Topic: Volt Gauge instead of amp gauge
in Forum: C3 Electrical
Already a Member?
Click Here to Login
Not yet a Member?
Click Here to Register for Free!
Since I no longer have the external regulator on the 68, because I went with 120 amp alternator to control the electric fan, and other stuff. My amp gauge is now worthless. Has not worked in years anyway.
I have to get inside the dash to replace the tachometer and basically have the whole dash apart (AGAIN) Did this all many years ago.
So I want to replace the amp gauge with a volt gauge which will look and fit in the gauge cluster and look original and look like it belongs.
Any suggestions?????
I really like this forum, you guys have been so much help to me over the years while working on my 68, and still working.
Thanks too for the Jan. picture of my corvette in your C3 Calendar.
SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)
Looking at the diagram you should be able to use the existing BLK/WHT wire as the + for your volt meter. then add a wire from the voltmeter - to the console ground Black wires. you would not use the old amp gauge black wire it is hot . that would be dead ended and covered because it would be hot (power on it). Hope this makes sense
Lifetime MemberLemon Grove, CA - USA
Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041
Vette(s): 1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.
http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/KeywordSearchCmd?storeId=10001&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&Ntk=all&Jnar=0&itemPerPage=90&Ne=1%2B2%2B3%2B13%2B1147708&searchTerm=volt+gage
This is where I purchased fuel gauge from they have a lot of stuff like that. Hope this helps
Former Member
Send PM
Carson City, NV - USA
Joined: 12/4/2013
Posts: 239
Vette(s): Numbers matching 1972 350 4 speed, silver pewter body with blue interior
I'm thinking its a one wire internally regulated alternator. So your missing the that 3rd hot wire that goes from the alt to the ammeter....but in the big pic, ammeters are known to be fire hazards. You run the full load of available juice through the gauge and it gets toasty. The voltmeter does not need that direct shot from the alt to show what the system voltage is. But I will assume if its very far downstream from the alt it will show degraded volt readings as you loose voltage from each thing wired between it and the alt. I'm no experts so please someone correct me where I'm off because I need to do the same thing.
Dave
Dave
My Christmas present to ME! Bought Sat 11-30-2013. 72, 350 4 spd, Silver with blue interior...Can't you just hear Pablo Cruz playing in the background?
HighDesertDave said: You run the full load of available juice through the gauge and it gets toasty.
That's true of some ammeters, but our Corvettes use a shunt ammeter which really just compares voltage from two different points to infer a current.
I did the full install of white face gauges. I used the pink ignition wire to measure volts. Autometer 2" gauges fit perfectly into the stock cluster with no cutting (up to '76, I think) and look great.
My Dad did black face Autometers in his '69, and they look good as well. He installed a vacuum gauge in place of the clock.
"Let them that don't want none have memories of not gettin' any."
- Brother Dave Gardner
in Forum: C3 Electrical
SPONSOR AD: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)