Converting to 12V, Amp or Volt Gauge

[V8COOPMAN]

"If you suddenly run 100 amps through a 'hard-wired' amp gauge rated at say 60 amps, you may end-up with a VERY HOT (FIRE) amp gauge."
What do you mean by hard wired? Do you mean an ammeter with two connections? The ammeter in my 35 works through inductance, ie, the wire passes through a loop at back of gauge. Reads + or - 30 amps. So, if I suddenly put 100 amps through it [doubtful, as my alternator doesn't put that much out, but if I fed 100 amps through that meter, it would/could catch fire? Really?
Coop, I'm not trying to be a wise guy, please elaborate....

Brian....You have never come-across to ME as being a wise guy....on the contrary! Perhaps I came-across as a little over-dramatic, but let me try again. I have READ instances for years now of guys with an OLD, low amp rated ammeter with two connections getting into a situation of modifying these old used cars, as many of us have, like adding a 60 amp alternator, for instance. Stuff happens, and next thing you know, the old amp guage is smokin', or worse, and someone is scrambling to unhook the battery. "paul2748" and "bobH" in posts #19 & 20 above tell the story better than I did. My point was that you stand almost no chance of running into the same situation with one wire going to a grounded VOLT meter. And volt meters just offer more usable information than an amp gauge that tells you little more than which direction the electrons might be flowing.

Coop

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