GOLD85

i just purchess an old SUN ammeter and i notice it only goes to 45 amps. dont altenators put out over 45 amps so this would leave the gauge peged at 45.Also why does it have a negative 45 amp on it to. I bought this because it maches my oil pressure, coolent temp and Super Tach 2, and i cant stand having miss match gauges. pleas explane this to me, thanx

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when the green flag drops the bull$hit stops

Curent: 350,performer RPM intake ,650dp, 700r4, headers, 3inch exhast
Spring 01: 406, Comp 282 solid cam, 2400 stall converter, every thing else the same.

R.I.P #3

[This message has been edited by GOLD85 (edited April 11, 2001).]

Tim Burgess

An ammeter is meant to be installed between the battery (positive terminal) and the load (the car's electrical system, including the alternator output, but not including the starter. It's job it to indicate which direction current is flowing in to or out of the battery. If the meter reads positive, the battery is being charged, and if it reads negative, the battery is being discharged. +/- 45 amperes is an adequate scale because the meter reads only battery charge & discharge current, not the current that the alternator is sourcing to the car's electrical system. You may want to consider using a volt meter instead of an ammeter, since an ammeter requires heavy gauge wire connected to remote locations, and may require rewiring the alternator to battery connection, since the alternator output must be tied to the 3 or 4 fusible links that power the car's electrical system and one leg of teh ammeter. A volt meter gives an indication of the operation of the charging system by showing the system voltage level. If the voltage is in the 13 to 14 volt range, the alternator is charging the battery, and if it is below that voltage range, the battery is being discharged. A volt meter, in comparison, is easily connected to any hot in run electrical source in the passenger compartment using small gauge wire.

Tim