1979 F150 ampmeter install question

[colinlesser]

im wanting to install a ampmeter but the instructions are kind of sketchy, can anyone helpme out with where the POS wire connects to on the system?

[MT-2500]

A volt meter would be a lot simpler to hook up and do just as good.
Unless you have a clamp on wire ampmeter you have to wire everything to run threw a ampmeter to get it to work and with a 97 you would need a ampmeter to carry over a hundred amps.
MT

[colinlesser]

i have a volt meter but i want the ampameter to work simply because it came with a guage cluster and im not one for a dead guage, i have the guage is that all i need?

[MT-2500]

Well you may have a gauge but.
The gauge has to be wired up. And that is where the problem starts.
Every thing will have to be wired threw the gauge.
You have to have a gauge that will carry over 100 amps and also the wiring will have to be heavy enough to carry over a hundred amps.
Take it from there.
MT

[colinlesser]

ok well the needle sits in the middle of the gauges so it doesnt look dead so i guess ill let it be, now i just need to figure out why theres no dash lights

[unclebubbles]

The current from the alt. , has to flow through the ammeter. Hooking the meter anywhere else, will only show the current draw on that circuit. on the 79, Youll have to disconnect the + wire from the alt, run it to the meter, and run a wire from the meter back to the alt. On later models, youll have to tap the harness connector. Use the same size wire thats hooked to the alt now. Mount a circuit breaker or fuse on the firewall, go from it to the meter, then back to the alt. You dont have to do this, but its safer, cause you have full battery / alt output on these wires. If the meter reads backwards, just reverse the wires at the meter. Like MT-2500 said though, a voltmeter is a better indication of whats going on. If the voltage regulator malfunctions, the ammeter can be misleading. It might show a charge, but that could be at 20 or 30 , or more volts!! Alternators are capable of putting out several hundred volts!!! Good luck
Later
Ed
.