The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay No Power after ammeter

I just finished wiring up the cab of my 51 truck and no surprise, nothing worked. Using a power detector (a wand with a light in it and a clamp that goes to ground) I found that I had power from the battery to the ammeter but on the other post of the ammeter there was nothing.

Any ideas on what is wrong with the ammeter?

To check the rest of my wiring could I bypass the ammeter short term?

Other Info:
6 volt
Alternator

Just move the input wire on the ammeter to the outpost (both wires together)If everything works, the ammeter is blown.

Are ammeters repairable or do i just get a new one?

Right about now is when the people who don't understand electricity will start recommending retrofitting to a voltmeter. Ignore them. Original ammeters aren't that scarce or expensive- - - -check Ebay for an original equipment replacement before you try the ripoff replica parts vendors.
Jerry

Hotrod has it. If the Ammeter is bad. Replace it.Used ones and new ones are out there. Volt meter..add one if you like. Hang it under the dash, or anyplace you would care to. The Amp Gauge belongs in these trucks. If, and I do mean if. You have a huge sound system, AC or airbag pumps, and other large current draws, then put a Voltmeter on. The Amp Gauge will not work with big current. It has a limit. For a lot of us the truck has its charm. And part of the charm, is the gauges. But it is your truck after all. So do what you think is best for you. An open ammeter is toast. That is how they fail. Simplest fix is to replace it.

Thanks everyone, It looks like i'm going to replace it.

In the mean time I would like to check the rest of my wiring. Could i just bypass the ammeter by splicing all the cables together that connect to both posts of the ammeter. Based on what I know about ammeters is that they are wired in series and have as little resistance as possible so replacing it with a wire should work (unless there is some safety feature or something installed as part of ammeter)

Alexmck, I believe that has already been suggested by Jim Sears. As he stated, just move all wires to one post. No extra wire needed.
Ammeters are rugged. What if anything, but the gods, caused this problem? Is your ride modified like conversion to 12 volts?

My truck is an off frame restoration with all new wiring and a conversion to a alternator but it is still 6 volt and no other modifications. This weekend was the first time I tried to put power to the cab. The ammeter was working before I tore everything apart (3 years ago) and I was careful with the gauges. All i did to them was take them out give the face a light sanding and put a new decal on the front. One of the gauges i bent the needle while sanding and had to bend it back (cant remember which one). The other thing It may be is a bad ground at the ignition there may be paint where there shouldn't be. But that doesn't make sense to have the power detector work on battery side of the ammeter and not the ignition side. (the power detector was grounded to a good ground)

The ammeter might be toast but let see if it is. Get you a couple pieces of wire. Make a good connection to battery and connect other end to one post of ammeter. Take all other wires off ammeter. Take your test light (it looks like an ice pick with a bulb in the handle and a ground wire), hook the ground lead to other side of ammeter. Stick the ice pick part on a good ground or better yet the other post of the battery. Test bulb should lite and you will get a deflection on the ammeter needle. Don't worry about polarity, it will swing one way or the other. Let us know.

The ammeter does not use a ground connection. I don't know what a power detector is but you should see six volts on both sides of the ammeter.

I went out Today and took out the ammeter and it was pretty clear what was wrong. I had over tightened the nut that held it it and pulled the post out. I solder it back on and it worked no problem.

nice it was fixable!

Yea there very simple. If there broken it's either something easily fixable of the thing has disintegrated. ( there is also a spring that could fail)