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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: 90Stomper on March 13, 2005, 03:06:44 PM

Title: amp tester for new alt?
Post by: 90Stomper on March 13, 2005, 03:06:44 PM

no one i know could think how to do this in the car...?  so i spent the big buck ($7 :D) and bought a amp gauge.  but try as i might i cant get my head around how to wire it in my 90 with 3 wire set up.  the dumb guage only has two wires, a + and -!  how hard can it be.... to much for me i guess.  any advice from anyone that has done this?  i suck at wireing. >:(

Title: Re: amp tester for new alt?
Post by: mrfuelish on March 13, 2005, 03:24:31 PM

You cut the big wire in half and insert the gage, prob the plus on the alt side.

Title: Re: amp tester for new alt?
Post by: 90Stomper on March 14, 2005, 04:50:15 AM

see i did hear somthing like that, but it seemed wrong because i would be cutting an 8g wire to insert a 14g wire in it. ???

Title: Re: amp tester for new alt?
Post by: mrfuelish on March 14, 2005, 06:22:44 AM

If the wires are small on the gauge you may be missing half of it.  check to see if the gauge is a volt meter. try it on a small battery first like a d cell batt.

Title: Re: amp tester for new alt?
Post by: 90Stomper on March 14, 2005, 01:46:44 PM

after rechecking i guess there are no wires, just bolts to hook wires too.  i was looking at the small wires for the light in the guage :-[  but, if i splice into the wire going from the alt to the bat. then i need to run 8g wire from there throught the firewall to the gauge and back.  is that correct?  still seems odd but if that is right i'll do it :o

Title: Re: amp tester for new alt?
Post by: zukizzy on March 15, 2005, 12:15:03 AM

I hate ampmeters you have to run all the power from your alt though it i for it to work right which means 6 to 8 feet of heavy wire for things to rub on and make neat sparks and smoke. plus a voltmeter gives you more useful real time info. I have one in the shop to test alts with but I run volt meters in all the rigs I have.

my .02
Thanks
Wayne

Title: Re: amp tester for new alt?
Post by: mrfuelish on March 15, 2005, 03:57:22 AM

Quote

after rechecking i guess there are no wires, just bolts to hook wires too.  i was looking at the small wires for the light in the guage :-[  but, if i splice into the wire going from the alt to the bat. then i need to run 8g wire from there throught the firewall to the gauge and back.  is that correct?  still seems odd but if that is right i'll do it :o

correct, you can get one with a shunt if you do not want to use yours.

Title: Re: amp tester for new alt?
Post by: 90Stomper on March 15, 2005, 04:11:48 AM

thanks for the good info all!  i will have to think about it for a bit.... :-/