Amp guage or voltmeter? (1 Viewer)
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Coolerman
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Both actually. The volt meter can give you a rough estimate of battery capacity left and the amp gauge gives a rough estimate of rate of discharge or charge.
The older amp gauges are a bit dangerous as the wires are large, inside the cab behind the gauge cluster, carry the entire electrical systems current (except the starter) and are NOT FUSED.
Later models used external shunts that kept the large wires out of the cab.
The older amp gauges are a bit dangerous as the wires are large, inside the cab behind the gauge cluster, carry the entire electrical systems current (except the starter) and are NOT FUSED.
Later models used external shunts that kept the large wires out of the cab.
There are a couple good threads on the virtues of one versus the other in the search monster...
I didnt have an ashtray so I put one of each in the ashtray hole...I like having them both...
I didnt have an ashtray so I put one of each in the ashtray hole...I like having them both...
Coolerman
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The volt meter will be super simple to hook up compared to an amp guage.
You don't even have to wire one in. They make several that just plug into the cigar lighter with back-lit LCD displays.
If you want another idiot type light I can dig up a link to a company that makes a light that is green when the voltage is within a definable range, and RED when it is not.
You don't even have to wire one in. They make several that just plug into the cigar lighter with back-lit LCD displays.
If you want another idiot type light I can dig up a link to a company that makes a light that is green when the voltage is within a definable range, and RED when it is not.
Coolerman or anybody else (slighjt hijack, however this should go along with the origional question)
Concerning amp guages, I've changed out my stock alt to a GM CS 130 with just over 100 amp output. I want to change out the stock guage to a 150 amp VDO guage I got. The VDO guage didn't come with a shunt or directions on how to make one/wire one in. I searched and didn't find anything for a shunt (found that VDO quit selling them for the guage). I want an amp guage/shunt that is compatible with the bigger alt and to get rid of that potential problem with the stock heavy amp guage wiring running through the dash wires.
Can you or anybody else help me figure this out? I am not an electronic engineer with all that knowledge about formulas so please give your answers in simple easy to understand terms that this old wood butcher can hopefully decipher.
Thanks to all.
Don
Concerning amp guages, I've changed out my stock alt to a GM CS 130 with just over 100 amp output. I want to change out the stock guage to a 150 amp VDO guage I got. The VDO guage didn't come with a shunt or directions on how to make one/wire one in. I searched and didn't find anything for a shunt (found that VDO quit selling them for the guage). I want an amp guage/shunt that is compatible with the bigger alt and to get rid of that potential problem with the stock heavy amp guage wiring running through the dash wires.
Can you or anybody else help me figure this out? I am not an electronic engineer with all that knowledge about formulas so please give your answers in simple easy to understand terms that this old wood butcher can hopefully decipher.
Thanks to all.
Don
