www.wtf.com/ammeter/hookedupwrong
12-31-04, 04:12 PM
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www.wtf.com/ammeter/hookedupwrong
so i bought an ammeter a while back, looked at the instructions, they give an example of a typical chevy vehical. damnit, so i kinda get the idea and try to hook it up.. 2 things that i am unsure about:
1) will it hurt my car to fire it up w/o the tmic and mess with the meter wires, will it even start
2) i hooked it up to what i thought was the right wires(non-educated guess) turn it over and nothing on the meter. with the car off i went under the hood. touched my wrench on two parts of the engine. i think the alt plus the frame. i saw a brilliant white light, then it was off to the parts store for a new 80amp fuse. i think i lost a couple nerves in my hand doin this and dont want to do it again.
my question:
there are 2 wires on the s4 alt plug, and one that you screw on a little away from the plug. what wires do i hook the 2 ammeter wires to?
thanks for the help
1) will it hurt my car to fire it up w/o the tmic and mess with the meter wires, will it even start
2) i hooked it up to what i thought was the right wires(non-educated guess) turn it over and nothing on the meter. with the car off i went under the hood. touched my wrench on two parts of the engine. i think the alt plus the frame. i saw a brilliant white light, then it was off to the parts store for a new 80amp fuse. i think i lost a couple nerves in my hand doin this and dont want to do it again.
my question:
there are 2 wires on the s4 alt plug, and one that you screw on a little away from the plug. what wires do i hook the 2 ammeter wires to?
thanks for the help
01-02-05, 12:12 PM
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not a soul?.. all i need to know now, is what color do i splice into on the plug.. i know one goes to battery positive, the other one would be a bitch to trace back to the fuse box. please? 
01-03-05, 01:05 PM
#3
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I'd just drop the project. I believe for an ammeter to work it has to be in-line with the positive battery terminal - as in, cut the main power wire going to the positive terminal of the battery, attach a wire from the meter to both sides, and there you go.
It's likely designed for a VERY low amperage, like from some old Chevy carb'd pickup truck. A high amp alternator in a modern car won't cut it, and you'll get some serious voltage drop across the meter due to adding another connection in the circuit.
Might want to dig through some car stereo sites and look at how they do ammeters. I think I even saw one once that was built into the positive terminal of the battery.
Anyhow, ammeters really aren't ultra useful. Voltage will tell you everything you need to know about the starting/charging system, and it's much easier to hook up. If you are concerned that your alternator is putting out low amperage, take it to an alternator shop and have them test it - much easier and safer.
Dale
It's likely designed for a VERY low amperage, like from some old Chevy carb'd pickup truck. A high amp alternator in a modern car won't cut it, and you'll get some serious voltage drop across the meter due to adding another connection in the circuit.
Might want to dig through some car stereo sites and look at how they do ammeters. I think I even saw one once that was built into the positive terminal of the battery.
Anyhow, ammeters really aren't ultra useful. Voltage will tell you everything you need to know about the starting/charging system, and it's much easier to hook up. If you are concerned that your alternator is putting out low amperage, take it to an alternator shop and have them test it - much easier and safer.
Dale
