Ammeter tech and questions...tech heads.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Ammeter tech and questions...tech heads.
Okay...I want to upgrade and update to a volt meter, I have installed many Ammeters and all the aftermarket ones I messed with have a built in shunt and require that all the current of the cars system ( besides large battery/starter lead ) flows thur the gauge,
Of course this is asking for a fire the way some Bubbas do wiring...
So if you wanted to replace that aftermarket ammeter with a volt gauge the leads going into the ammeter must be connect or no juice would flow thru the cars system.
My question is about the stock ammeter in my 69 corvette, I have done some research that says that GM used an external shunt and that very little juice flowed thru the stock ammeter but should the wires going into the stock ammeter be connected together when replacing the ammeter with a volt meter?
Many thanks!
Of course this is asking for a fire the way some Bubbas do wiring...
So if you wanted to replace that aftermarket ammeter with a volt gauge the leads going into the ammeter must be connect or no juice would flow thru the cars system.
My question is about the stock ammeter in my 69 corvette, I have done some research that says that GM used an external shunt and that very little juice flowed thru the stock ammeter but should the wires going into the stock ammeter be connected together when replacing the ammeter with a volt meter?
Many thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
The car's operating current does NOT flow through the gauge. It flows through the main transfer wiring, just as it would with a car that had no gauge.
The 'current shunt' you describe IS that length of wiring in the main harness. The connection wires from the gauge hook into that main wire so that the ammeter (really a milivolt meter with a current-reading scale) can be fed the voltage drop over that length of harness wire between the meter connection points. So the only current that flows through the meter amounts to the few milliamps it takes to drive the meter indicator.
[P.S. This is meant to be 'informative'...not 'argumentative'.]
The 'current shunt' you describe IS that length of wiring in the main harness. The connection wires from the gauge hook into that main wire so that the ammeter (really a milivolt meter with a current-reading scale) can be fed the voltage drop over that length of harness wire between the meter connection points. So the only current that flows through the meter amounts to the few milliamps it takes to drive the meter indicator.
[P.S. This is meant to be 'informative'...not 'argumentative'.]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
The car's operating current does NOT flow through the gauge. It flows through the main transfer wiring, just as it would with a car that had no gauge.
The 'current shunt' you describe IS that length of wiring in the main harness. The connection wires from the gauge hook into that main wire so that the ammeter (really a milivolt meter with a current-reading scale) can be fed the voltage drop over that length of harness wire between the meter connection points. So the only current that flows through the meter amounts to the few milliamps it takes to drive the meter indicator.
[P.S. This is meant to be 'informative'...not 'argumentative'.]
The 'current shunt' you describe IS that length of wiring in the main harness. The connection wires from the gauge hook into that main wire so that the ammeter (really a milivolt meter with a current-reading scale) can be fed the voltage drop over that length of harness wire between the meter connection points. So the only current that flows through the meter amounts to the few milliamps it takes to drive the meter indicator.
[P.S. This is meant to be 'informative'...not 'argumentative'.]
To answer the last part of the OP, you can simply use 1 of the original wires to feed the new voltmeter and tape off the second one. Find a good ground for the other side of the new VM and your good to go.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 778
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
The car's operating current does NOT flow through the gauge. It flows through the main transfer wiring, just as it would with a car that had no gauge.
The 'current shunt' you describe IS that length of wiring in the main harness. The connection wires from the gauge hook into that main wire so that the ammeter (really a milivolt meter with a current-reading scale) can be fed the voltage drop over that length of harness wire between the meter connection points. So the only current that flows through the meter amounts to the few milliamps it takes to drive the meter indicator.
[P.S. This is meant to be 'informative'...not 'argumentative'.]
The 'current shunt' you describe IS that length of wiring in the main harness. The connection wires from the gauge hook into that main wire so that the ammeter (really a milivolt meter with a current-reading scale) can be fed the voltage drop over that length of harness wire between the meter connection points. So the only current that flows through the meter amounts to the few milliamps it takes to drive the meter indicator.
[P.S. This is meant to be 'informative'...not 'argumentative'.]
