Bad voltmeter?

[ReelDrag]

Decarbed my 92 Johnson 115 yesterday, gauges were working fine. Put new kits in the carbs. Just got it back together and when I turned the key on, my voltmeter was way off the scale. Turned the key off and it dropped to 12 volts instead of 0. Went ahead and started the motor and checked it at the battery, 15.5 volts at idle. I don't have a regulator, only a rectifier. When I was working on the carbs the only electrical connection I messed with was the carb primer. Did my voltmeter go bad overnight? Bad key switch? I'm not very good with electrical problems. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[pbukowski]

Re: Bad voltmeter?

Hmmm, very strange. You might try taking a regular volt meter and probing the 2 connections at the back of the gauge meter. You should read roughly the same as what you get off the battery posts. <br /><br />If the reading is different, try probing the + post on the guage and put the black lead on a negative ground. If your reading is normal now, you have a bad ground between the guage and the battery. <br /><br />The voltmeter guage is simply a connection anywhere between a positive and a negative, so that you can monitor the voltage.<br /><br />Good luck !<br />Paul

 

[ReelDrag]

Re: Bad voltmeter?

I removed the 19 yr old gauge and the needle fell off. No way to get inside it so I got a new gauge. New gauge reads 11.4 volts without the motor running ( checked with digital meter ). Battery checks at 12.7 volts. Does it sound like a bad ground? Haven't started the motor cause I'm afraid I will blow the new gauge.