Electrical: Fluctuating Amp Gauge

[boatnuttom]

why does amp gauge fluctuate at idle on 1960 289

[ronstrasser]

Your car being a 1960 should have a 12 volt generator. For one a generator does not put out much electricity at idle speed and for another the regulator controls the amount of electricity being put out by turning the generator's generating on and off. The result of the low speed the turning on and off is noticeable on the amp gauge
Ron

[IronTom]

Jumpy AMP gauge - may be OK
The amp-meter shows the amps going to the battery, as the voltage-regulator-relays snap on & off.
Any electronics guru can explain capacitors and how to smooth voltage-surges.

[Bryan G]

Normal, from the vehicles I've driven that had generators and amp gauges. You're just watching the points in the regulator do their thing. Part of the fun of driving a car like this: it's alive! No microprocessors here!

[StudeRich]

A properly operating Voltage Regular and Generator will hold a Steady reading on the Ammeter, or very slight movement maybe 5 Amps. or less. They both need checking at an Automotive Electrical Shop.
Normally worn and burned Points in the Reg. can cause this, also problems with worn Gen. Brushes and Springs.

[CampbelHawk]

Start small=check for lose wires and ground. I had a jumpy gauge checked connections and tightened the small bolts holding the regulator in place and it fixed the issue.

[altair]

There should be no fluctuation in the gage, you can refer to the electricity being generated as electrical pressure. The electrical pressure flows around the conductor the same way water flows through a pipe and there should be no fluctuation. The only way the electrical pressure can fluctuate is because of corroded contact points and not maintaining continuity. The corrosion is restricting the flow and as the electrical pressure increases it is forced through the restriction. This will repeat itself many times per minute in the form of pulsating. I don't think there is a ground issue if there was an open ground there would be no pulsating. However notwithstanding the above it is good practice to assure that all connection are clean and tight and it is a good idea to connect the frame of the generator to the frame of the regulator this will eliminate any shortcomings of continuity. You can clean the contact points with fine sandpaper or ultimately replace the unit.