Hi JAY,

On 13-Oct-03, JAY EMRIE wrote to GEORGE WHITE:

 JE>GW> A voltmeter keeps those who know very little happy, but in
 JE>GW> reality for an auto is more-or-less useless. All it tells you
 JE>GW> is if the alternator is regulating, not the useful bit of
 JE>GW> information, how much charge the battery is taking.

 JE> Not quite true. When the ign sw is first turned on (without
 JE> trying to start nor any other draw), the voltage reading is very
 JE> indicative. Further, if the voltage reading is somewhat low
 JE> while driving it indicates A: the battery was very low OR B: the
 JE> alternator is not putting out as it should.

I still think it is useless _for_battery_checking_. The only useful
thing external metering on a battery can tell you about it's condition
is from how much current it takes when fully charged. If the voltage
is low it tells you more about the alternator and/or the amount of
external extra load than the battery state.

 JE> Agreed, an ammeter is best but not totally needed.

I can accept that. However the only metering I'm interested in is
battery charge/discharge current (and I don't have that and don't feel
the need to retrofit it either).
George

--- Terminate 5.00/Pro