TIM 30/30 Ammeter Wiring
tomblyth - 20/5/09 at 02:53 PM
Anyone got a copy of the instructions for this! I've just want to see if they tie in with how I've wired it as I dont think its accurate!
blakep82 - 20/5/09 at 02:57 PM
i think you just put it in series with your charging circuit, between alternator and battery
dan__wright - 20/5/09 at 03:32 PM
you have to put all your load through an emmeter so you wire it:
bat +
|
Meter
|
Load
tomblyth - 20/5/09 at 03:54 PM
wired it like this!
link
britishtrident - 20/5/09 at 04:17 PM
-30--+30 won't be anything like enough range for a modern car.
Ammeter has to go at a point in the circuit where all the current in and out of the battery goes through except the main starter current. Thats a
lot of current an ammeter can be a bit of a fire risk in the event of an accident.
I would advise against fitting an ammeter but instead fitting a battery condition meter (voltmeter) -- much more useful for modern alternator
charging systems.
tomblyth - 27/5/09 at 11:11 AM
I only have 28 amp alternator so 30/30 is all i need! just would like to read original instructions if anyone has them!
wilkingj - 27/5/09 at 12:08 PM
quote:
Originally posted by tomblyth
I only have 28 amp alternator so 30/30 is all i need! just would like to read original instructions if anyone has them!
Errr..NO.
The load from the electrical devices could be more than that!
The 28amp alternator will only deliver a Max of 28 Amps.
Say...If you were out at night, on dip beam, then flashed Hi beam as well, Hit the horn, brakes, wipers on etc etc, you could possibly draw more than
28 amps. Anything not covered by the alternator will be drawn from the battery.
Remember that the battery can supply up to 2-300+ Amps if there is enough load to draw this. (The MAX available power to be drawn is FULL battery
capacity plus the Alternator capacity)
Also dont forget the wiring for the Ammeter needs to be sufficient to carry ALL the load (except the starter motor!) that the car can draw.
Failure to do this could cause a fire, for which an isurance company may not pay out on, if you didnt fit it correctly.
A 30 amp Ammeter needs wire that can carry 30amps continuously, assuming the max load of the car is not more than 30 amps total (excluding the starter
motor).
I like my wiring to be more than sufficient, not barely sufficient. The cost of doing it correctly now, is minimal compared to doing it wrong and
changing it later or even setting fire to your car.
I would temporarily wire in the ammeter (dont even fit in the dash), with the right sized wiring (both sides of the ammeter). Then check what the
meter shows with the headlights on, wipers, brake lights etc etc.
If the ammeter hits the end stop hard and stays there you dont have a big enough ammeter! Hence not fitting until you know you have the right sized
one, both electrically and physically.
Or check with a decent industrial test meter capable of reading at least 30 Amps DC.
Make sure you get this right! (and dont forget the fuses of the correct size and in the correct places to protect the wiring).
Its better you ask, and we argue on here, than you have to sadly write about your car catching fire and how do you fix it!
EDIT:
Also route the wiring carefully. ie gromets through the panels, and insulated or non metalic P clips etc. As the Ammeter is conencted directly to the
battery, it would make a nasty fire should the wiring chafe through.
[Edited on 27/5/09 by wilkingj]
02GF74 - 27/5/09 at 08:48 PM
what BT and W say.
Put it this way, I made a new dash for my Landrover with loads of instruments and have 2 Tim Ameters.
Guess how many I fitted?
(clue: none - for the above reasons).
Bad idea all round..... but if you insist on keeping it, I can take a peek in the boxes to see if there are instructions.
tomblyth - 29/5/09 at 11:04 AM
I only want to keep an eye on the alternator as theres no charge light! so only need it inthe alternator to battery connection!
daviep - 31/5/09 at 12:43 AM
Why not fit a volt meter? Doesn't require any heavy wiring or the associated risks. I know that technically it doesn't show that the
alternator is charging but if you're battery is showing more than 12 volts you can be pretty sure the alternator is charging.