Rabbie
New member
Being a complete electrical dummy, can anyone tell me how to wire in an ammeter. Leads fitted are red/black/green. Thanx.
Simple ammeter query
- Thread starter Rabbie
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halcyon
Well-known member
What sort of ammeter have you ? and what do the wires connect to ?
Brian
Brian
Rabbie
New member
It was given to me. Can't recall make - its on the boat. The wires just emerge from the rear of the ammeter. I wondered if the green was for a light?.
halcyon
Well-known member
Sounds like a photo job.
As you say green may be light, but then you need a earth somewere,the red and black may be ammeter, but depending on size, they may be fitted to a shunt, or may be power leads. On our standard voltmeter / ammeter units it uses red/black/green cables to interface the shunt, but yours does sound like one.
Afraid you have a simple problem with a load of answers. Try a photo of the back of the meter, may make sense then.
Brian
As you say green may be light, but then you need a earth somewere,the red and black may be ammeter, but depending on size, they may be fitted to a shunt, or may be power leads. On our standard voltmeter / ammeter units it uses red/black/green cables to interface the shunt, but yours does sound like one.
Afraid you have a simple problem with a load of answers. Try a photo of the back of the meter, may make sense then.
Brian
Strathglass
New member
Rabbie
One or two questions.
How thick are the wires out the back?
What is the full scale reading on the ammeter?
If you give those details it will be possible to tell if it needs an external shunt.
Cheers
Iain
One or two questions.
How thick are the wires out the back?
What is the full scale reading on the ammeter?
If you give those details it will be possible to tell if it needs an external shunt.
Cheers
Iain
pampas
New member
If All three are the same size, the the following will work.
1....Red. this needs to be connected to the Alt/dynamo.
2...Black, this one to the battery.
3...green to the boat load. to allow for the dischage to be shown.
This is the usuall way of connecting an ammeter but its unusual to get an ammeter supplied withe the tails already connected
1....Red. this needs to be connected to the Alt/dynamo.
2...Black, this one to the battery.
3...green to the boat load. to allow for the dischage to be shown.
This is the usuall way of connecting an ammeter but its unusual to get an ammeter supplied withe the tails already connected
Rabbie
New member
Thanks for assistance. (Thought this was an easy one!) Will collect the thing from boat this weekend and try again here. Cheers. Rab.
William_H
Well-known member
Rabbie I would suggest that if it has wires then it is probably deigned to operate with a shunt. This is a resistor often a piece of metal between two terminals which must be connected where the current flows. usually the load wire at the battery terminal or switch but not a wire carrying starter current.
A wire will be connected from each side of the shunt to the ampmeter.Fit a small fuse in each leg to the meter near the shunt) Is it digital? if so it will need an earth connection to provide power for the ampmeter. If it is an analogue pointer type they don't need an earth and the spare wire might be a light except the light will need an earth(negative connection) unless the body is to be used as an earth. If the ampmeter is not designed to use a shunt it will have heavy wiring usually 1/4 inch brass screws for terminals rather than wires. If it needs a shunt then you will need a shunt made for the meter.
PM me if you need to make a shunt as it can be done but with fiddling.
PS I find Pampas comments worrying ie find out more before taking his colour code advice (ie don't sound right to me but I may be wrong). We need more info but don't throw it away just yet. regards olewill
A wire will be connected from each side of the shunt to the ampmeter.Fit a small fuse in each leg to the meter near the shunt) Is it digital? if so it will need an earth connection to provide power for the ampmeter. If it is an analogue pointer type they don't need an earth and the spare wire might be a light except the light will need an earth(negative connection) unless the body is to be used as an earth. If the ampmeter is not designed to use a shunt it will have heavy wiring usually 1/4 inch brass screws for terminals rather than wires. If it needs a shunt then you will need a shunt made for the meter.
PM me if you need to make a shunt as it can be done but with fiddling.
PS I find Pampas comments worrying ie find out more before taking his colour code advice (ie don't sound right to me but I may be wrong). We need more info but don't throw it away just yet. regards olewill
oldharry
Well-known member
[ QUOTE ]
PS I find Pampas comments worrying ie find out more before taking his colour code advice (ie don't sound right to me but I may be wrong). We need more info but don't throw it away just yet. regards olewill
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree! Are those wires capable of taking the actual amperage of full load indication on the meter? If so they will be hefty cables, quite difficult to bend. If they are thin 'ordinary' low amperage wires, then you will blow it if you put the full current through without an external shunt to take the current.
PS I find Pampas comments worrying ie find out more before taking his colour code advice (ie don't sound right to me but I may be wrong). We need more info but don't throw it away just yet. regards olewill
[/ QUOTE ]
I agree! Are those wires capable of taking the actual amperage of full load indication on the meter? If so they will be hefty cables, quite difficult to bend. If they are thin 'ordinary' low amperage wires, then you will blow it if you put the full current through without an external shunt to take the current.