[AT] How to test a fuel gauge/Sender??--Rickey

[pga2 at hot1.net]

All gauges are ammeters. Applying a voltage across a gauge's terminals
is risky at best. If you must, use a dropping resistor in series with
the gauge to prevent burning out the movement, which is a very fine
wire, which will not stand more than a few milliamps. Most likely there
is a shunt resistor built into the gauge, but you can't count on that.
A 1.5V battery with a 1-5 ohm resistor in series should deflect the needle
slightly.
I doubt that the meter itself is the problem. Most likely the sending
unit is where the problem lies. A simple ohmmeter check as described
by several others is the place to start.

Phil

> Rickey, the tractor is largely dismantled and the gauge is out of the
> tractor (not hooked up to anything).  Any way to safely test it--without
> burning it out?  If it is good I assume applying a direct current through
> it would cause a reading, but that might fry the gauge???      John
>
>
>
> 07:48 PM 09/12/2004, you wrote:
>>I you take a wire and ground it out where the sensor is connected to the
>>tank and it shows full then it is your sending unit.  If not then it will
>>probably be your gauge.  Ricky