Ammeter / Alternator
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 2,415
Likes: 3
From: Comox Valley, Canada
Ammeter / Alternator
If you are refering to the factory ammeter, it all depends on where it is unhooked.
There is a large black wire running from the "bat" post of the alternator to the large terminal on the starter relay that has the battery positive on it. This wire has the ammeter shunt built into it. If the smaller wires from the shunt to the ammeter are unhooked the battery will still charge. If the large wire is disconnected at either end the battery wont charge.
If it is an aftermarket ammeter, most of them have to be hooked up in order for the battery to charge and also most times for anything else to get power. That is their many drawback if they break you lose power on the truck.
There is a large black wire running from the "bat" post of the alternator to the large terminal on the starter relay that has the battery positive on it. This wire has the ammeter shunt built into it. If the smaller wires from the shunt to the ammeter are unhooked the battery will still charge. If the large wire is disconnected at either end the battery wont charge.
If it is an aftermarket ammeter, most of them have to be hooked up in order for the battery to charge and also most times for anything else to get power. That is their many drawback if they break you lose power on the truck.
