BUSY BOLTERS Are you one?  The Shop Area
continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.
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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 117 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 117 | I tried searching this but it kept giving me information about the temp gauge instead of the amp gauge. I have a 350 in my 65 with electronic ignition and a one wire alternator. How do I get my amp gauge to work? | | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | the ignition has nothing to do with the ammeter, the alternator output goes to the battery via the gauge, if it's wired correctly [shown in your shop manual], and doesn't work, you likely have a bad gauge
Bill | | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,321 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,321 |
Harold
Is a restoration ever finished? | | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 117 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 117 | Thanks guys. I think I can get it working now. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 207 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 207 | Bronco,
It would be a good idea to put a fuse in that circuit also. Probably a 3A or a 5A fuse.
Tom
1965 Chevy C10, 230 straight six, 2WD, 4-speed manual
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 Cruising in the Passing Lane | | Cruising in the Passing Lane Joined: Feb 2002 Posts: 12,029 | a 5amp fuse in the alternator circuit will leave you without alternator output the first time you turn on the headlights, or most anything else, do not fuse the alternator, do make sure all other circuits are individually fused with the proper size fuses
Bill | | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 207 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 207 | The ammeter is most likely connected thru a "shunted" circuit that does not carry the full load of the alternator. The ammeter is just reading charge and discharge not the full amperage of the alternator output. The shunted circuit is a parallel circuit to the actual charging circuit, it will tell you whether it is charging or discharging without having the full current passing through it. The fuses will protect the gauge and your vehicle in case the main charging circuit gets disconnected and all the current then is ran through your gauge.
Tom
1965 Chevy C10, 230 straight six, 2WD, 4-speed manual
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 207 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2010 Posts: 207 | Bronco, If your truck is the '65 chevy like mine the ammeter is NOT a full flow ammeter. Here is a really good link with diagrams and explanations. http://www.shiftworks.com/flash/amp-gauge.swf I would fuse both wires like they recommend in the link, could save you a fire.
Tom
1965 Chevy C10, 230 straight six, 2WD, 4-speed manual
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 117 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 117 | Thanks for all the input. Here is the deal. Someone must of had this set up in it before I got it because the wire harness on the drivers inner fender did not have the wires that went to the original alternator or a voltage regulator. So I am just wanting a fire proof way of wiring up the amp gauge so it works for the one wire alternator on it now. | | |
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