Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

My amp gauge in my 69 Z reads a 25 amp charge while going down the road. I have checked the voltage regulator and it is regulating a 14.7 volt charge to the battery. I have checked the junction box on the radiator support and the leads are clean. My horn relay works for the horn but not for the key buzzer. Not sure if there is a malfunction in the HR that would cause an over charge on the red wire? This situation also causes my temp gauge to read high. I have checked the temp while the car is warm and the temp is 165 -170* with a 180* thermostat installed. Any ideas on how to troubleshoot this over charge reading?

Re: Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

I would check the easy stuff first, First have the battery checked,if it is going bad or has a bad cell it will keep drawing trying to charge, next check the wires on the starter, I had a battery cable come loose on my starter 35 years ago ,it did the same as yours, just saying.

Re: Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

Great pointers thanks!

Re: Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

14.7 volts is way high. Should only be that high it's below freezing.
13.5 at normal temps. Check connection, then look at your regulator....

Re: Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

I replaced the VR and confirmed the wiring on the starter is hooked up correctly. I still have this problem. I am going to confirm the voltage readings again.

I do have a very inexpensive small battery in the car which came in the car when I got it. I don't know if it is any good or not. Seems to be ok and based on the tags is is only a year old.

Lawrence

Re: Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

The next thing that comes to mind is the alternator. Sounds like it's going full-field for some reason. A quick bench test at a parts store would tell.

It shouldn't be the battery if the voltage is high.

Re: Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

I had the alternator checked at the parts store before installation.

I will keep digging

Re: Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

If you have not checked and cleaned your grounds you may want to try,
have seen them cause crazy readings. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif[/img]

Re: Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

So here is my amp gauge with the key off and also the ground cable removed from the battery. Is the gauge bad? Or can I center the gauge at this point?

Thanks

Re: Amp gauge reading 25 amps charging
 

I would pull the gauge out. I had the same problem with my original Tach on my 68 L78 nova. I would shut the car off and the needle would stay up around 1000 RPM. I removed the Tach and found some small amount of surface rust on the needle wiper asssembly. Cleaned with a soft brush I even think I lubricated it and never had a problem with it sticking after that.

Same car with console guages I had my amp meter show what your is. I found the contacts on the voltage regulator were stuck. I changed it and that problem went away. You said you have already changed that. As for cleaning and zeroing. We used to demagnitize the amp meters on the welders at one of my last jobs when they were reading incorrectly. But they had a zero screw, not sure if this amp meter does?

Just my 2 cents if its worth anything.

Jason