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Old 04-29-2004, 02:47 PM   #1
ghitch75
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factory amp gauge wiring?

i have a 75 3/4 ton 4x4 it has a factory amp gauge and the wires for it are 16 gauge with a fuse link in both with 30amp fuses in them...i know wire and amp loads( i work with them everyday) and i can't understand how this could have ever worked without melting the wires in to!!!....i wired to the # 2 wire off the alt to power and it drains the bat down and i know what it dose that.....then i tryed running it though the main power feed to the fuse box and it won't let the truck start( wire to small)...so i'm at a loss on what to do next...anyone seen this before?
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Old 04-29-2004, 04:10 PM   #2
NeCrOmAnCeR
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The ammeter on our trucks was not a "true" ammeter in the sense you are thinking. The movement was designed to be used with a shunt. In essence, the gauge is measuring the voltage drop across the shunt, which carries the current used by the electrics of the truck. This is why the wires are so small, the current through them is extremely small.
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Old 04-29-2004, 04:16 PM   #3
DrMaserati
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The 16 gauge wire works without melting becasue it is not carrying all of the amperage it is indicating. It's only a gauge to indicate how much current is SOMEWHERE ELSE. The charging current isn't routed through the gauge. It could probably be wired with 24 gauge and work just fine.

What to do next? Rewire it the way the factory had it. It worked that way for 30 years.
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Old 04-30-2004, 02:11 PM   #4
ghitch75
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but that is what i'm asking when the guy before me pulled the motor they cut every wire under the hood i have everything else wired right but it.....so i ask how is it wired?....(i wired to the # 2 wire off the alt to power and it drains the bat down and i know what it dose that.....then i tryed running it though the main power feed to the fuse box and it won't let the truck start wire to small...so i'm at a loss on what to do next.)<from above post
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Old 04-30-2004, 08:49 PM   #5
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How do you have the alt and starter wires connected now?? Using some sort of original harness or your own wiring?
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Old 05-01-2004, 09:30 AM   #6
ghitch75
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a little of both
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Old 05-01-2004, 11:56 AM   #7
NeCrOmAnCeR
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Where exactly did the previous owner cut the stock harness?
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Old 05-03-2004, 07:56 AM   #8
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they had cut it at the end of the wire loom on the firewall just over the left side valve cover(if your facing it from the hood). the 2 wires going to the gauge one is soild black and the other is black with a white stripe...anyone know how this is to be wired?
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Old 05-05-2004, 09:21 AM   #9
ghitch75
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ok anyone have a manual that would show this or where i can get one?
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Old 05-15-2004, 02:16 AM   #10
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anybody see this or just me?!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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