Thoward7

I know there's probably an answer on here, but I just can't find it. I have a 1965 with a 1966 5 gauge cluster, and I'm in the process of rewiring it with a kwick wire 14 circuit wiring harness (universial). So far everything is going fine but my question is this. I am running a mini 1 wire alternator 60A, and does anyone know how I should hook up my ammeter gauge. The wiring instructions that came with the harness is for wiring a voltmeter and I know most people would prefer changing to a voltmeter, but I really like my factory gauges and already have a couple of gauges mounted on the bottom of the dash (air/fuel,rpm) and I don't want any more. Does anyone know how to go about this, I saw several other people doing this and everyone recommened a voltmeter, but they were all using high amp alternators, so any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks .... Travis

JMD

Welcome to the forum!!!

You can make the ammeter work by wiring through the shunt on the ammeter.

I think you could wire through the original big "hot wire" that went to the voltage regulator (then into the cabin) without much modification. By doing this, all of the load and all of the alternator output would go through the ammeter shunt.

I am not so sure how well the alternator would regulate itself through this long run of wire, but it should do ok. I would for sure use a maxi fuse or a suitable (60 amp) manual reset circuit breaker on both sides of the circuit though. (electrical fires suck)

Also I am not sure how the ammeter will respond to the 60 amp charging load but once again, it should do ok.

Thoward7

At the risk of sounding like an idiot, do you mean one of the studs on the back of the gauge cluster for the ammeter, if so which one red or yellow and what would the other be wired to. I no longer have a big wire to my voltage regulator(replaced all wiring), or external voltage regulator for that matter. So i'm a little confused on what you are trying to say. Thanks

JMD

Sorry, I thought your Mustang used a "shunt", (my 55 Lincoln does), but I see that that it uses two connections, using two small wires. Keep in mind that virtually ALL of the power consumed by the car, and ALL of the energy produced by the alternator has to pass through these two wires.

If the wires that used to go from the cabin to the regulator are no longer present, I would will to look at a schematic to know how to wire everything back in, I don't have any experience with stock Mustang wiring other than stripping it out....

Are the wires still on or near the radiator support?