I can handle a $20 ammeter. How will this be differnt from my 10A DMM?
Simple, it'll measure 30A without burning out!
So, this will tell me if the glow plug is getting hot?
Nothing will tell you that, except maybe eyeballing one while it runs.
But if it isn't drawing the proper amount of current you know it is
not good.
Would the test light on the GP tell me if the timer is staying on as
long as
it should? I'd have to do it when the engine is stone cold - not a
problem
lately - but when it's 30F-40F I should be getting 60+ seconds on the
timer,
right? Is it possible that the relay is coming on for ~1 second and
slightly heating the GPs - enough to fire the engine. Since the
engine is
in *very* good condition it starts - altho it runs a little rough for
3-5
seconds when very cold - with the present GP (or relay) condition.
Putting a test light or meter on a glow plug will tell you how long
the timer is powering them, yes. Remember, there are _two_ timers in
the GP relay: one for the plugs and one for the dash light. They're
almost entirely unrelated to each other, and only the dash light timer
is temperature-controlled. The other one just runs for about 1.5-2
minutes
and times out. Unless the key is released from start, then it'll shut
off
then too. The light is just giving you its opinion on whether or not
the GP's have heated for long enough. Nobody says you have to respect
its opinion!
BTW, I have a electrical tester for the battery & alt system - it
clamps
onto the battery terminals and depending on what I'm testing it will
tell me
if the alt or battery is bad. Don't recall what this is called.
A voltmeter. Better ones measure AC ripple voltage looking for
bad alternator diodes too.
-- Jim
