Ammeter doesn't show discharge with lights on

[Hioridge]

The ammeter on my 30 RHD Phaeton doesn't show discharge when I turn on the lights whether the car is running or not. It show charge of about 10-12 amps a road speed. There is only one wire,yellow/black, hooked to the cutout. The cutout is a rectangular box,about 1"x2"x1".
Something must be incorrectly wired ( I didn't do it!) Help!

 

[Bob C]

There should be three wires at the cutout. One going to the junction box(which I
think you have), one to the horn and one to the light switch.

Bob

 

[Patrick L.]

A quick search here should provide a wiring diagram.

 

[mshmodela]

http://www.webjunk.com/modela/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/wiring-diagramcolor2sm.jpg

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

It sounds like someone may have connect the lights to the starter switch instead of the cutout.
At the starter switch the ammeter would be bypassed.

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

It sounds like someone may have connect the lights to the starter switch instead of the cutout.
At the starter switch the ammeter would be bypassed.

Though NOT CORRECT, that would result in somewhat BRIGHTER lights.
Bill W.

 

[Blessyouboys]

Though NOT CORRECT, that would result in somewhat BRIGHTER lights.
Bill W.

Why is Tom's answer incorrect?

 

[Bob C]

I don't think he is saying Tom's answer is wrong but the way the car is
wired is wrong.

Bob

 

[Tom Wesenberg]

Though NOT CORRECT, that would result in somewhat BRIGHTER lights.
Bill W.

Light brightness was never mentioned, and wasn't part of the question, but yes, it might make the lights a hair brighter because it bypasses the ammeter and a few feet of wire.

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Down in the DEEP DARK woods, people did a lot of "off the wall" things, to get BRIGHTER LIGHTS!---Heavier wire, shorter wiring, headlight relays, etc.
MANY folks would NOT EVEN travel at NIGHT! It was common, to have a car that didn't even have working LIGHTS! MANY didn't have the skills to repair them, or MONEY to pay someone to fix them. Chief once traded a light repairing job, for a 1/2 grown HOG! I tole you I wuz OLD.
Bill W.

 

[Blessyouboys]

Down in the DEEP DARK woods, people did a lot of "off the wall" things, to get BRIGHTER LIGHTS!---Heavier wire, shorter wiring, headlight relays, etc.
MANY folks would NOT EVEN travel at NIGHT! It was common, to have a car that didn't even have working LIGHTS! MANY didn't have the skills to repair them, or MONEY to pay someone to fix them. Chief once traded a light repairing job, for a 1/2 grown HOG! I tole you I wuz OLD.
Bill W.

Did their ammeter show a discharge?

 

[SeaSlugs]

Down in the DEEP DARK woods, people did a lot of "off the wall" things, to get BRIGHTER LIGHTS!---Heavier wire, shorter wiring, headlight relays, etc..[/B]
Bill W.

This still holds true to cars up until about early 2000's. my 95 s10 saw a huge improvement over running 14ga wiring directly off the battery and using the old 18-20 ga headlight wires to drive relays. bypasses about 12 feet of wiring, wear and tear on headlight switch, and brighter lights.

after about 2000 every car already used a relay in the fusepannel under the hood and very little gain is noticed.

 

[redmodelt]

By the way, you should cut back the output from your generator unless you drive lots of short trips with your lights on, even then it might be a bit high.

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Did their ammeter show a discharge?

Depending on what they cobbled up, probably some DID & some DID NOT. Most "probably" didn't care, as long as it started every morning. My first Model A didn't even have a needle on the AMMETER, when I first got it! Found one from an OLD tractor
Bill W.