Maxima Man

I just got a ampmeter today and I was trying to find out how to hook it up but without much luck so I came to the trusted .org !

I need to know what wire to tap into ...


I am under the asumption that I need to tap the positive wire that runs from the battery to the alternator ....??..

Thanks for the help!

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

You mean voltmeter....

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....r+installation

Maxima Man

No........ sorry........... I ment what I said green max

I already have a voltmeter too but I also want to hook up the amp-meter!

Does anyone know how?

Thanks

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

Never heard of it..

Maxima Man

I don't want to sound rude but Are you kidding go look on your digital volt meter it has a amp reading mode but this is just a analog version of that

I thought for sure everyone had heard of one!?!

Thanks I think....?

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

You mean this?


If so,why are you wanting to hook up one to your car???

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

how many amps does the gauge read up to?
if it's the normal 60, then DO NOT INSTALL it.

gdmaxse

iTrader: (1)

voltmeter in parallel with what you are testing, ampmeter in series with what you are testing


so whatever circuit you want to test disconnect it and connect it thru the ampmeter

you are going to want a pretty strong ampmeter between the battery and alternator, thats like 600 amps or something

Maxima Man

Try + - 60 not 600...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

Should be 90 amps +-

eric93SE

iTrader: (1)

yeah, most in-line ammeters don't go up to 60+ amps. I have a clamp-on ammeter that goes up to 600A (hall effect) doesn't require tapping into the wire.

eric93SE

iTrader: (1)

What is it that your trying to do? If you want to know if you alternator is putting out enough power, I would suggest turning on the head lights, high beams, rear defroster, then connect the volt meter up to the battery and check to see that the voltage is still above 14V. That will tell you that the alt is able to keep up with the power demand. If it dips below 12V, then something is wrong (alt or batt).

Maxima Man

I found a voltage gauge and a Amp meter gauge at Advanced Auto on the clearance rack for 10.00 so I bought them because they are a good name brand.

I have hooked them both up and the amp meters deflection is extremly small it is a + - 60 gauge full deflection but the gauge only deflects + - 1 amp

I have it hooked up to the positive side of the alt and the other wire is hooked to the positive side of the battery

Is that hooked up corectly ??? It barley moves at all only visible movment is when the engine is started.... I thought it would deflect more

Aren't the maxs alternators 30 Amps ??

Thanks Guys

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

Ricer!



j/k I actually like the gauge pod look...Gives it that space shuttle look..

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

you didn't read the other posts did you

Maxima Man

cant you input something usefull instead of meanness

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

Settle down beavis....


If you wouldPLEASE! explain this AMPMETER! thing trying to accomplish,we could probably help you better..

Maxima Man

What is it about slow current drain or charge that your battery recieves that you don't understand? All a Amp meter shows is if power is being drained from your battery or power is being put into your battery from your alternator.

I am sorry green max if I was unclear initially !

I just need conframation that I am hooking the gauge up correctly

I have one wire going to the pos. side of the alt. and the other wire is going to the pos. side of the bat.

Do you think I should make this a switched gauge or will it not draw any power?

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

http://forums.maxima.org/showpost.ph...7&postcount=10
error, reading comprehension not found

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

I'm having an off week...

Must be the holidays..

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

I was refering to him.
As I posted earlier the Ammeter is designed for use on 60amp alternators MAXIMUM.
the maxima has a minimum 90 amp alternator.

he is ignoring the facts that have been in front of him since the 28th when I told him not to use it.

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

Oh..

Told ya i was having an off week..

internetautomar

iTrader: (30)

Lay off the green green

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

Naw...I'm a beer/whiskey man....

LvR

From your previous posts it would seem you have it connected right but since the meter shows little or no deflection I will bet you have used new wires from the meter right to the alt and batt and have not actually "removed" that nice fat red cable running from the alt to the batt ...................... net result is THAT old red cable carries close to all the current going to/from the battery and is effectively "bypassing" the purpose of the "amp-meter"

That meter (if you really-really want it installed) must be connected in the cable running between the alt and the batt and there must be no other cables running between the same connections the ammeter is connected to.

May I add an additional warning:

If my thoughts are correct, you have used a way to small guage of wire for the purpose (if you used the proper thickness of wire you would have seen a much bigger deflection on the meter even though it had the old red cable in parallel) .................... serious risk of fire apart from the fact that you have effectively screwed-up proper control of the alt/batt on your charging system too.

Maxima Man

Ok I am understanding now thanks the last post was extremly helpful!!

I have to take the original positive cable that leads from the bat to the alt off and replace it with another cable that leads from the pos side of alt to the gauge and the other wire would be connected to the pos. battery post I understand now I think .........

But it seems that my amp meter is to small for the maxs alt is there a way to not recieve all the amps the alt puts out (like I was doing before wrongly)

Thanks Guys for helping me through this!!

Yes I can read all your comments but I just hadn't put them all together correctly!!

Maxima Man

So what is a 60 amp meter used in anyway if it is to small for cars alts.?

NineOhSE

not all alternators are 90 amps, so the meter does work for some cars...
also, arent meters that measure amps called ammeters, not amp meters?

Greeny

iTrader: (43)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-I...03757757QQrdZ1

Maxima Man

Yes they are called ammeters but I didn't want to confuse the issue!!

Good edit..!!

CandiMan

iTrader: (1)

Now that you have the correct concept on how to properly install an ammeter, let me say I wouldn't install "that" ammeter between the alt and battery.

The 60amp meter you got from the parts store was probably intended for small load items like stereos, auxilary driving lights, etc. Look at the OEM wire gauge between the alt and battery, then look at the wire gauge on the ammeter you got from the parts store. Do you think the ammeter wire gauge can carry the same load?

If you really want to install a ammeter here are a few options on eBay, from the classic ricer meter to a better quality meter.

Ricer meter
http://cgi.ebay.com/200A-dc-Green-Le...QQcmdZViewItem

Mid grade meter
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Better quality amp and voltage meter
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DIGIT...02618058QQrdZ1

Maxima Man

Ok I am not going to install that ammeter thanks for clearing things up

You know what your talking about candiman !!

I was looking at the mid grade option for display size reasons !!

Thanks