Red 49 Truck
This has been a great thread. I have the same problem that you had. I saw
your update on your problem. Can you give me some more info on your fix? I looks like my problem is a duplicate of yours.
> Jerry, Dan, and anyone else - I welcome any additional input that wasn't covered in this thread.
My '54 was converted to 12v by a previous owner. The ammeter did not work from the day I bought it 10yrs ago. I assumed that it was fried, just like the gas gauge. The batt never went down so I figured that the charging circuit was OK. I didn't drive truck very much, and I hooked up a charger occationally just to "top off the charge" between drives. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I don't know if the system ever charged.
I'm restoring my gauges, so I checked the wiring to the ammeter. The wiring does not match the original Chevy wiring diagram. Looks like a wiring harness from one of the suppliers. Colors are not correct with the original Chevy wiring diagram. Most wires numbered.
ORIGINAL WIRING:
> A 10g wire from the Batt on the voltage reg went to one terminal of the ammeter, and a 18g wire ending near the horn, but connected to nothing, was on the other terminal. So the ammeter connection was open.
> A 10g wire feeds the light switch; I believe that it splits from the volt reg Batt.
> A 10g wire from the starter/battery fed the ign switch.
LONNIE'S REWIRING:
I rewired to conform to the Chevy wiring diagram, but something must still be wrong.
Ammeter does not show charge when engine is running. The ammeter shows discharge when engine off and headlights on. Voltage across battery is 12.6v no load. Voltage is 12.4v with engine running. Does not increase when I increase engine speed. I performed some of the tests that Dan and Jerry described.
AMMETER:
> "D" terminal to Starter/Battery and to horn relay "hot" terminal
> "C" terminal to Volt Reg Batt and to Ign switch "hot" terminal
IGN SW:
> "Hot" to "C" on ammeter
> Output to coil and to gas gauge "+"
LIGHTS:
> No change in hookup. I believe that the power comes from the volt reg batt.
I installed two different '54 ammeters. Both read the same.
What changes did you make to your wiring. Any tests or suggestions to get my truck charging?
I'm stumped.
Thanks,
