Accesory amp gauge

Hudsonrules
Hudsonrules Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
:confused:Iintend to install an under dash amp gauge on my '49 Hudson Super "6". Because the electrical system is positive ground, do I wire the hot wire from the regulator to the negative side on the amp gauge, or wire the hot to the positve terminal? Thanks in advance, Arnie in Nevada

Comments

  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    That should do it OK, but if you find it reads backward (shows charging when it should show discharging), just swap the connections at the meter. It won't hurt it if you accidentally connect it in reverse. For what it's worth, I don't think it's a good idea to add an ammeter to a 6v car, as you're adding several feet of wire to the main power circuit, which is just going to increase the voltage loss in a system that's already pretty sensitive to losses via bad connections, etc. I think it better to add a voltmeter instead, which doesn't aggravate that situation.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Couldn't you solve (or lessen) any voltage loss problem by installing heavier wire from regulator to ammeter to starter/battery?

    BN
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I agree with Park, I usually install volt meters rather than amp meters. A volt meter tells you right away how much voltage is going to the battery and whether or not you are charging.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    Personally I prefer an amp meter, as you can monitor the electrical system much better. I have these on both my Hornet and Jet. It's no problem with suitable heavy wiring and good connections. In any case you need a relay for the headlights, which are the biggest load by far. You don't get a reading fromt he ammeter when the headlights are on and the engine not running, but whilst driving with the lights on the ammeter will show about a 15 amp charge with the battery full. However, the scale of the ammeter is important to be able to monitor properly. Most of the accessory gauges today are of 60 amp scale to cope with 12 volt alternators, which don't give you a very good indication. I prefer the older 30 amp scale, which give a more easily readable needle.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Remember, folks, that when the system is wired the traditional way, the ammeter shows what's going into or out of the battery. It does not show the total current coming out of the generator or current going to loads other than the battery. Exceptions are loads connected directly to the battery, such as the power wire to a headlight relay, as Geoff mentions.
  • Park_W
    Park_W Senior Contributor
    Geoff, maybe one of these days we'll find a nice 50A ammeter with an external shunt, so the wires into the "cockpit" gauge can be non load-carrying.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    One has to be aware that 60 year old electrical gear has to be treated with respect. For instance, you don't expect to have the heater blower on full, the radio playing, and the headlights on as well. By 1954 the amperage rating of the generator and regulator was capable of handling it, but before that it was marginal. One has to be careful that if you are using a replacment regulator that you don't have the maximum current setting beyond what the generator can safely poke out.

    The advantage of an ammeter over a volt meter is that you can monitor things slightly better. For instance, if the battery is getting towards it's use-by date, the regulator will keep trying to stuff more current in, and show a heavy charge rate constantly. If you have a volt meter, it will still show 7.2 volts (or whatever the regulator is adjusted to), but not the current. Just my personal preference. However, there is no disputing that for fault indication, a dash light is still the best - you will notice it coming on, but you probably won't see an oil gauge or ammeter, until something gives out. I pumped all the oil out of my Essex once, and melted a con rod bearing, because the oil gauge pipe was cracked at the pump. If a light had come on, I would have noticed, but as it was I was on a long trip, and only occasionally glanced at the gauges. Enough waffling.
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