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Old 07-29-2008, 11:42 PM   #18 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cfg83 View Post
No, but I was thinking about that too. I think my alternator is rated up to 95 Amps, but I have an ammeter (for something else) that goes to 60 Amps on the dial. I am (obviously) guessing that is too small.
That should be OK. The alt is rated to deliver way more current than you typically use. It has to be able to delivery a battery charging current while also running every electrical accessory in your car.

I guesstimated that my car takes 288 watts or 24 amps to run the engine, cruise control and parking lights. I don't have a DC ammeter (other than the 10A on my DMM) so I haven't actually confirmed this.

But you should be OK measuring current with a 60 amp limit.
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