Electrical Current

[rx1guy]

I have been around sleds for a long time now and just found something out, I think. I really hope this doen't make me look stupid but....... I was hooking up a visor plug on my sons indy 400, (non electric start) so I was looking for a 12 volt supply. In the manual it shows an accesory wire, the same wire that is used for the heated grips. I tested it and couldn't get a volt reading but the grips were working. I was testing for DC current and was finding nothing so I switched my meter to AC current and found the 12 Volts that I was looking for. That stumped me because I thought that it would have been DC current. Looking deeper into the manual about trouble shooting the electrical system it says to have the multi meter on the AC setting. Are all nonelectric start sleds electrical systems (without a battery) running on AC current and then what are the electric start systems, (with battery) AC or DC?
I always thought that the electrical current on vehicles was DC.

 

[MATTIAC]

Stators produce A/C Batteries are D/C. A rectifier will turn the ac into dc. I know on my sled it had no battery and the heated grips won't work until the engine is at a certain RPM. So if your checking for voltage at idle you might not get anything.

 

[Summiteer]

Sled puts out AC, on sleds with electric start, there is a rectifier to run the DC starter and charge the DC battery. Usually if there is no starter(at least on the older sleds with fewer electronics) they just run on 12V AC.

 

[pipes]

I have been around sleds for a long time now and just found something out, I think. I really hope this doen't make me look stupid but....... I was hooking up a visor plug on my sons indy 400, (non electric start) so I was looking for a 12 volt supply. In the manual it shows an accesory wire, the same wire that is used for the heated grips. I tested it and couldn't get a volt reading but the grips were working. I was testing for DC current and was finding nothing so I switched my meter to AC current and found the 12 Volts that I was looking for. That stumped me because I thought that it would have been DC current. Looking deeper into the manual about trouble shooting the electrical system it says to have the multi meter on the AC setting. Are all nonelectric start sleds electrical systems (without a battery) running on AC current and then what are the electric start systems, (with battery) AC or DC?
I always thought that the electrical current on vehicles was DC.

surprise surprise. the things we learn if we read the manuals. Here is one more for you. The alternator in you vehicle produces three phase AC current. It is then Rectified to DC. DC current is generated by a Generator. I don't know of any modern day vehicles with Generators.

 

[Riverjet]

Alternators produce DC voltage via rectification by diodes. Generators produce DC voltage via rectification by commutation.

Also it isn't the current that is AC or DC, it is the voltage. Current is measured in amperage.

 

[retiredpop]

Also it isn't the current that is AC or DC, it is the voltage. Current is measured in amperage.

????? You've out thought yourself. AC voltage produces AC current and DC voltage produces DC current.

 

[Riverjet]

Only 1 person caught that LMAO!

????? You've out thought yourself. AC voltage produces AC current and DC voltage produces DC current.

 

[NorthstaRmk]

i think he was refering to the title of the thread, buddy was measuring his voltage in dc not ac

 

[Boobage]

TO measure current(Amps ac or dc) you need to be inline w/ circuit....meaning disconnect 1 wire and replace multi meter leads connecting the circuit. Start from highest amperage setting and work down or you'll blow internal fuse measureing current.

 

[MATTIAC]

TO measure current(Amps ac or dc) you need to be inline w/ circuit....meaning disconnect 1 wire and replace multi meter leads connecting the circuit. Start from highest amperage setting and work down or you'll blow internal fuse measureing current.

Clamp on meters work better!

 

[Boobage]

Clamp on meters work better!

True dat!

 

[moyiesledhead]

I switched my meter to AC current and found the 12 Volts that I was looking for.

And it just went downhill after that for me! Painfull to read!

 

[moyiesledhead]

Also it isn't the current that is AC or DC, it is the voltage.

AC = Alternating Current
DC = Direct Current

Why is "abbreviate" such a long word???