whats an ammeter?
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whats an ammeter?
stiill trying to figure out what to do with my dash. actually i need to know what ford offered for a generator gauge in my 63. i'm talking about the blank panel to the left of the speedometer cluster. i see alt gauges frequently in this spot but need to know if ford offered a GENERATOR gauge for this spot in 63 since generators were in use at this time rather that altenators. the ford parts catalog shows an ammeter, not sure but i bet that one doesn't say "alt" on it. sorry if i am being a bit redundant as i seem to remember someone posted a pic of this type gauge earlier this is all related to my questions about factory ford clocks and tachometers. obviuosly i'm still on the learning curve (and it's up hill right now).
thanks
scott
thanks
scott
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From: Maricopa
basically, for your electrical charging system in any vehicle there are two types of gauges you can have, one is an ammeter which shows you if the system is charging or losing power and by how much, or you can get a voltmeter, which shows how many volts your battery currently has (not sure if it's going into the battery or out...)
Now as far as if the older ones said gen instead of amp, I'm not sure. personally, I would switch it over to an alternator and get the ALT gauge.
Now as far as if the older ones said gen instead of amp, I'm not sure. personally, I would switch it over to an alternator and get the ALT gauge.
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Near Nashille, TN
An ammeter measures AMPS... which is a measure of the current being drawn or charged from/to your battery.
Multiply amps by voltage and you get watts. For example... 1 amp at 12 volts is 12 watts.... 2 amps at 12 volts is 24 watts...
Multiply amps by voltage and you get watts. For example... 1 amp at 12 volts is 12 watts.... 2 amps at 12 volts is 24 watts...
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well if i'm not mistaken from what i've read there is no way a 63 with a generator would come factory with an ALT gauge. any chance someone would know if the 63's came with a gauge in the side blank panel that said "GEN" on it. i'm looking to buy one used and don't want to waste time looking for something that isn't there. i would switch the system over to alternator but i'm wanting to stay close to original.
thanks for all the information.
scott
thanks for all the information.
scott
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From: Sun River St. George
Amps and Generators or Alternators
Aperes is an measurement of electrical current. Both Generators and Alternators make amperes. Your gage should read amperes. You could install an alternator and use the same gage measuring the same thing. Thing to be careful of would be exceeding the capacity of the gage. Easy to install a volt meter in this position and measure volts. Whether you use an generator or alternator makes no difference, since you are measuring volts.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Stanton, Michigan, USA
well if i'm not mistaken from what i've read there is no way a 63 with a generator would come factory with an ALT gauge. any chance someone would know if the 63's came with a gauge in the side blank panel that said "GEN" on it. i'm looking to buy one used and don't want to waste time looking for something that isn't there. i would switch the system over to alternator but i'm wanting to stay close to original. --- scott
I don't have any documentation to back it up as correct, but I once owned a '63 F100 (with a 223 6-cyl/T-18 4-spd) and it had a generator on it.
Realize too, that if you're planning to stay as-built original, that not all trucks were equipped with the oil and amp gauges; they were optional.
Not that it matters, but I'm a bit confused - you're asking about a '63, your Profile lists you have a '62 and your Album picture lists 'My Truck' as a '64.
Do you have three trucks, did you sell off the '62 & '64, or ?
BarnieTrk
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Scott,
I don't have any documentation to back it up as correct, but I once owned a '63 F100 (with a 223 6-cyl/T-18 4-spd) and it had a generator on it.
Realize too, that if you're planning to stay as-built original, that not all trucks were equipped with the oil and amp gauges; they were optional.
Not that it matters, but I'm a bit confused - you're asking about a '63, your Profile lists you have a '62 and your Album picture lists 'My Truck' as a '64.
Do you have three trucks, did you sell off the '62 & '64, or ?
BarnieTrk
I don't have any documentation to back it up as correct, but I once owned a '63 F100 (with a 223 6-cyl/T-18 4-spd) and it had a generator on it.
Realize too, that if you're planning to stay as-built original, that not all trucks were equipped with the oil and amp gauges; they were optional.
Not that it matters, but I'm a bit confused - you're asking about a '63, your Profile lists you have a '62 and your Album picture lists 'My Truck' as a '64.
Do you have three trucks, did you sell off the '62 & '64, or ?
