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Voltmeter .... Again

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Michaels Dad

04-27-2008 07:44:28




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I’ve been having problems with my voltmeters, one quit working, put another in it did fine for a couple of hours, and then started acting up….not working, twitching and then working again.

Replaced the crimped eyes that go to the posts on the back of the meter.
Worked fine for a while and then started twitching again. Grrrrr.

While it was doing this I reached up under there and twisted the mounting bracket….shazam…the twitching quit, needle was rock solid and showed 1 more volt than it had before.

Now the question is why. Does the mounting bracket need to be tighter for a better ground? I thought because the bracket was isolated from the posts that a ground wouldn’t be necessary.
What am I missing here?

I’ve been having problems with my voltmeters, one quit working, put another in it did fine for a couple of hours, and then started acting up….not working, twitching and then working again.

Replaced the crimped eyes that go to the posts on the back of the meter.
Worked fine for a while and then started twitching again. Grrrrr.

While it was doing this I reached up under there and twisted the mounting bracket….shazam…the twitching quit, needle was rock solid and showed 1 more volt than it had before.

Now the question is why. Does the mounting bracket need to be tighter for a better ground? I thought because the bracket was isolated from the posts that a ground wouldn’t be necessary.
What am I missing here?

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Michaels Dad

05-13-2008 08:33:36




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to dmohr, 04-27-2008 07:44:28  
He's the most recent up date.

Turned the key on when I got up here yesterday. Voltmeter didn't move, indicator light came on.

Removed the gauge, hooked it up directly to the battery, didn't move.

Noticed one of the nuts on one of the posts wasn't real tight, tightened it, hooked it back up to the battery, didn't move.

OK, bought two voltmeters, different brands and both went bad.

Installed a new on $3.99 on sale meter from Harbor Freight using all new wiring and ends. This meter was different in the fact that it has spade connections on the back, not nuts on a post.

Turned the key on worked like a champ.

Looked at the one I just pulled out and thought I'd try it on a battery I had sitting near by. It worked!

I promise this will be the last post on this subject.

Never did trust or understand something I couldn't see, that's why I'm electrically challenged.

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Michaels Dad

04-28-2008 04:14:24




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to tn terry t, 04-27-2008 07:44:28  
That's where I'll start next trip back up here in about 2-3 weeks.

I need some time away from it.



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souNdguy

04-27-2008 18:29:01




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to Michaels Dad, 04-27-2008 07:44:28  
My guess is somehow the internal connections are not making contact inthe meter.. and reacing in there and twisting the mount bracket moves the 2 posts and makes it work.

pull it out of the dash and hook up with gator clip wires, and manually manipulate the case and mount posts with hand power to see if it makes a difference.

I've had toggle switches that would not work when installed .. but worked fine uninstalled.. When installed, the wires were putting a little load ont he connection tabs, causeing the switch to not make contact ... remove it.. and it worked fine..

soundguy

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Michaels Dad

04-27-2008 14:52:02




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to Michaels Dad, 04-27-2008 07:44:28  
Went out to put the dogs up, turned the key on, meter didn't come on. Fired it up, nothing.

Starting moving the bracket, needle started twitching.

Grabbed the bracket again, twisted it till the whole gauge moved a little and it started working again.

Grrrrr rrrrr r

Next time up, I'm going to really take some time with it (as if I hadn't already) and find out what's going on.

Right now the only thing I see is the bracket moves, possibly to a better "connection", but it shouldn't have to have any ground...at least I don't think so.

It's Miller time.

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Michaels Dad

04-27-2008 14:33:33




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to Fordfarmer, 04-27-2008 07:44:28  

john in la said: (quoted from post at 02:31:20 04/28/08)
Michaels Dad said: (quoted from post at 12:43:50 04/27/08) The ground goes to the chassis where my indicator light and a 12v outlet are grounded, and they both work.


The fact that you grabed the gauge and twisted it causing the gauge to work is the key here.

