Currently have an Amp guage in my 57s stock generator electrical system. It has been suggested by some that a Volt meter is a better choice, requiring less heavy wiring etc.. Currently it has 10 G wiring from the solenoid, then along the cross member & on thru to the under dash guage & then back to the regulator. Roughly 18' or more of wire. As wired it does not show a minus draw either. So, is a Volt meter the better way to go? And what is the best way to wire in a volt meter? Thanks

Paul

http://www.autometer.com/tech_faq_answer.aspx?sid=1&qid=5

From battery + via 5A fuse to meter and from there to ground somewhere.

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)

It is possible for the charging system to be putting out the correct voltage (pressure) reading, but not be producing the appropriate amount of electrical current (electron flow).



I would recommend using the amp meter rather than the volt meter. IMO it will give you the better measure of what is most apt to be a problem in monitoring keeping the battery properly charged and electrical system properly functioning.




NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

My personal safety of running a voltmeter over an ampmeter out weighs anything that can be said about using a ampmeter. I just don't like the thought of 75-100 amps (your alternator output) running through my dash inches above my legs.



But that's just me.



There are other reasons to run a voltmeter over a ampmeter. For your reading pleasure... http://www.egauges.com/ATM_Tips.asp?TipPage=voltmeterammeter.htm

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Oh, back to the question. I ran a wire from the Acc post on my ignition switch to the + side of the voltmeter, then ran a wire from the - side to ground. needs to be a switched 12v so there is no drain on battery when car in not running.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Yes, from the switched 12 volt! It's been so long since working with street cars so I forgot that discharging effect. Dealing with dragster and battery kill switch does that .

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)

GOOD POINT! ...and as Paul indicated, we're talking about perhaps 18 feet of a heavy gauge wire because of the amps being carried.



Remembering that under the right circumstances less than a half an amp of current can kill you, I retract my previous recommendation of using an ammeter. THANKS for the article Master Cylinder!




NoShortcuts
a.k.a. Charlie Brown
near Syracuse, New York

I don't know about everybody else but I can not feel 12 volts DC and it is highly unlikely that a person could be killed by that low voltage. You can not have high enough current to do yourself any damage with 12V, your resistance is too high. The concern about heavy gauge amp meter wiring is relevent if the insulation is bad and the bare wire grounds. Then the battery is shorted out and the high resulting current could heat the wire and insulation enough to start a fire. But remember that the ignition switch also is wired driectly to the battery so the same concern about insulation obtains.



That said I go with a volt meter also. I do think it tells you more especially if the battery is going bad. Then you can see the voltage drop off as the starter trys to kick in. I wonder why amp meters were so popular in the '50's and '60s when the little two gauge panels of oil press and amp meter were sold and installed to replace idiot lights.

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Something nobody has mentioned yet. With the voltmeter installed you can shorten or install new wiring between the alternator/generator and the battery or battery lug on the starter solenoid. The shorter run will give you less voltage loss on the charging circuit. Use a fuse or circuit breaker on this wire, could save you a lot of trouble in the future. Mike

1956 Fairlane Victoria (ORREO)

 

Overlooking Beautiful Rimrock AZ

Folks,

Can anyone here tell me what guage wire the heavy one is between the generator and regulator?

I have extensive experience in electronics, and have another idea to present here regarding using a "shunt" ammeter with "light-guage" remote sensing; and, I need to know that wire size to do a little figuring before I present the thought.

Regards,   JLB

55 Ford Crown Victoria Steel Top