What is this tool used for? its old

[nisreo]

So a friend of mine inherited some old tools from a dead uncle, and in the box was this thing. I think it may be some kind of amp meter that plugs into an oscilliscope or something. Looks like it goes inline of the negative battery terminal and cable, but I may be wrong. Any ideas? He was a GM tech if that helps.

 

[nisreo]

Also, you cant see it in the picture but the two wires come down through the top of the black plastic plate and are soldered to opposite ends of the bottom metal plate.

 

[DocG]

It would clamp onto both battery posts and explode.

 

[nisreo]

Between the negative terminal and negative cable?

 

[Beasty306GT]

i dont think so.....it would blow it up..never seen anything like that

 

[nisreo]

it wouldnt blow up, its just like using a dmm inline of a terminal and cable to read amperage. But im not sure if thats even what its for.

 

[DocG]

I was just kidding. I was saying between the negative and positive posts.

I have no idea. Intersting though, with that mono plug on one end.

 

[baskin]

I would say it's a carbon block. You disconnect one battery cable, connect one end of the sensor to the battery, the other end to the cable, and then crank the starter. The voltage across the block is proportional to the current through it.

 

[DocG]

But what would it plug into?

My guitar amp?

 

[nisreo]

I was just kidding. I was saying between the negative and positive posts.

I have a tool for that. my snap-on 10mm wrench.

 

[DocG]

I have a tool for that. my snap-on 10mm wrench.

I did it on accident once with an adjustable wrench. Luckily my reflexive hand yank also knocked the wrench off. Or I was gonna yell "fire in the hole" and run!

 

[baskin]

But what would it plug into?

My guitar amp?

An adapter for a volt meter or an oscilloscope. The output would be in mV per Amp