Can you use the factory ammeter with a 1 wire alternator? If not what are may options? I'm rebuilding my 289 in my 1966 and want to put a 1 wire alternator in.

 

I did. One lead to the back of the alternator and one lead to the battery lead on the solenoid.

However changing over to a voltmeter is a better way to monitor your charging condition. installing an additional voltmeter, or changing out the one in the gage cluster helps.

 

I installed a a single wire from summit. it was quite easy. my ameter works buti willl be adding a new voltmeter to it.

 

You need to be really careful here! The factory ammeter is limited in the amperage it can take and many one wires can produce between 100 and 140 amps. All of the electrical demand will flow through the gauge and if you are using an electric fan, electric fuel pump, a/c, aftermarket stereo, etc. you will exceed the capacity of the gague. Enough to fry the ammeter and some of the surrounding components.

 

I'm all stock as far as electrical. I'm looking at a 140 amp alternator.

 

Are you saying to hook up an extra volt gauge or swap out ammeter with something.

 

I have to say what Fakesnakes said one more time, Be careful!!

For an ammeter to work properly ALL power traveling to an from the battery must pass through the ammeter. (ALL power except starter load anyway)

Since all power must travel through the gauge, a wire must travel from the battery to one side of the ammeter, then two wires must run from the other side of the ammeter, one to the alternator, the other to supply the entire power needs of your car.

If any part of the circuit is rated at less than the highest charge or discharge your car or alternator is capable of producing then the circuit is inadequate, a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link. Perhaps the stock ammeter has enough excess capacity to supply 140 amps engineered into it, but I would not bet my car on it...

In any case, even if the ammeter is sufficient on it's own, the wireing needed to make this into a safe circuit is going to need to be a lot bigger than the stock wiring especially considering the length of the circuit when compared to the length needed for a simple 1 wire hookup.

If it were me, there is no way I would want to use an ammeter on any car that is not a "concours correct" car, especially one with with an 80+ amp alternator. Remember, an under sized circuit not only causes reliability issues but it also is a very real fire hazzard as well.

There is a reason that ammeters have not been used by any factory car in many years (besides the price advantages of installing a voltmeter), they are an electrical hazzard more pronounced with the ever increasing electrical load of modern cars.

The original buyer of your Mustang did not get a buggy whip with his purchase, and he should not have gotten an ammeter either.... it's use should have stopped in 1965 when Ford ditched the generator in the Mustang....

My advice is when you install the one wire alternator install it with a short properly sized wire directly to the battery and then just PRETEND that the ammeter works in both directions....

 

Well I will discounect the ammeter then. do I have to discounect it at the back of the gauge or will it be discounected when I remove the old regulator and wiring?

 

Someone posted this diagram for me a year back when I was upgrading my electrical stuff.

 

Great diagram, my ammeter does not work so its time to swap it for a volt meter. Who sells one with the fit and appearence of the stocker?

Thanks