All,
A voltmeter and an ampmeter work the same way. The difference is in
how they are wired.
As a fuel gauge, the meter is wired in series with a variable resistor
and the indication is proportional to the current in the circuit.
Early british cars did not have a voltage stabilizer. Later cars did.
There may be a difference in the sensitivity of the meter, or there may
be a difference in total resistance of the sender, to compensate for the
lower (than battery) voltage output of the voltage stabilizer in later cars.
-- Flemming Larsen
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-spridgets@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Phil Profili
> Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 06:07
> To: 'Frank Clarici'
> Cc: 'spridgets'
> Subject: RE: Fuel Gauge and Sender
>
>
> Frank,
>
> Both the senders that I have (the original and the new one) screw into the
> tank. The difference is that the original is a one piece casting with a
> screw on cover and (rusted) metal float, and the new one is
> pressed (steel?)
> with a plastic float. The twist on type came after that one.
>
> If it was working correctly, should the needle pop up to the fuel level
> instantly, or is it damped as it is in newer cars? I was wondering if it
> was a polarity thing (don't see why, it's just a variable resistor isn't
> it?) and tried to reverse the connections last night. Now it just bangs
> down to the lower stop. I'm a little concerned that I may be doing some
> damage to the gauge now!
>
> If it's a voltage thing, the stabiliser keeps it at 10V, correct? Maybe I
> need to try putting 10V through instead of battery voltage.
>
> Anyone know if the fuel gauge is a voltmeter or an ammeter? If I
> think hard
> enough, maybe I can dredge up from the depths some of my basic electronics
> theory from high school and work this thing out before I fry something!
>
> Phil
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-spridgets@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-spridgets@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Frank Clarici
> Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2000 5:08 PM
> To: Paul A. Asgeirsson
> Cc: spridgets
> Subject: Re: Fuel Gauge and Sender
>
>
> "Paul A. Asgeirsson" wrote:
> >
> > On the Morris the difference between the early and late model sender and
> > dash guages is the reversal of the ohms from the sender. If you use a
> late
> > model sender with an early model guage, then it goes to empty when you
> fill
> > the tank and goes to full as it empties! Can be really exciting for an
> > unknowing passenger.
> >
> > Could this be similar on the Spridgets?
>
> Yes! Later Spridgets used a voltage stabilizer. Switching the early
> units to - grd was not a problem but you can not flip a later set up to
> positive ground.
> Back to Phil's sender, they mounted differently, early ones screwed in,
> later ones were of the twist under the tabs type.
>
> --
> Frank Clarici
> Toms River, NJ
> The bug in the rice bowl
> http://www.exit109.com/~spritenut
>
>
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