Ammeter poarity
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,049
Likes: 675
From: FL
Ammeter has +12V on both sides. It measures the difference between the alternator voltage and the battery voltage.
Pretty good diagram, just ignore the reference to horn relay.
Pretty good diagram, just ignore the reference to horn relay.
Last edited by SteveG75; Feb 4, 2013 at 08:52 AM. Reason: Added pic
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Yes. But, which side you put the leads on determines which is + current flow and which is - .
As mentioned, the ammeter is just tapped-onto the main power feed line in the wiring harness. It is not actually inserted into the line, but the feed wires are attached to that line in two places a set distance apart. The small resistance in that section of harness wire acts as a 'shunt' resistor; and the voltage drop over that section of line [which is proportional to the amount of current flowing] is what the meter actually reads. The dial face is only 'calibrated' so that you can read AMPS.
You want to put the two wires on the meter so that it will read + direction when charging and - direction when discharging. It's much easier to check for discharge amps by just turning on the lights. If you try it and it reads backwards, just switch the two wires.
As mentioned, the ammeter is just tapped-onto the main power feed line in the wiring harness. It is not actually inserted into the line, but the feed wires are attached to that line in two places a set distance apart. The small resistance in that section of harness wire acts as a 'shunt' resistor; and the voltage drop over that section of line [which is proportional to the amount of current flowing] is what the meter actually reads. The dial face is only 'calibrated' so that you can read AMPS.
You want to put the two wires on the meter so that it will read + direction when charging and - direction when discharging. It's much easier to check for discharge amps by just turning on the lights. If you try it and it reads backwards, just switch the two wires.
Cruising
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Amp meter
attemting to get my amp meter circute to work, orginal gauge was not working so replaced with no luck , then did a check to new gauge by tapping in a 1.5 volt battery and gauage is good to go, in your experice i am trying to find the location of the attached photo were the fusable link is located and the battery tie in point. appricate the heads up.
Thanks Rob
Thanks Rob
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
The fuse link that ptotects the gauge is the small (20 gauge) orange wire on the horn relay. Before you have to go riping into the wireing, check for power on both the wires for the gauge, with the gauge disconnected you should get battery voltage on BOTH wires.
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