'75 850-4, how can I wire a volt meter or ammeter in the the system?

[centerline]

I have took the outboard, all the wiring, gauges, trim pump and other components from a donor boat and have installed them into a resurrected hull, and I am nearly finished with the wiring, but before do the final install of the helm/dash, I want to wire in a volt gauge... maybe an ammeter if possible.

there was a volt meter in the door boat, but it had a broken glass, and was poorly connected with scotch locks in to the tachometer light wire, so I cut it out and discarded it.

so is it possible to get a correct voltage reading from the tack light wire?.... is there a better more accurate way of doing it?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Throw the ameter away

 

[Chris1956]

You can get an accurate voltmeter reading from the white wire at the ign switch, or tach connection.

That motor only has a max of 9A charging, and that would be at high RPM. IMO, it is not worth wiring an ammeter into the circuit. You would need to run a wire from the rectifier to the dash and back. Likely you will just blow rectifiers and not get any good info on charging status.

 

[centerline]

You can get an accurate voltmeter reading from the white wire at the ign switch, or tach connection.

That motor only has a max of 9A charging, and that would be at high RPM. IMO, it is not worth wiring an ammeter into the circuit. You would need to run a wire from the rectifier to the dash and back. Likely you will just blow rectifiers and not get any good info on charging status.

when you say the "tach connection", can I come off the positive post on the tach itself?.. or do you mean the tach connection at the engine?....

and, isnt the white wire that goes to the tach light, the same white wire at the ignition switch?


EDIT.... I traced it and the white wires at both locations ARE the same wire.... thanks for the help.

 

[Chris1956]

Yes, the white wire at the tachometer and the ign accessory wire are the same. You can get voltage for your voltmeter at the tach power connection, or at the tach plug on the control unit, if you are not using a tach.

 

[Silvertip]

Or the "I" connection on any other gauge. "I" is the +12 volt power feed to all instruments. The ground terminal on any other gauge will work for the ground connection on the voltmeter. The "L" terminal on any other gauge is the +12 volt feed for the internal light on all the other gauges. Connect the "L" terminal on the voltmeter to the "L" terminal on any other gauge.