ammeter to voltmeter - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Fred T · 03-25-2005, 10:47 AM

Thinking about replacing the ammeter on my 69. Would like to find a drop-in voltmeter. Any of y'all know where I could get one?

neonlarry · 03-25-2005, 07:09 PM

Try a 73-87 truck. Looks real close, it will take a little work to make it fit. But it will blend right in with the other gauges.

ddsmith · 03-25-2005, 08:24 PM

Why would you want to? I would much rather have an ammeter than a volt meter any day. It tells you right away when something is wrong. I wish all my vehicles had them. Guess they changed over to volt meters because people didn't understand what a ammeter was telling them.

junkyard truck · 03-25-2005, 08:48 PM

If you change the alt. to an internal regulator don't you have to change the amp guage to volt guage unless you do some rewiring to the wiring harness and dash panel ?

ddsmith · 03-25-2005, 11:00 PM

You do not have to change from a ammeter to a volt meter when changing to an internal regulated alternator. Wire the setup like in the FAQ section. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...9&page=1&pp=25 Basically attach two jumper wires at the external regulator plug. Change the alternator field plug to the new style and your home free.

Fred T · 03-25-2005, 11:40 PM

Problem is the meter itself doesn't work. Circuit checks out okay, but the meter is toast. Thought that since I was going to have to replace it, I would put in a volt meter, but couldn't find one. Will stop and pick up a new ammeter then.

ddsmith · 03-26-2005, 01:09 AM

I had the ammeter on my 71 vette stop working. I took it apart and found the wire that is wound around the gage was open. It is basically a setup that the small amount of current flow goes through the wire and causes the needle to move to the right or left based on the direction of flow. The flow creates a magnetic field which causes the needle to move. I removed the solder from the ends of the wire and found a similar size wire. I used 1 strand of a stranded wire. I measure the length and took note of the number of turns on each side of the needle. I coated the single strand of wire with clear lacquer to ensure the current went though the wire and didn't short between turns. I soldered it back to the connectors and it worked great. It is possible that you have other problem but this is the most common. Good luck.

Don

neonlarry · 03-26-2005, 08:56 AM

Personaly I prefer a voltmeter to an ampmeter, to each his own. Did you check the two small fuses in the ampmeter circuit that are under the hood? Also here is a site that has meter repair stuff.
http://www.fix-a-gauge.com/

ddsmith · 03-26-2005, 10:59 AM

"Personaly I prefer a voltmeter to an ampmeter, to each his own."

How true this is. I can pick up a bad diode in an alternator immediately versus waiting for the drop in voltage to tell me. Easier to make it all the way home sometimes. The voltmeter is what people are use to now. I don't think any manufacture puts ammeters in car or truck anymore. I'm an old guy, well sort of old, and ammeters were the meter of choice in the day. I guess I don't like change on some things. Just for reference, I also own a clamp on AC/DC ammeter so I know exactly how much load the whole works is putting on the alternator. Great tool for troubleshooting.

Fred T · 03-27-2005, 02:17 AM

I'll have to pull the ammeter out tomorrow. I have voltage to both sides of the meter, new fuses too.

My opinion on the ammeter vs voltmeter is this. You really need them both. Just knowing how many amps your pushing through a system is not going to tell you if the voltage is high enough. I've had batteries go bad and the ammeter has been pushing out 40 amps, but the voltage has only been 11. And I've had alernators that showed 14+ volts, but they wer not putting out and amps to speak off.

ddsmith · 03-27-2005, 02:04 PM

Hey Fred,
When I rewired my ammeter, I used a 1.5 volt battery to verify it worked correctly prior to reinstallation. Just take a wire from positive on the battery to one side of the ammeter and one from the negative to the other side. The ammeter needle should deflect to one side and if you swap the leads it should go the other way. Good luck.

03-25-2005, 10:47 AM	#1
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	ammeter to voltmeter Thinking about replacing the ammeter on my 69. Would like to find a drop-in voltmeter. Any of y'all know where I could get one? __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

03-25-2005, 07:09 PM	#2
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	Try a 73-87 truck. Looks real close, it will take a little work to make it fit. But it will blend right in with the other gauges. __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

03-25-2005, 08:24 PM	#3
ddsmith Glowing since 1978 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lusby,MD,USA Posts: 532	Why would you want to? I would much rather have an ammeter than a volt meter any day. It tells you right away when something is wrong. I wish all my vehicles had them. Guess they changed over to volt meters because people didn't understand what a ammeter was telling them. __________________ 66 Chevy C30 Stakebody Dump, PS,PB, 327cu in 71 Corvette Coupe 454 4 speed 69 Chevy C20 Custom Camper

