Ammeter kit...
- Thread starter T76
- Start date
LorbeerTLC
Member
Ammeter Kit: Risky!
In 1977 I bought a 1966 Plymouth Valiant that came with an ammeter right from the factory. I was 17 years old and that was one of the coolest gauges I've ever seen in a car! You could tell when it was charging (needle leaned towards the +), and you could tell when it was discharging (needle leaned towards the -).
From the 1970's to the present day ammeters had all but disappeared and instead came the voltmeter. But it wasn't the same as an ammeter. In 2003, I bought a 1995 Honda delSol VTEC. I also purchased a new ammeter from VDO but I didn't know how to hook it up so I went to a mechanic. That's when I was told it could be dangerous because the ammeter monitors the load straight from and to the battery from the alternator. It requires about the same wire thickness as the ones that connect to your battery "+" post and it goes to your ammeter.
Yeah! That's a lot of juice!
I had to sign a letter stating that if the gauge failed and/or if there was a short that caused damage to the car or bodily injury, the mechanic and the company were not liable. He STRONGLY advised against installing the ammeter!
He also said cars in the early 1960 didn't have the amperage like todays cars and because of this, it wasn't considered as dangerous. But with today's cars, it's just not worth it. He insisted on sticking with a voltmeter because routing such a large cable inside the car and into the dash couldn't guarantee that at some point in time if anything sharp should rub up against the cable and cut through the rubber casing and ground itself... Holy Hanna!opcorn: You get the idea. His message messed with my mind and I saw myself driving a miniature Hindenburg, haha!
So while ammeters are still available... I went with a voltmeter instead.
In 1977 I bought a 1966 Plymouth Valiant that came with an ammeter right from the factory. I was 17 years old and that was one of the coolest gauges I've ever seen in a car! You could tell when it was charging (needle leaned towards the +), and you could tell when it was discharging (needle leaned towards the -).
From the 1970's to the present day ammeters had all but disappeared and instead came the voltmeter. But it wasn't the same as an ammeter. In 2003, I bought a 1995 Honda delSol VTEC. I also purchased a new ammeter from VDO but I didn't know how to hook it up so I went to a mechanic. That's when I was told it could be dangerous because the ammeter monitors the load straight from and to the battery from the alternator. It requires about the same wire thickness as the ones that connect to your battery "+" post and it goes to your ammeter.
Yeah! That's a lot of juice!I had to sign a letter stating that if the gauge failed and/or if there was a short that caused damage to the car or bodily injury, the mechanic and the company were not liable. He STRONGLY advised against installing the ammeter!
He also said cars in the early 1960 didn't have the amperage like todays cars and because of this, it wasn't considered as dangerous. But with today's cars, it's just not worth it. He insisted on sticking with a voltmeter because routing such a large cable inside the car and into the dash couldn't guarantee that at some point in time if anything sharp should rub up against the cable and cut through the rubber casing and ground itself... Holy Hanna!
opcorn: You get the idea. His message messed with my mind and I saw myself driving a miniature Hindenburg, haha!So while ammeters are still available... I went with a voltmeter instead.
Last edited:
carsNskis
New member
Something simple:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00S...5&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=voltmeter+usb
Something handy:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00W...X236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=voltmeter+usb
.....drive it like you still owe the bank money
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00S...5&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=voltmeter+usb
Something handy:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00W...X236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=voltmeter+usb
.....drive it like you still owe the bank money
Ordered rotating one.Thanks.:banana:
