This Could be Simple TOO! AMP GAGE

[steve]

Now that I have a one wire alternator, an HEI distributor, no firewall mounted regulator, or resister. How do I wire the stock Ammeter gage? The assembly manual indicates the RED wire from the positive and BLACK from the Negative. (That sounds like a short to me) But before I burn something up, it must run through the Alternator first, right?

 

[Bobby 57]

I was getting ready to ask the same question. Maybe Big Tim will help us out he seems pretty good at that stuff.

 

[steve]

In

The alternator needs to be connected thru the ammeter and to the battery + terminal in line. (What I can determined). Finding a clean way to achevied this is the trick.

 

[bigtimjamestown]

The alternator needs to be connected thru the ammeter and to the battery + terminal in line. (What I can determined). Finding a clean way to achevied this is the trick.

I believe the ammeter go's in line between the charge terminal on the alternator and the battery. Look in a Chiltons manual or Google how to wire a ammeter then correct me if I'm wrong. A volt meter would be a better choice if you could find one that will suit your needs because you will get a more accurate reading of whats going on. As far as making it look clean I always try to use the stock wiring harness and modify it to work. It really kind of depends on what I'm trying to acheve. Here's a couple of different engine compartments in 2 of my trucks

I've done different things like put as much as I can on the inside of the cab up aganst the fire wall to relocating the battery box to give me more room or a cleaner look. If you can imagine it it can be done....Big Tim

 

[steve]

Thanks

Here’s what I got from the Wire Harness manufacture......

"Use only 18 gauge wire. You will need to connect one wire to the threaded
stud on the back of the alternator using an inline 10 amp fuse. Connect
another wire to the starter solenoid where the positive battery cable
attaches with a 10 amp inline fuse."

These two wires will go to your amp gauge.

NOTE: If the amp gauge reads backwards simply reverse the wires on the back of the amp gauge.


BIG Tim, thanks for the input.

 

[bigtimjamestown]

Here’s what I got from the Wire Harness manufacture......

"Use only 18 gauge wire. You will need to connect one wire to the threaded
stud on the back of the alternator using an inline 10 amp fuse. Connect
another wire to the starter solenoid where the positive battery cable
attaches with a 10 amp inline fuse."

These two wires will go to your amp gauge.

NOTE: If the amp gauge reads backwards simply reverse the wires on the back of the amp gauge.


BIG Tim, thanks for the input.

No problem Steve , good luck with all that .....Big Tim

 

[Bill Hanlon]

18 gauge wire is nowhere near big enough for the current load that your new alternator is capable of. Nor is a 10 amp fuse.

 

[steve]

New Alternator

New Alternator

My new alternator is 140 AMP! But the wiring locations seems to be correct.

 

[bigtimjamestown]

18 gauge wire is nowhere near big enough for the current load that your new alternator is capable of. Nor is a 10 amp fuse.

I'm questoning the 18 Ga. wire myself. I read an artical on line that said use 14 Ga. wire and I think that's too light too. Every wiring harness I've ever seen used 10 Ga. primary wire for the lead from the Batt, side of the Alt. to the positive side of the Batt. or starter sylinoid. I'm not to sure about using any fuses either because when your alt. starts pulling a load it could blow a fuse. I've never seen a fuse used in that line. 140 amps is a lot of Alt. Unless you plan on running a big stereo an Elect. fan, Ac. and power windows it's way over kill and not needed....Big Tim

 

[steve]

Here's what the "Tuff Stuff wep site provided me, now need the size of wire.

 

[bigtimjamestown]

Here's what the "Tuff Stuff wep site provided me, now need the size of wire.

If you look at your stock wiring harness you will notice that the wire going to the battery or starter sylinoid (doesn't matter) weather it was a generator or alternator (doesn't matter) was a 10 Ga. wire. Cut it and attach 1 end to each terminal on the ammeter. If it works backwards then switch them....Big Tim

 

[jon0249]

Maybe this will help.