The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay see if this wiring is right

first time doing a complete wiring on a vehicle...i am in the engine compartment, wiring my 48 gmc...have wire going from my battery positive post to batt. on ignition switch, then wire from ignition on switch to ballast resistor, then from resistor to positive on coil... then wire from negative on coil to dist., also one wire from alternator to positive post on battery, (12 volt)...don't have any gauges or radio, etc.to hook up , just lights, is wiring ok so far in compartment? forgot starter to battery

Hy 696969, did you want to include the ammeter in you charging circuit? If you do, you need to take the alternator output wire to one terminal of the ammeter and the other ammeter terminal should connect to the battery. Actually one of the ammeter terminals is where most of the electrical loads should be connected, that way the ammeter reading will reflect whether or not the battery is being charged, hope that hopes.

also if you're using a ballast resistor I assume you have a 12V system, in which case you need to bypass the resistor when the starter is in action - normally with the 12V starter, if you've swapped to that, a wire from the side terminal of the 'box' atop the starter to the output side of the resistor would do that ... that wire needs to go thru the ignition switch as well, so the engine can't start without the key on .... if you're still using the 6V starter you'll have to rig another setup to accomplish the bypassing so the coil gets full voltage when cranking

Bill

my system is going to be 12 volts, the only thing that is 6volt is my starter, which they say i can use as long as i don't crank it over for a long time...so how would i wire it using my 6volt starter, i don't know if it makes a difference, but i have the foot button to start the starter, any diagram to go by...

Hy 696969, if you replace the contact switch assembly on the top of your starter with one from a twelve volt starter, it will have a ten gauge terminal sticking out of the side of it. That terminal is where you attach the resistor bypass wire that red58 mentioned, just run a wire from that terminal up to the resistor output terminal as red58 said, hope that helps.

where would i get this contact switch, i look in the catalogs and can't find one...

used is your only choice unless you happen to have an old time auto electric shop nearby that might have one laying around

Bill

thanks for info guys

hy 3b and red38, stii alittle confuse with wiring...not sure if you mean this way...run a wire from positive post to batt. on ignition, then run wire from ign. on ign. sw. to the big nut on foot starter switch.,then a wire from there to ballast, then from ballast to coil...

Starter switch with side terminal (for 12v system).

Available at NAPA.

so i run a 10 gauge wire from side terminal to end of resistor, the same end where wire goes to coil...so do i leave wire going from starter to positive post on battery or take out?

696969 I sent you a private message

thanks joe for the info

Hy 696969, I've been away for a few days. Wire 10ga. from large connection on starter mechanical switch to battery connection on ignition switch. Run wire from ignition terminal on ignition switch to one side of ballast resistor, run two wires from other terminal on ballast resistor, one wire to the distributor, the other wire down to the small terminal on the starter mechanical switch, you have to purchase a new mechanical switch with the small terminal, tclederman posted a link above to the switch available at Napa, hope that helps.

thanks 3b for info., slowly learning the electrial, thanks to you guys...

i kind of worded it wrong... i meant you guys were a big help, and i am slow learning the electrical...

want to run wire from battery to headlight switch, what size inline fuse should i use?

this has been double posted