- un ELECTRIC CORPORATION
VOLT AMPERE TESTER
SUN VAT-40
Operator's Manual
692-878·2 (9790) © 1979 SUN ELECTRIC CORPORATION Printed in U.S.A.
, LOAD INCREASE
CONTROL
LOAD LIGHT
ELECTRICAL
ZERO ADJUST
MECHANICAL
ZERO ADJUST
VOLTMETER - - -
TEST LEADS
VOLT SELECTOR
MECHANICAL
ZERO ADJUST
Figure 1-Volt Ampere Tester Model VAT-40.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAl . NFORMATION PAGE STARTING SYSTEM TESTING
Testing Princ iples ... ......... . .. .. .. ...... 8
Meter Mechanical Zero Adjustment ....... . . . .
Battery Performance Load Test ............ .. 8
Ammeter Electrical Zero Adjustment ....... .. .
Starting System Area Tests ..... . ...... . . . . .. 8
Ammeter . ... ............ . . . .. . ....... .... 1
Starting System Detailed Testi ng .. . .. . ... . ... 8
Vo ltmeter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Test er Preparation ..... . . . ..... .. . . ........ 9
Volt Selector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Battery Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Field Selector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Starting System Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
load Increase Control Knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Insulated Circuit Resistance Test ... ...... . .. 9
Load light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Ground Circuit Resistance Test .. ...... . . . ... 11
Test Selector ... .. . .... ... . .. ......... .... . 2
Switch Circuit Resistance Test . . ......... . ... 11
Field Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
External Voltmeter Leads .... . .. . ... . .. . . . .. 3
CHARGING SYSTEM TESTING
Clamp-on Ammeter Pickup ... . ... .. ..... . . . . 3
Load leads . . .. ......... . .. . . .... .. . .... .. 3
Testing Principles . ..... . .. ........ ... .. . .. 13
Tester Supply Voltage ........ . .. . . .. ....... 3
Alternator Testing . . .... .. .... . .. . . . . ... . . . 13
Complete Charging System Tester ........... 13
CONDENSED TESTING PROCEDURE Charging System Detai led Testing ..... . .. . .. . 13
Test #2 Charging System ................ . ... 13
General Test Conditions ... .... . ... ..... . .. . 4 Test #2A Out put Test .. . . ....... .... . . .. . . .. 14
Calibration And Hookup ... .... ........ ..... 4 Voltage Regulator Test #3 .. . . ...... ...... . . . 15
Test #1 Starting .. . . . . . .. .......... .... ... .. 4 Diode Stator Test #4 . . ..... . . . .. ........ . . .. 15
Test #2 Charging .... .. . .. .... . .... .. . . ..... 5 Charging Requirements Test #5 .. .. .. . ...... . 15
Test #2A Output Test Using Fi eld Selector. . . . . 6 Circuit Resistance Test . . ..... .... . .. ...... . 16
Test #3 Voltage Regulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Insulated Circuit Resistance Test . . ...... . . .. 17
Test #4 Diode Stator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Ground Circuit Resistance Test .. . . .. ........ 17
Test #5 Charging System Requirements . . . . . . . 7 Regulator Ground Circuit Resistance Test . . ... 18
, GENERAL INFORMATION
METER MECHANICAL external voltmeter leads to measure battery cell
ZERO ADJUSTMENT voltage and to make Voltage Drop tests of
electrical circuits.
Before con necting tester to vehicle, always check
the mechanical zero of each meter. If needed, VOLT SELECTOR
rotate ZERO ADJUST buttorn as required to bring
meter pointer to zero. See F igure 1. The VOLT SELECTOR (Figure 1) is set in the INT
18 V position for all area t ests. In this position ,
AMMETER ELECTRICAL the voltmeter is internally connected to the load
cables and then to the battery through special
ZERO ADJUSTMENT wires w ithin the load leads. This eliminates two
This adjustment knob is used to periodically set t est connections.
the ammeter pointer to the zero (0) line
electronically. When adjusting zero, the TEST When the VOLT SELECTOR is set to the EXT 18 V
SELECTOR must be set to #2 CHARGING position position or t he EXT 3 V position, the voltmeter is
with the Load Leads connected to the battery connected to the external Red and Black voltmeter
(F igure 1) . leads.
AMMETER FIELD SELECTOR
The Ammeter is a three-scale zero center met er,
containi ng a 0-100 scale, a 0-500 scale and a diode This three position t oggle swit ch (Figure 1) is
stator scale. The diode stator scale contains a used in conjunction with the Blue Field Lead . It
Blue area for an "OK" indication and a Red area has a spring loaded off posit ion. Its upper and
for a " BAD" indication (Figure 1 ). lower posit ions are identifi1ed "A" and "B"
respectively.
