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Good to hear your charging system is good now. That was more important than your amp meter. Hopefully the overcharging old alternator didn't damage your new amp meter.
if I were you I would swap it out for a volt gauge. Only a minor rewire.
I am not sure it is over charging.
my 79 hits 15.4 volts with no issues measured with fluke and surprisingly accurate on my volt meter a hair below red which I’m pretty sure is 15.5 volts.
just replaced battery at 6 years water level fine. Original alternator.
below @bmotojoe 77 manual posted prior.
i wouldn’t toss old alternator if original..the new chinesium rebuilds are terrible and draw hp compared to original in my experience.
First off, Tuff Stuff and others supply USA made and or rebuilt alternators.
And I am absolutely certain that anything over 14.5 volts is DEFINITELY over charging. This is hard on your battery and can also blow bulbs throughout the vehicle.
If you have any doubts about this I suggest you read a service manual.
Hi
I am definitely up for swapping it to a voltmeter I’m guessing I would need to wire it up to the Charing circuit rather than go straight off the battery ?
You can pull off any 12 volt power line. You have 12v. Going to other gauges. And then you just need a ground wire. That's it.
As stated earlier, go to "madelectrical" s Web site. Read there tech pages on Alternators and the different types and how to wire them properly. They have a wealth of information.
First off, Tuff Stuff and others supply USA made and or rebuilt alternators.
And I am absolutely certain that anything over 14.5 volts is DEFINITELY over charging. This is hard on your battery and can also blow bulbs throughout the vehicle.
If you have any doubts about this I suggest you read a service manual.
i said chinesium rebuilds..not the ones you mentioned USA , specifically ac delco rockauto.
i suggested to op to not toss the old one if original bases on my experience.
my alternator puts out up to 15.5 volts at idle low draw.. it drops under load.
I never had a boiling or lack of water in my battery that lasted 6 years.
the pic i posted is from 77 passenger car service manual posted in thread below. There s zero voltage at alternator information n my 79 service manual
post 114 and 115 shows video of identical load on engine comparing oem to chinesium rebuilt ac delco…fyi the ac delco was 14.8v .06 less than my oem one.
Thank you for all off the help, the ammeter is now working as it should I purchased a wiring diagram for my 76 and managed to find the faulty wire in question, I now have 12v on either terminal, it was the orange red wire that is in the photo that had melted apart causing the fault
once again thank you for all help offered Hope you all have a good Christmas and happy new year
