AMP Gauge

Thirteen to fourteen amps in day time, and anywhere from there to twelve amps at night, depending on how much draw you have at night (like chicken lights), LED's greatly reduce the draw. A/C and heater blower motor will also put a load on the alternator. If your amperage falls off drastically it's probably the alternator, but always check for loose or broken wires first. I always carry an extra alternator with me with a pulley already installed, as you need a impact to change the pulley.

 

Amps, not Volts.

Can't answer the question really...Amps are the draw though, how much current, how much juice you're using. I've never driven a truck with an Amp gauge in it.

 

Anything on the plus side = good

Anything on the minus side = bad

Amp gauges are not real informative.

A volt gauge will tell you how much you have left....

Must be an older truck?

 

My truck has one. It falls over and charges about 75 amps when I first start it then it slowly comes back to zero. It sets on the positive side of zero all day showing a charge rate of maybe 1 or 2 amps. If your gauge falls below zero into the negative that means your alternator isn't charging and your batteries are being discharged.

 

My apoligies to all, I totally had my head up my @## I was talking volts, again I apoligize to SHC and all other readers.

 

The amp guage can be a useful tool by showing you in real time that the charging system is capable of maintaining balance with varying loads on your alt and batteries.

If you decide to remove the amp guage, be sure to connect together and insulate the leads removed from the guage as the guage itself is a link in your main charge circuit and failure to connect the wires will cause 0 charge output from alternator.

 

Puncher, had to smile here. My day is like that, all day, everyday...