60 Amp Ammeter?

Tom Wesenberg said:
Jim, the only problem now is that it's hard to know what charge is going into the battery, because at some times most of the indicated amps are flowing to other circuits.
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Technically you are correct, but it has never been a problem. My ammeter sits at zero most of the time (if the A/C is off). It shows about 10 amps of charge right after starting but that quickly drops to zero.

The only things I have on the circuit that pull current backwards through the ammeter are the A/C condenser fan and the compressor clutch. I know exactly where the ammeter needle falls for them when the A/C is on. Anything more or less than that is going to the battery. And any time the compressor cycles off, the ammeter drops to zero again. I could spot a problem during that time, if there was one.

It really does work out well.
 
Kurt in NJ said:
Another way to use the original ammeter for higher amperage is to add a shunt(an xtra wire between the ammeter terminals), by choosing different wire for the shunt the reading can be double, or even triple the indicated reading.
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You are correct. As long as you have wire in your wiring harness that is heavy enough for the high current load you plan to put through the meter+shunt, you are good. Otherwise you will spring a leak and let all the smoke out of the wire.
 
Dog:cool: here, GEEZ! What went wrong with reading comprehension skills? The good man ONLY wanted to know of an AMMMENMETER that would FIT! He's already made up his mind he WANTS one!:D
Oh well! guess it doesn't hurt to do a lil' repetition on AMMERENMETERS 101 & related whys & wherefores & shunts????,etc. (But better than the motor oil thread, I fell asleep & Bill beat me to BED!:eek:) Buster T.:cool:
 
Bottom Line Mike K... KEEP The Original Ford Model A 20A ammeter that came with the Model A, weather you have an alt or gen, air, halogen, fog lights yada yada yada....
 
msmaron said:
Bottom Line Mike K... KEEP The Original Ford Model A 20A ammeter that came with the Model A, weather you have an alt or gen, air, halogen, fog lights yada yada yada....
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As Debbie's mother says to me- Hakn a tshaynik
 
Let me start by saying that you will probably never need a 60 amp ammeter. If you really do you can solve the problem with a jumper wire across the the ammeter to take one half of the current (if you have a 30 amp ammeter) or two thirds of the current (if you have a 20 amp ammeter). Depending upon your wiring you can probably install the jumper wire at the junction box on the firewall where there is more room. You might need to experiment with the length of wire necessary to obtain the same resistance as the ammeter (which is very low). Now all you need to do is remember that the amps shown on the ammeter is 1/2 or 1/3 of the actual amps.

Charlie Stephens
 
Jim/TX said:
I have this same situation (even have the driving lights).

I split the power feed for my A/C to reduce the draw through the ammeter. I took power for the inside fan and driving lights directly from the alternator and I took power for the outside condenser fan and the compressor clutch from the battery cable post on the starter switch.

It all works without ******* a 30 amp ammeter. (You can't use a 20 amp meter, though.)

It took me a bit of thinking to make this all work out. I was headed down the "60 amp ammeter" path at first myself. That's a lot of power, requires heavy wire. :D
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I have a simular set up, and I use a 20 amp meter with no problem.
 
Jordan said:
I have a simular set up, and I use a 20 amp meter with no problem.
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True, it will work, but you will sometimes put the needle out of sight when you draw over 20 amps. Not a problem if you are OK with that. It stays in sight with a 30 amp meter.
 
Jim/TX said:
True, it will work, but you will sometimes put the needle out of sight when you draw over 20 amps. Not a problem if you are OK with that. It stays in sight with a 30 amp meter.
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I was kind of worried about that at first, but I've never seen it peg, even with AC on and lights on at night. It might not be very accurate.
 
kingbee said:
Does anyone know if there's a 60 amp ammeter THAT WILL FIT IN OUR INSTRUMENT PANEL?
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Now that we've thoroughly thrashed the point that a 60A meter is not needed, to answer your question, here is one, less than $10. Its 2", for a Ford tractor.LINK

I put this in the same category as rodding a car and putting in a 240 MPH speedometer.
ford_tractor_ammeter_gauge_60amg_3586big.jpg
 
As Jim/TX says ( I have an alt set-up) After starting it shows a slight charge and then settles down to about 0 and stays there.
Paul in CT


MikeK: You mean if I have a 240MPH speedo the car won't go that fast??
Paul
 
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I guess I am curious about something. I grew up in Texas, ...and attended many Model-A tours around the state during my youth. No one during the 60's - early 80's felt they needed A/C on their restored Model-A to participate or enjoy a club function. So why now?

As I attend Model-A events around the country, I see very few attendees (percentage-wise) that feel the need for A/C yet it would appear many in 'Tejas' club members seemingly feel they must modify their restored Model-A to include air conditioning.

