The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay ammeter hookup

I'm installing a new wiring harness in a '53 1/2 ton, 12volt, with an ammeter (I think) in the gauge cluster. The ammeter has two connections on the back of the cluster and the harness has a wire marked "power for gauges". I'm at a loss as to the correct hookup for the ammeter. I've read on some of the posts that the ammeter is not the most desirable gauge for 12 volt systems but I'm kinda stuck with this one. Can someone advise me on the proper/best way to wire the gauge?

If you are using the original gauges, you have an ammeter and there is nothing wrong with that.

One side of the ammeter connects to the starter and the other to the charging system and accessories (lights, etc). The wires to the charging system and starter are heavy gauge.

Do you have a generator or an alternator?

Where did you get the harness? Someone here may be familiar with it and can help with the wire colors and sizes. The "power for gauges" may be only used for the gas gauge. Back in 1953, it was the only gauge that needed power; temp and oil pressure were mechanical gauges.

Thanks Gord. After reading your response and several pages back in this forum, I'm feeling better about the gauge. Also, since it's in a rebuilt cluster, I'm sorta stuck with it. The truck will have an alternator and the harness came from KwikWire. It has extra circuits at this time but I'm hoping in the future (i.e. $$) to add some improvements. This gauge cluster is pretty much as the original with mechanical water and oil and power to fuel gauge and the ammeter.
The harness does not have wiring for the ammeter since the heavier wires are labeled for the ignition switch and the headlight switch. Would I be correct to remove the power wire from the ignition, put it on one side of the ammeter with a jumper to the ignition; then run a wire direct from the other side of the ammeter to the alternator? Or would this be a question better directed to the folks at KwikWire?
I'll have more questions for the Electrical Bay, but one issue at a time for now.
thanks for the help!

Doesn't matter if the ammeter wires are hooked up backwards, just switch them. Key on, engine, lights, etc. on, needle should show negative, engine running, not at idle, needle should show positive.

Ed

I see you are using a generic wiring kit. KwikWire posted the instructions online, so I had a look. At the bottom of page 12, there is a note about how to connect an ammeter:
KwikWire instructions

However, it won't work if you follow their instructions! The alternator has to connect to the ammeter. See this 11 year old thread:
Alternator and ammeter

In the old thread, Tim provided a link to a wiring diagram. That link is no longer working. Fortunately he posted the new link a couple of days ago in this thread:
Newer thread

Thanks everyone for the help. Gord, you’re right again. I called the vendor today and he gave me the wire # to cut and connect to the ammeter........it’s the wire from the alternator. Again, thanks all!