In fear of saying things that should be common knowledge and you saying... WELL DUHH even I thought of that.. Lets go threw this.

Did you take out the gauge and see if it works on a good battery without any posiable ground to the chassie threw the gauge??

Yes I did that before installation and it worked.

Are you sure that your isolating groments are inplace correct??

Yes, they are plastic and can't move.

Have you tried running a second ground wire and toching it to the gauge frame to see what that does???

Not yet.

Where does the power source hook?? Could that be the problem??

No, same connection I used for my indicator light and 12v socket.

One test I would be wanting to try would be..... ....

Take all wires off the gauge. Run 2 jumper wires straight from the battery post to the gauge post. Drive tractor around. Does the gauge work???

We have just isloated the tractor wiring from the gauge. We now know if the problem is in the gauge or the wiring.

If the gauge did not work in this test put the ground wire on the gauge frame also. Did that make a differance??

Still working right now, but got to put the tractor up and get ready to head back to the city.

If problem continues next trip up here I'll try the other things I haven't tried.

Thanks guys

Let us know what you find.
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Michaels Dad

04-27-2008 12:43:50




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to Fordfarmer, 04-27-2008 07:44:28  

john in la said: (quoted from post at 01:04:14 04/28/08) You have tryed 2 differant gauges and all a volt meter needs to work is a good power source and a good ground.

A volt meter should work all the time (when the key is on) No nned for the charging system to be working or any thing like that. With the key on a volt meter will read battery voltage.

It sure sounds like you have a bad connection some where. Most likely the ground. Take every thing loose and polish the connections. If your ground wire is bolted to a paint area the gauge may be trying to ground threw the gauge itself.


The ground goes to the chassis where my indicator light and a 12v outlet are grounded, and they both work.

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john in la

04-27-2008 13:31:20




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to Michaels Dad, 04-27-2008 12:43:50  

Michaels Dad said: (quoted from post at 12:43:50 04/27/08) The ground goes to the chassis where my indicator light and a 12v outlet are grounded, and they both work.


The fact that you grabed the gauge and twisted it causing the gauge to work is the key here.

In fear of saying things that should be common knowledge and you saying... WELL DUHH even I thought of that.. Lets go threw this.

Did you take out the gauge and see if it works on a good battery without any posiable ground to the chassie threw the gauge??

Are you sure that your isolating groments are inplace correct??

Have you tried running a second ground wire and toching it to the gauge frame to see what that does???

Where does the power source hook?? Could that be the problem??

One test I would be wanting to try would be..... ....

Take all wires off the gauge. Run 2 jumper wires straight from the battery post to the gauge post. Drive tractor around. Does the gauge work???

We have just isloated the tractor wiring from the gauge. We now know if the problem is in the gauge or the wiring.

If the gauge did not work in this test put the ground wire on the gauge frame also. Did that make a differance??

Let us know what you find.

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john in la

04-27-2008 12:04:14




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to Michaels Dad, 04-27-2008 07:44:28  
You have tryed 2 differant gauges and all a volt meter needs to work is a good power source and a good ground.

A volt meter should work all the time (when the key is on) No nned for the charging system to be working or any thing like that. With the key on a volt meter will read battery voltage.

It sure sounds like you have a bad connection some where. Most likely the ground. Take every thing loose and polish the connections. If your ground wire is bolted to a paint area the gauge may be trying to ground threw the gauge itself.

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trucker40

04-27-2008 10:49:42




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to Michaels Dad, 04-27-2008 07:44:28  
Well,you need to have a good ground.Im not an expert but it sounds like something else could be wrong.I would try to get a good ground on it,and get it bolted up tight,maybe it will fix it.



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Brian Allen

04-27-2008 09:17:29




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 Re: Voltmeter .... Again in reply to Michaels Dad, 04-27-2008 07:44:28  
The voltmeter on my FE35 has done this for several years now.
It always has the battery up to the correct charge.
Brian



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