Re: replacing ammeter with a volt meter?
[Re: NEVjr]
#1680023
09/30/14 04:32 AM
09/30/14 04:32 AM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,223 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,223
Bend,OR USA
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Does all the amps from the alternator go through the amp gauge like it does on the later Mopar cars? If so that needs to be addressed to safely get the current back to the battery, correct? I recently added a 100 amp alternator to my race car that didn't have a charging system on it when I got it so I used a 8 gauge wire ran directly from the alternator output to the positive post on one of the batterys so the car would not run when the battery cut off switch was turned off. I ran a 18 guage,I think, through the main ignition switch to the voltmeter so I can see if the alternator is working or not when the engine is running. I had a old race car that a guy bought and added a voltmeter in series to the battery in the trunk with no cut off switch or activation switch, it would run the battery dead in a couple of days, it wasn't digital. All electrical gauges use current to run them, correct
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: replacing ammeter with a volt meter?
[Re: NEVjr]
#1680028
09/30/14 08:47 PM
09/30/14 08:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,223 Bend,OR USA
Cab_Burge
I Win
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I Win
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 43,223
Bend,OR USA
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I used a 10 ft. piece of #8 wire on my race car with the 100 amp alternator. There is not a huge load on the charging system when racing it, maybe 35 amps total On the splicing I should have mentioned splicng the two wires behind the amp meter in the former post, replacing it is a better deal with anything over 45 amps load I might consider a # 6 if it is from the front of the car to a battery in the trunk, if the run is less than 10 ft I would probally go with #8 or #10 . I think Powermaster, Tuff Stuff or one of the other aftermarket alternator companys has a chart with lemgth, load and wire gauge sizes recommended for there bigger alternators
Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)
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Re: replacing ammeter with a volt meter?
[Re: ahy]
#1680030
09/30/14 09:30 PM
09/30/14 09:30 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889 up yours
Supercuda
About to go away
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About to go away
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 14,889
up yours
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You realize the battery is only a part time load on the alternator, once it's charged back up it is no longer a load. The rest of the system is the load, so running big wires to the battery doesn't fix the issue just masks it as the ammeter does not measure output from the alternator to the rest of the system, just to/from the battery.
If you truly have large electrical loads you should run them via relays directly sourced from the alternator output.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: replacing ammeter with a volt meter?
[Re: Supercuda]
#1680032
10/02/14 04:41 AM
10/02/14 04:41 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 45 Delaware
GeorgeH
member
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member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 45
Delaware
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Quote:
You realize the battery is only a part time load on the alternator, once it's charged back up it is no longer a load. The rest of the system is the load, so running big wires to the battery doesn't fix the issue just masks it as the ammeter does not measure output from the alternator to the rest of the system, just to/from the battery.
If you truly have large electrical loads you should run them via relays directly sourced from the alternator output.
I'm assuming something like what is like the wiring diagrams on the Mad Electrical website? Where the alt feeds the fuse box directly and the regulator is sensing volts at the fuse box? Supposedly more stable voltage throughout the system. The info i'm looking at is on www.madelectrical.com and its towards the bottom of their tech page " bypassing amp gauge". If anyone has tried these mods chime in please.
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Re: replacing ammeter with a volt meter?
[Re: dodgy]
#1680033
10/02/14 05:23 PM
10/02/14 05:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048 Back home in PA
BulletBob
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,048
Back home in PA
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Quote:
like others I changed my system to volt meter, moded the dash and fitted a volt meter, got the local sticker mob to make me up an overlay.
have a few left but I'd say they would be different to your dash.
I do all my Amp to volt changeovers like that Harbor Freight sells a small diameter one that I put in 72-80 Dodge trucks
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