[VAC] Re: Ammeter

[Rick Davis <k8doc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Not a bad idea.  The shunt used is a piece of copper or brass plate (not bar)
Geralds suggestion of using a length of wire as a shunt is a viable idea
and is something commonly done to change meter scales.
If you can wait until the weather breaks I could put a known load on one of
mine and attempt to measure the voltage drop across the shunt.  My gut
feeling is that the suggested #2 wire is way to large to get the
appropriate drop at the max 30 to 40 amp loads you are looking at.
At any rate if the drop was known, or the voltage required across the meter
for full scale a good guess could be made from a wire resistance table.

At best these meters from the factory are not much better than a go/no go
indicator so a home made shunt would probably be more accurate.  The meter
itself is a cheapy so there is no point paying big bucks for a shunt.

Let me know if if you want me to try to come up with more info.  I Could
also send a digital picture of the factory shunt direct if need be.

Rick Davis  1602
54 Safari
69 Ambassador
70 Globe trotter