Thread: Ammeter hookup
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Old 05-16-2020, 05:04 PM   #6
MikeK
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Windy City
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Default Re: Ammeter hookup

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The alternator max output has nothing to do with what shows on the amp gauge! Don't fall into that trap.

The amp gauge ONLY shows what is go in/out of the battery while running. NOT what the alternator is putting into the vehicle electrical system. You could have 1200 watts of baja lights on the roof and an alternator putting out 100 amps to light them, the ammeter would show ZERO if the battery were at full charge and not losing current to an under-supplied load.

If you have a half-charged battery and a 10,000 amp alternator with internal voltage regulation your gauge will only show about 15-18 amps going into the battery to recharge it.

Those aftermarket 30-0-30 ammeters are all garbage. Keep in mind the ammeter is attached to 16 gauge wires and they will smoke in short order if subjected to more than 15 amps or so for an extended period of time. 30 amps will smoke a 16 gauge wire in about two minutes.

Even if you push start with an almost dead battery the alternator will NEVER deliver it's full output to the battery. The amperage through the meter and into the battery is determined by a combination of wiring and internal battery resistance.



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