13 AM

reply profile send p.m.

Senior
Posts: 1171
Joined: Mar 2013

Volts or amps is not the problem, but your right my '50 shows amps and the '40 is volts; but regardless,the unit only goes to just less than the green, in the tan area, and the book says it should go to green when it is charging properly. I want to know how to hook my N.O.S. one up, To test it without installing it, to see if it goes to the green area. Then, and only then, I'll confront taking the old one out, and installing the N.O.S one.

<< previous || next >>

PAGE: 1 2

NOTE: YOU MUST BE A REGISTERED USER AND BE LOGGED IN TO POST (and reply to) messages in this forum. If you are a first time user, please click the CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT in the masthead above to register and Log In. After that, all you do is LOG IN to enjoy using this site.

DISCLAIMER: The V-8 Club does no independent testing of any of the opinions, thoughts or suggestions presented in the website on the Forum, in the Tech Tips section, or any section. A reader should consider the website to be a forum wherein differing solutions to a particular set of circumstances may be discussed. Ultimately, the selection of an item for an individual's vehicle must be based upon the independent study of the vehicle owner in consultation with people in the hobby and restoration experts.

Early Ford V-8 Club Forum

Merchandise Questions

Membership Questions