An electrical conundrum

Think of volts as water pressure, current as water flow and resistance as a tap. Shutting off the tap will stop the water flow (current) but not the pressure (voltage). It all comes easy if you think in those terms. That's how I taught basic electrics to stokers in the submarine school. ;)
 
I'm familiar with the water-in-pipe analogy Terry. But I've been told by people who know more about this stuff than me that the analogy only holds good for simple circuits. Apparently it falls apart when you start to introduce power factors, semiconductors, etc.

Anyway, I took the bike for a run and voltage is up around 14, so all good. Check out the instrumentation upgrade.  :D
 

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Dellortoman said:
I'm familiar with the water-in-pipe analogy Terry. But I've been told by people who know more about this stuff than me that the analogy only holds good for simple circuits. Apparently it falls apart when you start to introduce power factors, semiconductors, etc.

Anyway, I took the bike for a run and voltage is up around 14, so all good. Check out the instrumentation upgrade.  :D
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Gold!!!!

Glad it's "sorted" and we're only on page 3 of the thread ;)
 
The instrumentation upgrade was a cheapo $5 meter. I bought a few of them a while back to stow in the tool kits of various vehicles for roadside diagnostics.

Only problem was that the taped-on multimeter didn't work with the engine running. Evidently it didn't have any circuitry to filter out electrical spikes (can't expect much for $5). With the ignition running there was too much electrical noise and it just displayed random numbers. Only way to get a voltage reading was to flick the kill switch off (with the bike still in gear to maintain alternator revs) then flick it back on again to the accompaniment of an almighty backfire.  I think I frightened the crap out of an old lady walking her dog :D



 
I bought a couple of cheapies from that electronics shop and they work sort of fine. Only thing I really don't like is they don't have a "continuity" check.
 
Dellortoman said:
Just put it on the lowest resistance scale for continuity check.
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Yeah, but I do prefer the audible confirmation, slacker that I am.
 
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