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| | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 | I understand there are not actually positive and negative posts but they seem to be referred to that way. In searching most advice says hook the battery side to the positive and the load/regulator side to negative. My Classic Parts wiring harness for my 1952 Chevy says just the opposite. Does the needle on a stock gauge move the same direction as the current or opposite to it.
Without removing the gauge from the truck I do not have any way of putting enough load on it to see a deflection- a test light won't move it.
I would be thrilled if someone can tell me for sure- do I connect the battery side to the post behind the C or the D? I would rather get it right the first time and not have to switch the wires later. It will be a while before the system will be used.
Chuck | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,747 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,747 | Instead of a test light, connect a couple of wires to a headlight bulb. If you wire the high and low beams together, you can get plenty of current flow to use it like a BIG test light- - - -plenty of current flow to check out the deflection of the needle. Once you get the needle moving toward the "discharge" side, connect the terminal where you have the light bulb attached to the ignition switch, voltage regulator "bat" terminal, and fuse box. Connect nothing but the wire to the starter battery terminal to the other side.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
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| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 | Thanks Jerry. I don't have bulbs yet. I know I can take the gauge over to one of my other vehicles and test it there. I was trying to avoid that since the gas gauge, oil line, and temp sensor are all hooked up and finally fitted thru the firewall grommet. I understand which wires to hook where if I just knew if the indicator moves the same direction as the current or opposite to it.
The indicator moving opposite to the current is the only reason (besides being wrong) I can think of why the Classic Chevy wiring instructions say to wire it just opposite of what you and just about every previous post recommends.
Chuck | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 9,115 | Connect your coil between the ignition switch and ground and then turn on the ignition. you will then get your deflection. | | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 554 | I went ahead and removed the gauge and tested the ampmeter using another vehicle that had a battery using a headlight bulb as Jerry suggested. I had been using a old motorcycle battery to check it on the truck and it didn't have enough juice left to light a headlight bulb. I am glad I checked- the Classic Parts instructions were correct. They said connect the battery input to the negative ampmeter post and the battery lead from the regulator to the positive side. Since the posts are not marked one must assume the one behind the the C is positive and D is negative.
Since this seems contrary to the advice given by people on the forum that know what they are talking about the indicator needle must be moving in the opposite direction of the current. When I did my headlight test with the light connected to the post on the discharge side of the amp gauge and the battery to the positive side the amp gauge showed charge. Reversing the load showed charge.
Chuck | | |
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