The 100-0-100 ampere range is used to measure
In the "A" position -The Blue lead is internally
ignit ion and accessory current loads up to 100
connected to the negative
amperes , and to measure charging system
battery cable for testing A
outputs up to 100 amperes. To use this scale, set
ci rcuit, negative ground
the TEST SELECTOR in the CHARGING posit ion.
alternators and generators.
The 500-0-500 ampere range is used to measu re
In the " B" position - The Blue lead is internally
battery loads (6 or 12 volt batteries), starter
connected to the positive
current draw up to 500 amperes and charging
battery cable for testing B
syst em o utput over 100 amperes. To use this
circuit , negative ground
scale, set the TEST SELECTOR in the STARTI NG
alternators and generators .
position .
AMMETER POLARITY LOAD INCREASE CONTROL KNOB
The Ammeter is marked with plus ( +) sign on the The LOAD INCREASE contro l knob (Figure 1) is
right side and minus (-) sign on the left. These used to load 6 or 12 volt batteries. Loads up to 500
marks can be used if desired to determi ne whether amperes can be applied with a duty cycle of 15
the battery is being charged or discharged as seconds " LOAD ON" followed by a 60 second
explained under Clamp-On Ammeter Pickup. " LOAD OFF" to be observed . The LOAD
INCREASE control is also used to apply
VOLTMETER manufacturer's specified loads in performing
charging system tests and detai led tests .
0-18 Volt Scale
CAUTION : loads should only be applied to 6 or
This scale range is used to measure the voltage 12 volt batteries.
applied to the Load Lead clamps in the INT 0-18
volt setting . This scale can a lso be used with the LOAD LIGHT
Red and Black external voltmeter leads. (See
voltmeter in Figure 1 .) When the LOAD LIGHT (Figure 1) is " ON" it
indicates a load is being applied. With the LOAD
-0.2 to + 3.0 Volt Scale INCREASE control in the Off position , the LOAD
LIGHT should be " OFF" indicating a "NO LOAD"
This scale range is used with the Red and Black condition .
1
VOLT AMPERE TESTER
SUN VAT-40
Operator's Manual
692-878·2 (9790) © 1979 SUN ELECTRIC CORPORATION Printed in U.S.A.
, LOAD INCREASE
CONTROL
LOAD LIGHT
ELECTRICAL
ZERO ADJUST
MECHANICAL
ZERO ADJUST
VOLTMETER - - -
TEST LEADS
VOLT SELECTOR
MECHANICAL
ZERO ADJUST
Figure 1-Volt Ampere Tester Model VAT-40.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GENERAl . NFORMATION PAGE STARTING SYSTEM TESTING
Testing Princ iples ... ......... . .. .. .. ...... 8
Meter Mechanical Zero Adjustment ....... . . . .
Battery Performance Load Test ............ .. 8
Ammeter Electrical Zero Adjustment ....... .. .
Starting System Area Tests ..... . ...... . . . . .. 8
Ammeter . ... ............ . . . .. . ....... .... 1
Starting System Detailed Testi ng .. . .. . ... . ... 8
Vo ltmeter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Test er Preparation ..... . . . ..... .. . . ........ 9
Volt Selector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Battery Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Field Selector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Starting System Test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
load Increase Control Knob . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Insulated Circuit Resistance Test ... ...... . .. 9
Load light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Ground Circuit Resistance Test .. ...... . . . ... 11
Test Selector ... .. . .... ... . .. ......... .... . 2
Switch Circuit Resistance Test . . ......... . ... 11
Field Lead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
External Voltmeter Leads .... . .. . ... . .. . . . .. 3
CHARGING SYSTEM TESTING
Clamp-on Ammeter Pickup ... . ... .. ..... . . . . 3
Load leads . . .. ......... . .. . . .... .. . .... .. 3
Testing Principles . ..... . .. ........ ... .. . .. 13
Tester Supply Voltage ........ . .. . . .. ....... 3
Alternator Testing . . .... .. .... . .. . . . . ... . . . 13
Complete Charging System Tester ........... 13
CONDENSED TESTING PROCEDURE Charging System Detai led Testing ..... . .. . .. . 13
Test #2 Charging System ................ . ... 13
General Test Conditions ... .... . ... ..... . .. . 4 Test #2A Out put Test .. . . ....... .... . . .. . . .. 14
Calibration And Hookup ... .... ........ ..... 4 Voltage Regulator Test #3 .. . . ...... ...... . . . 15
Test #1 Starting .. . . . . . .. .......... .... ... .. 4 Diode Stator Test #4 . . ..... . . . .. ........ . . .. 15
Test #2 Charging .... .. . .. .... . .... .. . . ..... 5 Charging Requirements Test #5 .. .. .. . ...... . 15
Test #2A Output Test Using Fi eld Selector. . . . . 6 Circuit Resistance Test . . ..... .... . .. ...... . 16
Test #3 Voltage Regulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Insulated Circuit Resistance Test . . ...... . . .. 17
Test #4 Diode Stator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Ground Circuit Resistance Test .. . . .. ........ 17
Test #5 Charging System Requirements . . . . . . . 7 Regulator Ground Circuit Resistance Test . . ... 18
, GENERAL INFORMATION
METER MECHANICAL external voltmeter leads to measure battery cell
ZERO ADJUSTMENT voltage and to make Voltage Drop tests of
electrical circuits.
