Multi meter jumping all over - ARRRRG!

I am pulling my hair out with my gm 12volt generator system on mt T roadster.
I am trying to test the output -and the damn multi meter is jumping all over from .5Volts to 19 volts.
I hooked it up with the meter on DC X20 and black to ground / red to the positive cable on the starter.
Sitting it reads 12.6 volts - Fire it up and it starts flashing all kinds of numbers, even at 1,000+ rpm
Am I missing something? Thanks in advance for your input.

-Don

 

im guessing its digital...mine did the same thing...its cuz the generator gives off wicked fields and makes those meters jump all over the place...try finding an ****og meter or test at the battery end with a test light in a dark spot

 

solid wire plug wires and non resistor plugs and the magnetic field in the gen. all make a digital freak out thats why I have an old ****og meter for the old stuff

 

X2 the above two posts. The digital has its' place, but the ****oog is good for picking up variations.

 

great advice guys thats gotta be it, my wires are all over the plug wires, (cloth) between that and the fact its a gen are probably doing it.

Can I just get a cheap in dash gauge and temporarily run it in line? between the regulator and the battery?

-Don

 

You just need a dash voltmeter to keep an eye on the system.

a voltmeter can tell more than an amp meter.

Cheap voltmeters tend to be vague at 12 to 14v just like a cheapie temp gauge being vague near the boiling point. Buy a volt gauge with a bigger sweep to better tell exactly how many volts.

 

^^^and hope it doesnt stick somewhere right around 13 like mine does!!

 

Broke down and bought a SW Ammeter, mounted it down by the ch***is, rev'd up she reads 15, turn the lights on and rev it up and its almost 30, so I think its charging.
I unhooked the system and all I can think is -when it is unhooked you have to polarize it again.??
Thanks for the input.

-Don

 

I made a deal with my sweetie.
Told her if she EVER sees me lookin' at anything with a digital readout, (in particular an LCD display), she is to find the biggest, baddest MoFo in the vicinity, have him pick up the biggest, baddest item he can find and whup me upside the head!
Yeah, i know I'm old fashioned, but digital meters **** a big stemengi !