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on a 3dr 
An ammeter measures flow of current, which basically means that all the electrics you want to measure current draw on have to run through the guage......which then also means your guage has to be sufficiently large enough to handle the current or you'll fry it....
If you just want to measure charging amps then it has to go inline on the alternator cable. But if your current draw from all the electrics is greater than what the alternator can supply, you will get the impression it is charging cos the guage will read 90 amps but if the rest of the car is drawing 110 amps, then the battery has to make up this deficit and thus goes flat if you know what I mean...
If you just want to measure charging amps then it has to go inline on the alternator cable. But if your current draw from all the electrics is greater than what the alternator can supply, you will get the impression it is charging cos the guage will read 90 amps but if the rest of the car is drawing 110 amps, then the battery has to make up this deficit and thus goes flat if you know what I mean...
In the dash board? 
Depends if you want to measure current draw or charge rate...if it's charge rate then it needs to be inline on the alternator cable and will have to be able to measure up to about 120 amps...
If you want to measure current draw then you could either have the ignition feed running through it or the 3 fused links at the battery. You must NOT run starting current through it though or it will be a molten mess stuck to your dash....
I personnaly would only use the ammeter to measure charging amps then you know when the alternator is charging. It would be more useful than current draw as you won't know there is a problem until you end up on the hard shoulder. If you want to know if your alternator is up to the job and can supply enough amps to cover all the electrics then just check it with an inductive clamp meter with everything switched on. I have an inductive clamp meter if you want it checking...
It also makes me wonder how many cossies out there have had an alternator refurbed and have ended up with a 60 amp regulator in it instead of the standard 90. I have seen this a few times....
Depends if you want to measure current draw or charge rate...if it's charge rate then it needs to be inline on the alternator cable and will have to be able to measure up to about 120 amps...
If you want to measure current draw then you could either have the ignition feed running through it or the 3 fused links at the battery. You must NOT run starting current through it though or it will be a molten mess stuck to your dash....
I personnaly would only use the ammeter to measure charging amps then you know when the alternator is charging. It would be more useful than current draw as you won't know there is a problem until you end up on the hard shoulder. If you want to know if your alternator is up to the job and can supply enough amps to cover all the electrics then just check it with an inductive clamp meter with everything switched on. I have an inductive clamp meter if you want it checking...
It also makes me wonder how many cossies out there have had an alternator refurbed and have ended up with a 60 amp regulator in it instead of the standard 90. I have seen this a few times....
My 2 cents worth....
Dont fit an ammeter AT ALL
Because.....
1) The length of cables will only drop the charging voltage/current.
2) The cables need to be alot thicker as they have to carry all the
vehicles power (or charging power if wired as only an alternator monitor)
3) Cables need to be as short as possible.
4) Can cause fires in car if incorrectly fitted or wires are shorted.
5) If ammeter is not high quality, it will drop the voltage too much accros it.
A voltmeter will always work just as well showing what is going on.
Plus it is easier to install.
Dont fit an ammeter AT ALL
Because.....
1) The length of cables will only drop the charging voltage/current.
2) The cables need to be alot thicker as they have to carry all the
vehicles power (or charging power if wired as only an alternator monitor)
3) Cables need to be as short as possible.
4) Can cause fires in car if incorrectly fitted or wires are shorted.
5) If ammeter is not high quality, it will drop the voltage too much accros it.
A voltmeter will always work just as well showing what is going on.
Plus it is easier to install.
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Not sure whereabouts in Blackpool but you should be able to get them from from Ribblesdale Auto Electrics in Preston, Leyland Auto Electrical on Walton Summit......off the top of my head...
Originally Posted by SECS
My 2 cents worth....
Dont fit an ammeter AT ALL
Because.....
1) The length of cables will only drop the charging voltage/current.
2) The cables need to be alot thicker as they have to carry all the vehicles power (or charging power if wired as only an alternator monitor)
3) Cables need to be as short as possible.
4) Can cause fires in car if incorrectly fitted or wires are shorted.
5) If ammeter is not high quality, it will drop the voltage too much accros it.
A voltmeter will always work just as well showing what is going on.
Plus it is easier to install.
Dont fit an ammeter AT ALL
Because.....
1) The length of cables will only drop the charging voltage/current.
2) The cables need to be alot thicker as they have to carry all the vehicles power (or charging power if wired as only an alternator monitor)
3) Cables need to be as short as possible.
4) Can cause fires in car if incorrectly fitted or wires are shorted.
5) If ammeter is not high quality, it will drop the voltage too much accros it.
A voltmeter will always work just as well showing what is going on.
Plus it is easier to install.
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