Before con necting tester to vehicle, always check
the mechanical zero of each meter. If needed, VOLT SELECTOR
rotate ZERO ADJUST buttorn as required to bring
meter pointer to zero. See F igure 1. The VOLT SELECTOR (Figure 1) is set in the INT
18 V position for all area t ests. In this position ,
AMMETER ELECTRICAL the voltmeter is internally connected to the load
cables and then to the battery through special
ZERO ADJUSTMENT wires w ithin the load leads. This eliminates two
This adjustment knob is used to periodically set t est connections.
the ammeter pointer to the zero (0) line
electronically. When adjusting zero, the TEST When the VOLT SELECTOR is set to the EXT 18 V
SELECTOR must be set to #2 CHARGING position position or t he EXT 3 V position, the voltmeter is
with the Load Leads connected to the battery connected to the external Red and Black voltmeter
(F igure 1) . leads.
AMMETER FIELD SELECTOR
The Ammeter is a three-scale zero center met er,
containi ng a 0-100 scale, a 0-500 scale and a diode This three position t oggle swit ch (Figure 1) is
stator scale. The diode stator scale contains a used in conjunction with the Blue Field Lead . It
Blue area for an "OK" indication and a Red area has a spring loaded off posit ion. Its upper and
for a " BAD" indication (Figure 1 ). lower posit ions are identifi1ed "A" and "B"
respectively.
The 100-0-100 ampere range is used to measure
In the "A" position -The Blue lead is internally
ignit ion and accessory current loads up to 100
connected to the negative
amperes , and to measure charging system
battery cable for testing A
outputs up to 100 amperes. To use this scale, set
ci rcuit, negative ground
the TEST SELECTOR in the CHARGING posit ion.
alternators and generators.
The 500-0-500 ampere range is used to measu re
In the " B" position - The Blue lead is internally
battery loads (6 or 12 volt batteries), starter
connected to the positive
current draw up to 500 amperes and charging
battery cable for testing B
syst em o utput over 100 amperes. To use this
circuit , negative ground
scale, set the TEST SELECTOR in the STARTI NG
alternators and generators .
position .
AMMETER POLARITY LOAD INCREASE CONTROL KNOB
The Ammeter is marked with plus ( +) sign on the The LOAD INCREASE contro l knob (Figure 1) is
right side and minus (-) sign on the left. These used to load 6 or 12 volt batteries. Loads up to 500
marks can be used if desired to determi ne whether amperes can be applied with a duty cycle of 15
the battery is being charged or discharged as seconds " LOAD ON" followed by a 60 second
explained under Clamp-On Ammeter Pickup. " LOAD OFF" to be observed . The LOAD
INCREASE control is also used to apply
VOLTMETER manufacturer's specified loads in performing
charging system tests and detai led tests .
0-18 Volt Scale
CAUTION : loads should only be applied to 6 or
This scale range is used to measure the voltage 12 volt batteries.
applied to the Load Lead clamps in the INT 0-18
volt setting . This scale can a lso be used with the LOAD LIGHT
Red and Black external voltmeter leads. (See
voltmeter in Figure 1 .) When the LOAD LIGHT (Figure 1) is " ON" it
indicates a load is being applied. With the LOAD
-0.2 to + 3.0 Volt Scale INCREASE control in the Off position , the LOAD
LIGHT should be " OFF" indicating a "NO LOAD"
This scale range is used with the Red and Black condition .
1
