My Willys 3A and 3B Community
TECH FAQ SECTIONS => Electrical Systems => Topic started by: Tumbleweed on January 06, 2015, 10:34:38 AM
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When converting to 12V alternator is it necessary to change the amp guage to a volt guage? Reason I ask is that I read somewhere that you have to reverse the connections on the amp guage so it reads properly when charging - and I already purchased the amp guage. I have given up looking for a 12V generator at a reasonable price.
Thanks,
George
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No need to change the amp gauge to a volt gauge. It all works the same way on 6 or 12 volts. The only issue you need to consider is that the alternator output could be higher than the maximum ammeter capacity. Then you would need a different ammeter to handle the higher current.
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Amp meter with a Generator
Volt meter with an Alternator
Will give you the most useful info on what the unit is doing.
You will never see an amp meter in vehicle that came stock with an Alternator.
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Vehicles with Alternators did sometimes come with ammeters, AMC were doing this into the 80s. They are just showing the battery circuit is charging, which is a little bit hit or miss with generators.
Whether or not you want to keep it is debatable, the way it is wired is to take the power cable into the meter and out the other side. In a short circuit under the instrument panel this makes full battery power available to the fire and puuuuf.
Voltmeters can be wired a lot more safely and are just as informative.
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I just stumbled on this yesterday and found it an interesting comment on this issue:
http://www.autometer.com/resources/index/faq_view/id/18