new wiring kit - old gauges
- Thread starter mojave450rider
- Start date
Dealbreaker74
Member
Lots of good stuff if you search "kwik wire." here's a sample, but I'd read up on as much as possible to avoid mistakes.
Good luck and post pics.
http://www.forums.IHPartsAmerica.com/electrical-tech/3200-kwik-wire-rosetta-stone.html
Good luck and post pics.
http://www.forums.IHPartsAmerica.com/electrical-tech/3200-kwik-wire-rosetta-stone.html
mojave450rider
Member
Awesome thanks !!!! I got lucky with this junkyard gauge find ...
mojave450rider
Member
Ok so I have a question regarding the ammeter connections...the #16 starter battery lug wire connects to the starter battery lug . Then up to the positive side of the ammeter gauge? Correct? Where does the negative come from that connects to the ammeter negative terminal?
Scoutboy74
Moderator
There is no negative terminal on the gauge. They are both +. The gauge is just a current bridge.
mojave450rider
Member
So um both terminal connections go back to the starter? Sorry I'm not good with electrical...
Scoutboy74
Moderator
No, it goes to the alternator.
Dealbreaker74
Member
The "-" side of the ammeter also sends Current to the fuse box. This is the main feed to run the truck. Make sure that wire goes here too. If the battery draws a lot of current, the needle will swing "-" if the alternator is charging the batt, the needle swings "+".
The "+" and "-" signs on the back of the meter make it confusing. Do not ground the "-" side of the ammeter!
The "+" and "-" signs on the back of the meter make it confusing. Do not ground the "-" side of the ammeter!
mojave450rider
Member
Ok so one originates from the starter and the other originates from the alternator? Is that correct? And does the wire connect to the stud on the alternator? And it does need to be at least 10ga wire or is bigger better? In the kwikwire instructions it shows a jumper wire on the GM style alternator that the wire from the fuse panel goes to the stud pole and jumps up to the connector on the top with the exciter wire plug into is that necessary still?
Last edited:
Dealbreaker74
Member
The kw kit doesn't come ready to use the ammeter. So you have to improvise some. Look at the pdf. It maps out the changes/additions I made. By splicing wire #16 and running the "+" post to the starter lug and letting the "-" post continue to the fuse box gives you an indication of the load placed on the battery. I didn't run the alternator wire (#15) through the ammeter though. It originates at the fuse box, and goes straight to the lug on the alternator. I thought about tying this wire to the "-" post too, but the kw docs don't show where the wires go once in the fuse box. I didn't want to melt anything, so I left it the way kw designed it.
If you try to use bigger wire, you'll have to take the fuse box apart and replace it. I have had no problems the way it is. But if it came with 8 gauge wire, I wouldn't complain.
And yes, you'll need to wire the alternator the way the kit spells out. No matter what you do with the ammeter, all the wires are needed.
If you try to use bigger wire, you'll have to take the fuse box apart and replace it. I have had no problems the way it is. But if it came with 8 gauge wire, I wouldn't complain.
And yes, you'll need to wire the alternator the way the kit spells out. No matter what you do with the ammeter, all the wires are needed.