The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay amps or volts?

1951 3100.
I,m ready to install my basic wiring harness from Classic Parts,I have converted to a GM 3 wire alt.and the wiring harness is has the conversion also.
While researching the conversion some believe (Mad Electrical is one)That it is best to eliminate the amp gauge and use a volt meter instead.This as I understand is to keep the heavy charge wire going to the battery through the amp gauge out of the cab and in the engine compartment.
Any opinions on this? pros and cons, how do you have yours wired?
Thanks

John

Hy digg, in my opinion the voltage gauge is much more usable, it lets you know the condition of the battery. The amp gauge only tells you current flow, not what effect that flow has on the voltage in the battery. With the alternator output wire going directly to the battery, and not going up into and out of the dash it is a safer way to wire things, hope that helps.

Actually, to monitor the charging system properly, you'd need a voltmeter, an ammeter, and a way of checking the specific gravity of the battery acid. If you're using an internal-regulated alternator, that's about the least maintenance-intensive systrem that there is. You could get away with nothing but an idiot light, like 90% of the new cars have. Just for simplicity, I'd suggest sticking with the dash-mounted ammeter. If you want a voltmeter stashed out there under the hood somewhere just for monitoring the voltage while you're working on it, that would be a simple 2-wire hookup- - - -power and ground.
Jerry