The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Any Help with AMP gauge---1955-59 Chevy Truck

Thanks in advance!!

1955-59 Chevy Truck

I recently replaced the generator with a 3 wire GM alternator which is charging but the AMP gauge does not show charge...infact when key is in on position and when motor is turning the AMP gauge goes to the left. I have unplugged the old voltage regulator and wired the battery wire from the ALT directly to the starter wire.

Anyone have a wiring suggestion so the AMP gauge reads charging. I want it to show charging. Thanks a bunch

if the amp gauge is moving there's a flow happening, try reversing the wires on it and it should read charge instead of discharge .... whether it comes back to 'neutral' when the battery is fully charged will be the next question

Bill

Hey Bill....The gauge has 3 wires plugged into the back. There are 2 possible blades on one side and 2 blades on the other. Out of the four possibilities, there are like I said 3 wires plugged into the back of the gauge. Have any idea what blades should have a wire and where they are SUPPOSED to be coming from from the factory? Thanks my man

I forgot...One of the wires was going to the horn relay and has a jumper going somewhere. I am restoring this thing and getting pretty close to being on the road...just want the amp gauge showing charge...It is charging for sure cause I have checked.

Thanks again

each sides pair of tabs are actually a single connection with provision for 2 wires - factory diagram shows 2 wires on passenger side [to ignition sw and lite sw] and 1 wire on drvr side to battery connection on the starter .... the horn relay originally got power from the regulator, must have been changed because of the alternator?

by the diagram, I believe the regulator would have fed the generator power to the terminal on the light switch and from there thru the ammeter to the battery - with the alternator direct to the battery[starter post] the current to the gauge is going backwards - pretty sure reversing wires on the gauge will make it show charge, but that's not really the correct way to wire it

Bill

That's probably it Bill....I know that one was coming from the original voltage regulator and now is disconnected. I will check to see where the wires go tomorrow morning an get back to ya with the results. I have pretty much cleaned the last guys wiring mess up so far....Looks like an idiot kit but some things were going to the wrong places and I am by NO means an electrical genious. Maybe you can help me with this too...I changed to 2 wire new front park/turn lamps. How the heck do I wire the lamps so they are on with the headlights? They currently work for turn signals only. Sure I will eventually figure it out but thought I would ask before I pull the rest of the nubs from my bald head...lol

Thanks again, Steve

do you have a wiring diagram [like in the shop manual]? if you notice there's a line marked "front of dash panel" which orients the diagram front/back, left/right and the components and wires are positioned in the truck exactly as on the diagram .... for the signal wiring see here there's a diagram on page 5, there should be 2 seperate wire circuits for park and turn that connect to a plug on the rad support from the harness and from the light socket

Bill

Yep...got that diagram...I am going to head out to the garage in the morning to first figure out the amp gauge charging issue.

The other issue was wiring the turn signals so they are also on with the headlamps...I like that look!! I think I got the what to do in my head and want to head out there but then again it is late. I'll check it out and get back to ya minana my man..

Thanks, Steve

Your park lights weren't wired to run with the head lights. If you want them to you will have to rewire them at the switch. Then, unless you do some fancy trick wiring, you won't be able to use park lights separately.

Hey Cletis...long time.

I have done it once many years ago and remember I had to do some weird stuff but they lit up with the headlights and still maintained the turn signals. Think I got the solution and will try it in the a.m. Take care

Steve in I-DA-HO

running lite hookup is easy

Bill

Hy bigdog58, if you ran the output wire of the new alternator directly to the battery you bypassed the ammeter, and now the ammeter only reads discharge. If you still have the "Bat" wire available to you from the old regulator, hook the alternator output to that, that will restore everything to what it should be, hope that helps.