Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Grid Heater Testing Procedure?

[DavidC]

Clay,

What kind of amp meter are you using?. If it is not a clamp on (2 jaws that open and wrap around the individual wire) it is probably an inline. With the inline it has to be in series with the load. In your case with the grid heaters You would would have to break the grid power wire open and put the meter in series with the circuit. DO NOT ground the meter or any part of the system. If you hooked the meter the way I am reading this you connected one wire to the grid positive and the other to ground. If this is the case you were reading the power thru the meter to ground (very bad).



Dave

 

[klaybus]

Yep, thats what I did... Positive on the grid heater & negative to the Negative battery post. The meter is a Fluke 77, about a 20 year old unit. I'll try & contact you later from work today.



Thanks,

Clay

 

[DavidC]

77 will not do it Clay, only rated for 10 amps. Here are the 77's specs.

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/s...582(FlukeProducts)&category=HMA(FlukeProducts)



You would need something like this.

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/s...05(FlukeProducts)&category=CLMP(FlukeProducts)

It reads up to 600 amp DC. I think they run around 350. 00. Quite spendy for what you need it for.



Sears use to carry an inductive unit for alternator and starter current that you hold over the wire. I do not know if they still carry it or if someone else does. I will look around and see if I can find something.



Dave

 

[DavidC]

Clay,

This one measures up to 400 amp AC/DC. It would work and not break the bank at 59. 99. They have another for 1000 amp, infra red thermometer etc. at 180. 00.



http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?pid=03482369000&vertical=Sears&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes



Dave

 

[klaybus]

77 will not do it Clay, only rated for 10 amps. Here are the 77's specs.

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/s...582(FlukeProducts)&category=HMA(FlukeProducts)



You would need something like this.

http://us.fluke.com/usen/products/s...05(FlukeProducts)&category=CLMP(FlukeProducts)

It reads up to 600 amp DC. I think they run around 350. 00. Quite spendy for what you need it for.



Sears use to carry an inductive unit for alternator and starter current that you hold over the wire. I do not know if they still carry it or if someone else does. I will look around and see if I can find something.



Dave

Sooo... . What was I reading... Sears is a catalog only. On a positive note I believe my gids are working properly because it's pulling the guage down like a mother & the lights are dimming as usual when this happens. Spoke to Rich at Glacier Diesel & told him whats been happening & he thinks it could be the bypas at the Vp. Who knows!... Plugged truck in last night, fired it up after work & started OK but still had a slight stumble but it was minor. Tomorow I'll bump the key & see how it starts after cycling the LP





Clay