182RG question

On Wed, 11 May 2005 18:30:35 -0700, "Paul Anton"
wrote:

My first question concerns the ammeter. I have definitely confirmed that
the
ammeter is defective. It appears like the ENTIRE gage cluster will have to
be replaced.

Here's my second question. I think the reason the ammeter broke is that it
simply wore out.

Paul, I've started working in avionics and aircraft electrical systems in
1979. I've never seen an ammeter "wear out".

The voltage and hence the current is constantly varying.
The original ammeter needle was oscillating so much that you couldn't tell
if the system was charging or not.

Seems to me that if you verified that the current was oscillating, the
ammeter is not broken. I would suggest that you pull circuit breakers and
see if you can isolate what system is making the ammeter oscillate like
that. If your alternator and regulator have been recently replaced and they
check out OK, there aren't that many systems in a 182RG that can make the
ammeter behave that way.