Amp Gauge Wiring

[maxparplus]

I am putting a new wire harness in my 1938 Ford Standard Coupe and in running the cloth protected wire through the back of the Amp gauge I was wondering it I had to strip the coating off of the wire to run it through the wire loop connector on the gauge? Or will it pickup the amperage through the cloth insulation on the wire?

Thanks,
Max

[thirt4]

My 1934 has a bare spot at that contact point and works fine. I don't know if it will pick up amps through that cloth.

[Lawson Cox]

It should pick up amps through the cloth covering.

[51 MERC-CT]

Thru the cloth and rubber/plastic insulation by induction.
If you have a bare spot it's a possible short.

[thirt4]

Probably why mine does not work 100%.

[George49Ford]

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Also, make sure the wire runs the same direction as the old one. Get it backward and your amp gauge will read disch when charging and vice/versa. I know from personal experience.

[OldDad]

That is a large gauge hot wire from the battery, which can potentially short to ground and cause a fire if the insulation is bare or stripped. It does work by inductance through the insulation.

And do change the direction of the wire through the gauge if your ammeter shows discharge instead of charge when you rev the engine.

[maxparplus]

Thanks all for your useful advice

[jwhite1149]

What is the "CORRECT DIRECTION" of the wire? Looking to replace mine as soon as I can find one that works. Can't remember how it was wired.

[Bill OH]

I rewired my 38 Ford and I ran the wire with the insulation undisturbed from the bottom up thru the cage on the ammeter and from there to the terminal block for the fuse or circuit breaker (whichever you are using). After putting the wire thru the ammeter cage you will need to solder the eye terminal on the end of the wire before connecting to the terminal block. DO NOT REMOVED THE INSULATION - ammeter picks up the current by induction thru its cage. Best wishes.

[Lawson Cox]

Originally Posted by Bill OH

I rewired my 38 Ford and I ran the wire with the insulation undisturbed from the bottom up thru the cage on the ammeter and from there to the terminal block for the fuse or circuit breaker (whichever you are using). After putting the wire thru the ammeter cage you will need to solder the eye terminal on the end of the wire before connecting to the terminal block. DO NOT REMOVED THE INSULATION - ammeter picks up the current by induction thru its cage. Best wishes.

Most wiring harnesses have the eye terminal bent in half where it will go through the loop. Simply run it through the loop and straighten the loop out and you are good to go. I also ran my wire up from the bottom, through the loop.

[jwhite1149]

Thanks to Bill and Lawson for the help on rewiring. Now if I had a working ammeter, well you know. Any one have a working 37 ammeter that you you could let go?
Thanks Jim, let me know info, price, etc