Auxilary Amp Meter Connection
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Senior User
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From: willamette valley ore
Auxilary Amp Meter Connection
I have installed an oil pressure gauge and an ammeter in my '66 F100. The oil pressure gauge is pretty obvious and works well. The instructions for the ammeter says to remove all of the wires from the battery side of the magnetic starter switch (solenoid) except for the starter cable and connect a 10 or 12 gage wire from the gauge to that terminal. It then instructs you to connect the other wire from the ammeter to all of the wires that were removed from the battery side of the solenoid. I can see how the current flows but I am having trouble asking a 10 or 12 gage wire to handle the load of all of the other wires, especially considering that a couple of them look to be 4 or at least 6 gage. Any thoughts on this. Is there a more direct way to wire in the ammeter on a Ford? I put one on my '40 flathead (12V conversion w/one wire GM alternater) and a wire runs from the alternater through the ammeter and then connects to the positive side of the solenoid. Thanks for putting on the thinking cap for me. Steve
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Boulder Creek, Ca
Believe the factory installed gauge used a junction block between gauge and solenoid. May be able to run a heavier gage wire to the solenoid side, and lighter gage from solenoid to instrument. Perhaps member more knowledgeable in electrical circuits can advise. Have a 65 with amp gauge but have not connected up yet. Considering a fuse type junction block if/when I do hook it up.
dave
dave
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From: Same house since 1953
I have found that a volt meter is more useful to me than an ammeter. Unless your battery is real low and taking a hefty charge or you have a lot of heavy drain accessories, an ammeter doesn't give much of an indication. Don't get me wrong, it's a useful instrument, I just feel better about knowing the battery terminal voltage.
John
John
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Central Texas
NO if you do it'll fry!! Just hook the positive side to any power source, preferably at the battery, and the other terminal goes to a ground...much simpler than an ammeter and no heavy gauge wire is required. If there are charging issues you will also have the "idiot" light to clue you in.
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From: willamette valley ore
Prostock, thanks for the instructions. I don't have a volt meter yet but when I get the ammeter wired up I will put in a volt meter as well. I have a three gauge mount but only two gauges so a volt meter will fill the unused hole. Thanks, Steve
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Fleet Owner
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From: Brentwood,CA
well the amp meter gets wired a little different than waht you said in the instructions. on the alt find the heavy guage wire should be purple. run it from the alt to the guage then from the gauge back to the wire which heads to the starter solinoid. i will post a pick if you need one.
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From: willamette valley ore
Gashog, your wiring method is more in line to what I have done with my '40. But it conflicts with what the instructions and another post here tells me. Instead of clarity, I'm getting confusion and I already have enough of that in my life. Anybody got a third opinion? Steve
Posting Guru
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From: Colville, Washington
According to Autometer, the ammeter should be inline with the alternator output wire and nothing else. The typical Ford small case alt. puts out a max of 63 amps, I would estimate about 10-12 feet of total wire length to the ammeter. According to my wire gauge chart a 12 gauge wire will handle 50 amps for a 10 foot run, an 8 gauge wire will handle 100 amps.
HTH, and hang in there, wiring is sometimes hard to explain in writing!!
HTH, and hang in there, wiring is sometimes hard to explain in writing!!
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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Personally I would not use an aftermarket ammeter. I have seen too many fires and burned wiring. A voltmeter is much easier to wire in and far less dangerous. A voltmeter gives much better information IMO.
Posting Guru
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From: Colville, Washington
I agree on the safety issue, Eric. I have both at this time and find the two together sometimes gives some added info...if you watch them. The voltmeter is definitely much safer.
Most of those fires and burned wiring were likely caused by poor wiring connections or insufficient wire size for the amperage output, IMO anyway.
Most of those fires and burned wiring were likely caused by poor wiring connections or insufficient wire size for the amperage output, IMO anyway.
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Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Kansas City
The instructions that came with the ampmeter are correct.
If you put the ampmeter on the alernator wire to battery you will read the output from alternator to all acc. and battery.
Just make sure the connectors are on tight and to be sure solder them with rosion core solder.
If you put the ampmeter on the alernator wire to battery you will read the output from alternator to all acc. and battery.
Just make sure the connectors are on tight and to be sure solder them with rosion core solder.
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From: willamette valley ore
Thanks 66 and all that have responded to this thread. I picked up some 10 gage wire and will follow the directions from the manufacturer. Will let you all know how it turns out. My son has the truck at college but will be home for the holidays in about a week. Steve
