I have a battery gauge that is pegged wide open

[mattyrich]

1981 Mercruiser 140 Hp
1991 Bayliner capri with gauges fit originally to the 91' Motor

Does anyone know anything about gauges? I have a battery gauge that is pegged wide open at 16 volts when the motor is running. However I put a meter on the actual battery and it reads 14.4 when the motor is running which leads me to believe that it's getting a good charge. I put a 1981 motor into a 1991 boat with original gauges if that makes a difference...

 

[Don S]

Re: I have a battery gauge that is pegged wide open

Replace the gauge.

 

[mattyrich]

Re: I have a battery gauge that is pegged wide open

Ok don, i trust ya, but just to clarify, i thought that the gauge was supposed to peg to position B when you ground the wire? Is that only with the temperature gauge?
My temp gauge also pegs all-the-way to the right when i ground the tan wire, but i get no reading when hooked up to the sender. Is this a bad gauge as well?
thank you!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: I have a battery gauge that is pegged wide open

Battery gauge,,, no such thing. It's either and ammeter or a voltmeter. Was the original wiring set up for an ammeter and now you have a voltmeter in it's place, that might explain the gauge pegging. If it's a voltmeter that's pegging, remove it from the wiring harness and run jumper wires to the battery or fuse panel to see if it will read the voltage correctly. If it reads correctly, you need to re-wire for a voltmeter.

That.... or you have a bad gauge as Dons said

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: I have a battery gauge that is pegged wide open

Ok don, i trust ya, but just to clarify, i thought that the gauge was supposed to peg to position B when you ground the wire? Is that only with the temperature gauge?
My temp gauge also pegs all-the-way to the right when i ground the tan wire, but i get no reading when hooked up to the sender. Is this a bad gauge as well?
thank you!

It'd be a better test on the temp gauge to test the continuity of the tan wire, and if found to be good, put in a new temp sender.

 

[bds85466]

Re: I have a battery gauge that is pegged wide open

just keep your meter hooked up to your batt at all times and you'll always know for sure........................

 

[Don S]

Re: I have a battery gauge that is pegged wide open

, i thought that the gauge was supposed to peg to position B when you ground the wire?

That is how you check an oil pressure, trim, temp gauge, but not a volt meter. That is called a direct short.

I would have to guess that your engine is set up for a volt meter, or you wouldn't be showing 14.4 on your battery. If you had an ammeter, you would be be able to get power to the gauge and nothing after that.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: I have a battery gauge that is pegged wide open

why not just put the meter on the volt gauge?