RE: (ET) ET amp meter wierdness

["Tom Coate" <tcoate coate org>]

Chris -

If the loose or bad connection was in the sense wires that feed up to the
meter, it would read zero or low.  From the way these things are wired I
wonder if your shunt wire itself is starting to develop a bad connection.
This could cause the meter to see a higher then normal voltage.  Since you
did not see any operational effect, it must not be too bad of a connection
so far, but maybe this is an early warning sign of a problem that could
eventually leave you stranded.  If nothing appears wrong with the shunt 
wire
connections, you may want to check them for warmth after a session where it
does this trick again.

Also, I don't know how well the amp gauge would stand the full 36 volts it
would see if the shunt were to open up entirely some day.  It would be bad
enough to grind to a halt - smoking the gauge would add insult to injury.

- Tom Coate
E-20, Leesburg, VA

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu
> [mailto:owner-elec-trak cosmos phy tufts edu]On Behalf Of MR23
> (Christopher M. Meier, Mpls, MN)
> Sent: Monday, September 03, 2001 10:36 PM
> To: 'Elec-trak'
> Subject: (ET) ET amp meter wierdness
>
>
>
> Another oddity.  Don't recall reading about this one yet.
>
> Started lawn sweeping on relatively flat ground, as usual, in D, about 4
> clicks up the throttle.
>
> Look down at the amp gauge, it's pegged.  I vary the throttle setting.
> Pegged everywhere
> but lowest click, and even then it's just off the red end.  Try different
> gears, same thing.
> Drive around for a bit, feel all accessible battery and motor 
> connections,
> nothing even
> warm.  Drive some more (10 minutes).  No change.  Feels the same as 
> usual,
> sounds the
> same as usual.  Drive some more, check connections.  Break for dinner.
> After dinner,
> start up again, still pegged.  Couple minutes later, look down,
> the gauge is
> back to
> 'normal', and is fine the remainder of the sweeping session.
>
> I'm guessing there's a loose or corroded connection on the amp
> meter or the
> sense
> wires going to or at the "shunt" wire.  Haven't looked yet.
>
> Like Dave Barden, my harness also has sustained some pulley
> induced damage,
> but I've repaired that.  Doubt that has anything to do with it.
> Anyone ever
> price
> a full new wiring harness from Bill?  I'm just expecting to do a
> repair, but
> I'm
> curious about the price.
>
> -Chris
>