03-25-2005, 08:48 PM	#4
junkyard truck Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: edna, texas Posts: 24	If you change the alt. to an internal regulator don't you have to change the amp guage to volt guage unless you do some rewiring to the wiring harness and dash panel ? __________________ 69 chevy short stepside

03-25-2005, 11:00 PM	#5
ddsmith Glowing since 1978 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lusby,MD,USA Posts: 532	You do not have to change from a ammeter to a volt meter when changing to an internal regulated alternator. Wire the setup like in the FAQ section. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...9&page=1&pp=25 Basically attach two jumper wires at the external regulator plug. Change the alternator field plug to the new style and your home free. __________________ 66 Chevy C30 Stakebody Dump, PS,PB, 327cu in 71 Corvette Coupe 454 4 speed 69 Chevy C20 Custom Camper

03-25-2005, 11:40 PM	#6
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	Problem is the meter itself doesn't work. Circuit checks out okay, but the meter is toast. Thought that since I was going to have to replace it, I would put in a volt meter, but couldn't find one. Will stop and pick up a new ammeter then. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine.

03-26-2005, 01:09 AM	#7
ddsmith Glowing since 1978 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lusby,MD,USA Posts: 532	I had the ammeter on my 71 vette stop working. I took it apart and found the wire that is wound around the gage was open. It is basically a setup that the small amount of current flow goes through the wire and causes the needle to move to the right or left based on the direction of flow. The flow creates a magnetic field which causes the needle to move. I removed the solder from the ends of the wire and found a similar size wire. I used 1 strand of a stranded wire. I measure the length and took note of the number of turns on each side of the needle. I coated the single strand of wire with clear lacquer to ensure the current went though the wire and didn't short between turns. I soldered it back to the connectors and it worked great. It is possible that you have other problem but this is the most common. Good luck. Don __________________ 66 Chevy C30 Stakebody Dump, PS,PB, 327cu in 71 Corvette Coupe 454 4 speed 69 Chevy C20 Custom Camper

03-26-2005, 08:56 AM	#8
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	Personaly I prefer a voltmeter to an ampmeter, to each his own. Did you check the two small fuses in the ampmeter circuit that are under the hood? Also here is a site that has meter repair stuff. http://www.fix-a-gauge.com/ __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

03-26-2005, 10:59 AM	#9
ddsmith Glowing since 1978 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lusby,MD,USA Posts: 532	"Personaly I prefer a voltmeter to an ampmeter, to each his own." How true this is. I can pick up a bad diode in an alternator immediately versus waiting for the drop in voltage to tell me. Easier to make it all the way home sometimes. The voltmeter is what people are use to now. I don't think any manufacture puts ammeters in car or truck anymore. I'm an old guy, well sort of old, and ammeters were the meter of choice in the day. I guess I don't like change on some things. Just for reference, I also own a clamp on AC/DC ammeter so I know exactly how much load the whole works is putting on the alternator. Great tool for troubleshooting. __________________ 66 Chevy C30 Stakebody Dump, PS,PB, 327cu in 71 Corvette Coupe 454 4 speed 69 Chevy C20 Custom Camper

03-27-2005, 02:17 AM	#10
Fred T Cantankerous Geezer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bel Aire, KS Posts: 6,264	I'll have to pull the ammeter out tomorrow. I have voltage to both sides of the meter, new fuses too. My opinion on the ammeter vs voltmeter is this. You really need them both. Just knowing how many amps your pushing through a system is not going to tell you if the voltage is high enough. I've had batteries go bad and the ammeter has been pushing out 40 amps, but the voltage has only been 11. And I've had alernators that showed 14+ volts, but they wer not putting out and amps to speak off. __________________ Fred There is no such thing as too much cam...just not enough engine. Last edited by Fred T; 03-27-2005 at 02:19 AM.

03-27-2005, 02:04 PM	#11
ddsmith Glowing since 1978 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Lusby,MD,USA Posts: 532	Hey Fred, When I rewired my ammeter, I used a 1.5 volt battery to verify it worked correctly prior to reinstallation. Just take a wire from positive on the battery to one side of the ammeter and one from the negative to the other side. The ammeter needle should deflect to one side and if you swap the leads it should go the other way. Good luck. __________________ 66 Chevy C30 Stakebody Dump, PS,PB, 327cu in 71 Corvette Coupe 454 4 speed 69 Chevy C20 Custom Camper



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