I suppose my reason for even questioning this is it seems (based on all my Facebook friends from down there) many folks down there ride motorcycles w/o air conditioning, and many have mowers &/or tractors they use without any air conditioning, --or have boats, or 4x4s, or 4-wheelers without air and no one modifies them to include air conditioning. I also have friends who ride their horses on trail rides or attend outdoor sporting events and evidently they all participate without being in A/C.

Now granted one might say that many hobbyists are becoming of an age where they must have A/C to participate with their Model-A, ...and maybe that is fact however maybe a compelling argument could be stated where the age group of the typical Model-A hobbyist is probably not any older than what the typical Model-T hobbyist is, and Model-T hobbyists tour all day long in their cars without A/C being retrofitted. I see the same thing with the AACA and HCCA hobbyists touring with their vintage iron so if they can do it, then why not the A-ers? Maybe I am missing something else?? :o
 
Brent in ten u sea ,maybe its hotter now than back then when you were in Tx. I used to not have any AC but now its a very welcomed , my Model A is really uncomfortable during the hot summer.When I can afford to its gonna get AC 'ed. I rode my horse, fished in my boat ,slept in non ac years ago too. Maybe I'm jut a ***** in my old age ,but what ever trips your trigger is great ,just sayin . one great thing tho I can enjoy my A in the winter down here with out a heater in it .
 
When I was 17 I wanted desperately to get an aftermarket AC kit for my car. My dad said: "Ya got APV, use it." Roll down the window, hang yer elbow over the sill. Arm Pit Ventilation.
 
My air conditioning in the Model A is : 2 by 55

Two windows down, go 55

Personally, I find that on a hot summer day in Colorado (100+), the Model A was O.K. and other cars needed the air conditioning.

Part of the reason is the "wind wings" that allow the windows down without lots of air in your face, and the other is a connection to the past where driving in a car was a big deal and the hot temperature was easy to tolerate since you had motion !

Maybe heat in a Model A, but never air conditioning.

Marc
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C said:
Now granted one might say that many hobbyists are becoming of an age where they must have A/C to participate with their Model-A, ...and maybe that is fact however maybe a compelling argument could be stated where the age group of the typical Model-A hobbyist is probably not any older than what the typical Model-T hobbyist is, and Model-T hobbyists tour all day long in their cars without A/C being retrofitted. I see the same thing with the AACA and HCCA hobbyists touring with their vintage iron so if they can do it, then why not the A-ers? Maybe I am missing something else?? :o
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To continue the hijacking of the thread,

What's the matter Brent have you not read the posts here on this forum, 12 volts, A/C, Alternators, juice brakes, halogen lights, vega steering boxes, panard bars, tube shocks, over drives, inserted bearings, etc are NEEDED to tour with a Model A get with it man!!!
 
BRENT in 10-uh-C said:
I guess I am curious about something. I grew up in Texas, ...and attended many Model-A tours around the state during my youth. No one during the 60's - early 80's felt they needed A/C on their restored Model-A to participate or enjoy a club function. So why now?

As I attend Model-A events around the country, I see very few attendees (percentage-wise) that feel the need for A/C yet it would appear many in 'Tejas' club members seemingly feel they must modify their restored Model-A to include air conditioning.

I suppose my reason for even questioning this is it seems (based on all my Facebook friends from down there) many folks down there ride motorcycles w/o air conditioning, and many have mowers &/or tractors they use without any air conditioning, --or have boats, or 4x4s, or 4-wheelers without air and no one modifies them to include air conditioning. I also have friends who ride their horses on trail rides or attend outdoor sporting events and evidently they all participate without being in A/C.

Now granted one might say that many hobbyists are becoming of an age where they must have A/C to participate with their Model-A, ...and maybe that is fact however maybe a compelling argument could be stated where the age group of the typical Model-A hobbyist is probably not any older than what the typical Model-T hobbyist is, and Model-T hobbyists tour all day long in their cars without A/C being retrofitted. I see the same thing with the AACA and HCCA hobbyists touring with their vintage iron so if they can do it, then why not the A-ers? Maybe I am missing something else?? :o
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Well I for one don't just use my car for tours. I drive it several times a week all around & to work and such. When it's around 100* four months of the year, and it doesn't really cool off until October and is hot again by April, it really improves the drivability of the car. I don't want to show up to work or wherever I'm going drenched in sweat. And I would guess a lot of people buy them now because their's actually a very good kit available from Ken Davis at a very reasonable price. This wasn't available in the 60's or early 80's.

I think it's a little ridiculous to mention that 4 wheelers, mowers & motorcycles, ect don't have AC's since you can't even put an AC on those, or else I'm sure someone would have figured out how to do so by now.

I would guess Model T people don't have AC's because they don't drive as much as Model A people. I know several Model T people who trailer their cars to meets or anywhere that requires any driving distance just because they're not as drivable as a Model A. The people who have AC's in their A's are the people that drive them everywhere, not trailer.

I guess the main reason I have for putting an AC in my car is because I wanted it :):eek:
 
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