amp gauge wiring? HELP!

« **on:** August 13, 2008, 08:28:39 AM »

Ok motors in! running and the amp gauge wasnt working. I went under dash and found a blown 20amp fuse, change it start up, gauge works but fuse blows. now I work on boats for a living! all have volt meters. expeirence says theres a 90 amp fuse @ starter from alt. so I put one in. orange wire goes from rear term block to volt metr, a wire goes from meter to where?

do I put it on the B+ on key switch? I already know it doesnt go to ign on switch (gives constant + to ign, no shut off!) I do rember reading the forum about wiring, dont rember seeing any thing bout amp gauge wiring! Trying to do the holiday here on the delta! will there be too much amperage for the b+ wire at the switch? am I over thinking this?

« **Reply #1 on:** August 13, 2008, 03:35:48 PM »

Quote from: marceldawson70 on August 13, 2008, 08:28:39 AM

Ok motors in! running and the amp gauge wasnt working. I went under dash and found a blown 20amp fuse, change it start up, gauge works but fuse blows. now I work on boats for a living! all have volt meters. expeirence says theres a 90 amp fuse @ starter from alt. so I put one in. orange wire goes from rear term block to volt metr, a wire goes from meter to where? do I put it on the B+ on key switch? I already know it doesnt go to ign on switch (gives constant + to ign, no shut off!) I do rember reading the forum about wiring, dont rember seeing any thing bout amp gauge wiring! Trying to do the holiday here on the delta! will there be too much amperage for the b+ wire at the switch? am I over thinking this?

Ammeters work by the amperage going through them, so there should be an orange wire (heavy guage) from the charge post of the alt. to the ammeter, then from the ammeter's other post, a red wire (same guage) goes back to the main post of the starter solenoid or the battery.

The thing I dislike about ammeter's is the amperage going to charge the battery gets run all the way up the boat and back, but work just fine, if you check the amps and it moves backward, simply reverse the two leads....If it does not charge, check across the amp. guage with an ohmeter, there should be very little resistance (low number).

Good luck...

« **Reply #2 on:** August 13, 2008, 04:03:11 PM »

Like this....

« **Reply #3 on:** August 13, 2008, 07:32:08 PM »

Ok, so does this mean I need to run a wire back to the starter or battery? should I put a fuse or a breaker inline? I kinda rember my old jet had a breaker on the block..

« **Reply #4 on:** August 13, 2008, 09:37:56 PM »

A circuit breaker is Never a bad idea IMO, just make sure it is sized to handle the amperage of the alt..

Most boats wired with an ammeter used a heavy orange and a heavy red, ooh never did that before that was cool, if you only have one red then it is ok to use that but run a continuous wire from the battery to the meter, then a wire from the ammeter to the "batt." terminal of the ign. switch with a separate fuse for the Ign. sw., the ammeter will be taking on all of the amperage generated by the alt...It should work exellent...

Just make sure the ign. switch power comes off the "Batt." side of the ammeter. (Red wire.....)

Let us know how it turns out!

« **Reply #5 on:** August 14, 2008, 07:07:58 AM »

ok it works great!!! Ok so what size fuse for ign switch! say a 20? I think most newer boats have a 10 amp breaker. I'm prob the last one using an amp meter, it matches the other gauges! I have dave at GT boats in fair field going thru his old stock looking for a oil psi gauge, now all I have to do is have someone glass in my fwd seat bases and Im ready for the water!!!!

« **Reply #6 on:** August 14, 2008, 06:28:47 PM »

Sweeet!. I think a 20amp use is a little overkill, but depends what the ignition switch will be running, i.e. stereo, guages, depth guage, bilge pump, etc....

Have fun!

« **Reply #7 on:** August 14, 2008, 06:51:32 PM »

The greatist thing is that you sent a diagram, every time I see one or any thing like it, I print it, label it, put it in a binder, just like at tech school! thanks again!!!!

« **Reply #8 on:** August 14, 2008, 07:59:52 PM »

any idea what rpm I should I expect? my other parts diddnt come so I stuck a stock 460 in with a performer intake and a 750 DP. my friend flaked on me! I'll redo the motor in the winter! my pump is a new(22hrs) ledgend setback style w/ride plate. it used to be a fast hull, I built a motor for it 5years ago used to be able to get 5300-5400 all daylong! far from that right now!! hope I can pull the kids on labor day..

« **Reply #9 on:** August 18, 2008, 03:52:12 PM »

After running the boat for a hour the amp gauge was pegging 50 amps! after cleaning it off I noticed it said motorcraft on it! automotive! I have a alt from a OMC 460 king cobra, I think its a prestolite. I got the boat to tach 5200 at WOT! I have water running in around the steering cable! tightend the large nut but it didnt stop! any sugestions any one? the pump is a ledgend JC-120E with an A impeller..

marceldawson70

amp gauge wiring? HELP!

GT Jets

Re: amp gauge wiring? HELP!

GT Jets

Re: amp gauge wiring? HELP!

marceldawson70

Re: amp gauge wiring? HELP!

GT Jets

Re: amp gauge wiring? HELP!

marceldawson70

Re: amp gauge wiring? HELP!

GT Jets

Re: amp gauge wiring? HELP!

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Re: amp gauge wiring? HELP!

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Re: amp gauge wiring? HELP!

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