Amp gauge
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 27
From: Missouri
Amp gauge
I am in the process rewiring my 53 f100. I am using EZ wire kit. I called their tech and he said I shouldn't hook it up. I bought a stock 12 volt amp gauge from LMC so I think it should work. What have others done, hook it up or not?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 892
Likes: 85
From: Western Massachusetts
I'm just finishing rewiring my 54 with an American Autowire kit. Purchased a replacement volt meter gauge from Mid Fifty. Looks like the original and easy to hook up. It's the safe way to go.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 599
From: Lancaster, CA.
Is it an Amp Guage, or a Volt Guage. They are different. I dont know a whole lot about wiring but I agree with them. If it is a true amp guage I wouldn't run it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
Tell us more about the ammeter you purchased from LMC that are looking at using. Is it an OEM style with the inductive pick-up loop in the back, and mounts in the original gauge cluster? Or is it an aftermarket type that has two terminals that mount in a bracket under the dash?
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 654
From: Brentwood, TN
It all depends on why you want the gauge...
- keep the dash "original"
- I want to know if the electrical system is charging/discharging
Amp gauges were used "back in the day" because automobile electrical systems were DC (direct current, ala generator driven) and it made sense to measure the current in the system rather than the voltage. When the generators were replaced with alternators, measuring the voltage in the system made more sense. There are some oldtimers still around that like looking at an ammeter (AMP meter) to get a feel for whether their system is charging or discharging...I remember my dad turning off lights because the ammeter showed a discharge and he didn't want to run the battery down. Today a voltmeter is more useful to monitor the voltage level that your alternator is delivering to your battery and electrical system in general. If you have a bad diode in your regulator, for instance, a voltmeter would show that your system voltage is low and could give you a heads up that your electrical system might be ready for a hard failure.
To answer your question more directly...what is it that YOU want from the gauge? The wiring for the ammeter is different from the voltmeter...amps are measured in series, volts are measured in parallel.
- keep the dash "original"
- I want to know if the electrical system is charging/discharging
Amp gauges were used "back in the day" because automobile electrical systems were DC (direct current, ala generator driven) and it made sense to measure the current in the system rather than the voltage. When the generators were replaced with alternators, measuring the voltage in the system made more sense. There are some oldtimers still around that like looking at an ammeter (AMP meter) to get a feel for whether their system is charging or discharging...I remember my dad turning off lights because the ammeter showed a discharge and he didn't want to run the battery down. Today a voltmeter is more useful to monitor the voltage level that your alternator is delivering to your battery and electrical system in general. If you have a bad diode in your regulator, for instance, a voltmeter would show that your system voltage is low and could give you a heads up that your electrical system might be ready for a hard failure.
To answer your question more directly...what is it that YOU want from the gauge? The wiring for the ammeter is different from the voltmeter...amps are measured in series, volts are measured in parallel.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
If its one of the new style, mounts in the cluster gauges, like avf100 says above, it is actually a volts gauge. It has the ammeter face but the center position is probably calibrated to 12.6 volts so it reads on the charging side when your motor is running and battery is charging it will read discharge if your motor is not running and you have a load on such as your key on and lights on. I could be wrong of course. I remember reading in the Mid-Fifty catalog that these new ammeters are actually voltmeters. And these vendors tend to source their wares from the same places.
What do your directions say about hooking it up? If its indeed one wire to 12 volts hot and the other to ground then it is no doubt really a voltmeter and I would use it. But myself, I would not use one of those aftermarket, mount under dash, splice into your charging circuit ,real ammeters.
I think maybe EZ wire was thinking you might of been referring to one of those. If I recall correctly Painless discourages there use too.
What do your directions say about hooking it up? If its indeed one wire to 12 volts hot and the other to ground then it is no doubt really a voltmeter and I would use it. But myself, I would not use one of those aftermarket, mount under dash, splice into your charging circuit ,real ammeters.
I think maybe EZ wire was thinking you might of been referring to one of those. If I recall correctly Painless discourages there use too.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,317
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From: Lititz PA
I guess I’m one of the guys that likes ammeters. I had a 78 Chevy G3500 back in the ‘80’s that threw a fan belt. I didn’t know it, heard a noise, looked at my gauges volt meter was ok. Came to a town 15 miles up the road and when I slowed down it started boiling over. If I had an ammeter, I would have known right away.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 467
From: Mason City, Iowa
I guess I’m one of the guys that likes ammeters. I had a 78 Chevy G3500 back in the ‘80’s that threw a fan belt. I didn’t know it, heard a noise, looked at my gauges volt meter was ok. Came to a town 15 miles up the road and when I slowed down it started boiling over. If I had an ammeter, I would have known right away.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,337
Likes: 165
From: Harpswell Maine
I am not aware of anyone making a voltmeter for a 48-50 dash to go in the original instrument cluster and match the original gages. I found a guy that modifies an original face ammeter to be a voltmeter. I had him do mine such that 12.6 v. is the 12 o'clock position for the needle. He advertises for Cougars. This is a link to the guy that did mine. Very pleased with the result.
http://www.rccinnovations.com/index....=menu-volt-all
http://www.rccinnovations.com/index....=menu-volt-all
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 27
From: Missouri
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 27
From: Missouri
Thread Starter
|
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 966
Likes: 27
From: Missouri
Tell us more about the ammeter you purchased from LMC that are looking at using. Is it an OEM style with the inductive pick-up loop in the back, and mounts in the original gauge cluster? Or is it an aftermarket type that has two terminals that mount in a bracket under the dash?