Amp Gauge Question

SandburRanch · Apr 18, 2011

This old tractor amp gauge looks old enough to be 6 volt and it isn't marked. Are amp gauges volt specific? If it came from a 6 V system would it destroy it to test it with a 12 V system?

Travelover · Apr 18, 2011

It will work the same on 6 or 12 volts. Amps is amps

BobRip · Apr 18, 2011

Travelover said:
It will work the same on 6 or 12 volts. Amps is amps

That's right.

CurlyDave · Apr 19, 2011

It will certainly work on either, but voltmeters, which have several advantages over ammeters have been more highly recommended for decades.

No high amperage wires run through the dashboard with a voltmeter, and best of all, a voltmeter actually shows you the current status of your battery rather than just showing whether it is charging or discharging at the current moment.

A voltmeter can be used for troubleshooting far more effectively than an ammeter.

bjr · Apr 19, 2011

Okay, I agree about the volt meter but, I'm thinking a person can kinda tell if all the glo plugs are working with the amp meter. bjr

Travelover · Apr 19, 2011

I think both would be ideal. It is nice to see how much charge your battery is drawing to get an idea if it is low in charge.

Reg · May 2, 2011

Just going off topic....
"Modern" cars and trucks have a standard connector (OBD II port, since about 1996) for diagnostic trouble codes.
Is there something similar on (relatively recent) cat 1 and 2 tractors ?

This thread stimulated the thought that I could use a scan-gauge or similar multiple gauge to read out much more than just volts - as I do in my truck.