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

Hi all.. I rewired my truck at the start of my project to get it back on the road. I failed to realize the kit didn't support wiring to the ammeter. I checked that the alternator is charging the battery and it is working fine. My question to the group is there a workaround to wire the ammeter so it shows the charging status..

Thanks,
Doug

Doug, does the new wiring kit have accommodation for a volt meter? that would give you all the info needed. Mount an aftermarket voltmeter on the bottom lip of the dash and wire it into the switched side of the ignition

Send me a PM- - - -I can probably walk you through the process of getting the ammeter functioning properly by either email or telephone. It's doable- - - -just not a quick fix.
Jerry

Yes, it's possible to wire in the ammeter. First, please read the recent ammeter question.
Previous ammeter question

What size is your alternator? You might need a shunt. My alternator is only 63 amps, so I didn't install a shunt.

You said you used a kit. It's possible that the kit is not an exact replacement for the stock wiring. What kit did you use and can you provide the wiring diagram?

Kind of an unanswerable question without knowing HOW you wired your truck.

But it might be pretty easy to have a functioning ammeter. All the LOAD stuff goes on one side of the ammeter. And the other side is just a direct connection to battery.

To oversimplify it….

If you used some sort of fuse panel, you need to feed it from that load side of the ammeter.

But a better way to answer your question is to have you describe your current state.

After reading the difficulties some you have faced I won’t buy a harness kit and make my own OEM like wiring harness, I.e., replace wire by wire.

To oversimplify JW51's oversimplify...........
1. 10 ga or larger from starter battery stud, or positive battery terminal, thru a fuse or fusible link to one side of ammeter. Call it positive terminal.
2. Other side of ammeter, call it negative terminal, thru a fuse or fusible link (optional) to the alternator battery stud using 10 ga or larger.
3. Also from negative terminal of ammeter, wire to fuse panel, light switch, gas gauge, etc. according to the wiring diagram for your truck AND the wiring harness instructions.
4. This is not technically a "work around", it's how to wire an ammeter while using an alternator. Which most harness makers don't want to encourage. They like voltmeters.

General comment not aimed at anyone.
There is no problem with using a prewired fuse panel/universal wiring harness on our trucks.....and I do not recommend making your own. More money, more work, more questions, no instructions.
Been there, done that once. I use only THIS type of thing.

I’ve been working on doors and glass installing. I’ll get back to this when it warms up. 😎

Thanks for all the info.

Doug