amp meter

[randymartinjr]

so i hooked up my amp meter how everyone siad to and it wont work at all

[fordman]

where is the thread you were told to do that in?

[randymartinjr]

wasent in a thread i just ask at napa and auto zone

[fordman]

there used to be a explanation page on how the ammeter was to be hooked up in our trucks. but i couldnt find it.

from what i can rememebr. there are two wires. for our stock gauges to work. what these two wires do is measure the output between two points in the charging system.

the first wire goes to the large frotn terminal of the stater relay. where the battery hooks up to it.

the second wire goes down abou t6 inches from that. in a wire junction splice.

hooking the wires up that way tells the meter from one wire. how much charge the battery has.

the second wire tells the gauge how much the alt is charging to keep the battery up.

this is the basics of what i know about the stock hook up of the ammeters. it just measures voltage as it is made and or stored in the system. this may or may not be correct for what you have. on aftermarket gauges there will be a third wire for a night time dhas light for the gauge. it will run to the blue wire with the red stripe up under the dash. that wire goes to alot of things. heater bezel radio cigarette lighter and the instrument cluster.

[randymartinjr]

i want they way to see how much charge the battery has and i dont know how to hook it up

[Joshpow]

factory or aftermarket gauge?

[fordman]

follow wires 655 and 654. this is how the factory did it. http://www.fordification.com/tech/wirin ... gauges.jpg

[randymartinjr]

allright thanks

[bluef250]

Do a search for "shunt" on the site. The charge indicator is actually a voltage meter that measures the difference between 2 points on the wire from the alternator. This system has never worked well but Ford used it for years.

[randymartinjr]

? i looked it up is there any schematics?

[Racer Z]

The wire feeds to the amp meter are fused. Two fuses, I think 4 amps each. Near the alternator is an inline fuse holder and near the starter relay is another inline fuse holder. Both feed the amp meter and if either fuse is blown the amp meter won't work.

This thread may shed some light, or not.
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... hilit=+amp

[randymartinjr]

im puting an after market meter in

[1972hiboy]

Thanks for posting that RacerZ I was watching this thread because mine doesnt work either so Im going to go off that information.

[fordman]

im puting an after market meter in

the aftermarket meter company should have instructions that came with the meter or they may have soem help on thier web site. but basically you have to put the wire between two points as the ford diagrams show. that will measure the distance for the meter.

[randymartinjr]

i did what it says and wont work but now my altanator is not charging the battery