Quote:
Originally Posted by Xavier
I am kind of weak with the volt meter, if I measure DC Milli-amps on the volt meter will that suffice as the ammeter?
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The ammeter needs to be in series (meaning you need to pull the cable off of the battery and hook the ammeter between the battery and cable you pulled off of it. Your VOM might be able to do that; check the instructions and give it a try. You can test your gauge by turning on your headlights to see if the amp reading increases and decreases when you turn your lights on and off. An inductive DC ammeter is a little pricey, but nice to have. You just clamp it around the wire and *poof* it's done. Here's one:
Another very cheap method of testing your battery is to disconnect both cables, charge it up fully with a battery charger, and then let it sit for a week without the cables hooked up. If the battery is then dead, then the battery is no good. Now
that's a cheap and easy test. But to fully check your overall charging system, an ammeter is really the way to go.