BarnieTrk
i do know my truck didn't come factory with any gauges in the blank panels, just a speedometer cluster. previous owner already drilled the blank panels for toggle switches (old city truck) and i wanted the gauges so thats what i'm up to in that regard. what i was/am a bit confused about is what ford offered in the generator equivalent of an alt gauge. my truck having a generator obviously wouldn't have the ALT gauge that is commonly seen, i need to know what a 63 "generator" truck used for a gauge so i know what to look for- gen gauge or amp gauge? to be honest i didn't know if ford even offered a generator or amp gauge for a 63 truck but i do know an ALT gauge for my truck isn't correct. from what i have been told i think i need a factory amp gauge and i also see from the ford catalog for 63 an ammeter is listed as an option.
thanks
scott
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Stanton, Michigan, USA
looks like i was confused.......
No Biggie..... I'm confused most of the time!
i do know my truck didn't come factory with any gauges in the blank panels, just a speedometer cluster. previous owner already drilled the blank panels for toggle switches (old city truck) and i wanted the gauges so thats what i'm up to in that regard. what i was/am a bit confused about is what ford offered in the generator equivalent of an alt gauge. my truck having a generator obviously wouldn't have the ALT gauge that is commonly seen, i need to know what a 63 "generator" truck used for a gauge so i know what to look for- gen gauge or amp gauge? to be honest i didn't know if ford even offered a generator or amp gauge for a 63 truck but i do know an ALT gauge for my truck isn't correct. from what i have been told i think i need a factory amp gauge and i also see from the ford catalog for 63 an ammeter is listed as an option. thanks scott
No Biggie..... I'm confused most of the time!
i do know my truck didn't come factory with any gauges in the blank panels, just a speedometer cluster. previous owner already drilled the blank panels for toggle switches (old city truck) and i wanted the gauges so thats what i'm up to in that regard. what i was/am a bit confused about is what ford offered in the generator equivalent of an alt gauge. my truck having a generator obviously wouldn't have the ALT gauge that is commonly seen, i need to know what a 63 "generator" truck used for a gauge so i know what to look for- gen gauge or amp gauge? to be honest i didn't know if ford even offered a generator or amp gauge for a 63 truck but i do know an ALT gauge for my truck isn't correct. from what i have been told i think i need a factory amp gauge and i also see from the ford catalog for 63 an ammeter is listed as an option. thanks scott
I'd dare say you're correct in your deduction that your '63 would have had the optional AMP gauge rather than maybe a GEN gauge; but again, I have no documentation to support that reasoning.
A side note: based on Williams' explanation below...
Aperes is an measurement of electrical current. Both Generators and Alternators make amperes. Your gage should read amperes. You could install an alternator and use the same gage measuring the same thing. Thing to be careful of would be exceeding the capacity of the gage. Easy to install a volt meter in this position and measure volts. Whether you use an generator or alternator makes no difference, since you are measuring volts.
My '65 has an alternator. It has an amp gauge that is labeled ALT.
BarnieTrk
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From: Albuquerque
Do you mean something like this in picture #2?? If so, it looks like its from a '61.
Slick 60's :: View topic - round instrument panel gauges
Slick 60's :: View topic - round instrument panel gauges
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Scott,
I'd dare say you're correct in your deduction that your '63 would have had the optional AMP gauge rather than maybe a GEN gauge; but again, I have no documentation to support that reasoning.
A side note: based on Williams' explanation below...
....I think the interesting point that William makes is that a GEN and an ALT gauge would measure AMPs, so in a way, they are mis-labeled. In other words, an AMP gauge measures the performance of either a generator or an alternator. Now I'm also curious as to whether or not the earlier gauges were labeled AMP, GEN or what...
My '65 has an alternator. It has an amp gauge that is labeled ALT.
BarnieTrk
I'd dare say you're correct in your deduction that your '63 would have had the optional AMP gauge rather than maybe a GEN gauge; but again, I have no documentation to support that reasoning.
A side note: based on Williams' explanation below...
....I think the interesting point that William makes is that a GEN and an ALT gauge would measure AMPs, so in a way, they are mis-labeled. In other words, an AMP gauge measures the performance of either a generator or an alternator. Now I'm also curious as to whether or not the earlier gauges were labeled AMP, GEN or what...
My '65 has an alternator. It has an amp gauge that is labeled ALT.
BarnieTrk
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Do you mean something like this in picture #2?? If so, it looks like its from a '61.
Slick 60's :: View topic - round instrument panel gauges
Slick 60's :: View topic - round instrument panel gauges
yep santi thats "almost" it. a "gen" (or maybe amp) gauge would be the correct type gauge only pblm is the one pictured is in the speedo cluster whereas i'm looking for the type gauge that is located in the blank out panel to the left of the speedo cluster. it's turning out to be rather elusive.
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From: Albuquerque
Yeah I'm not sure if you're going to find one that shows Generator on it.. Here is one with amps though...
Product Detail
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