Fiat Ammeter Question

[TJC]

Here's a pic of my IP with the VDO voltmeter (on the left. I reshuffled the gauges for my own asthetic reasons):

http://s2.photobucket.com/albums/y12/tj ... rument.jpg

[baltobernie]

That's an interesting layout TJ, because the upper-right instrument is the least-visible (at least in my car). I'd think the oil pressure gauge is the most important, and that's where you put it. And the fuel gauge, swinging to and fro, is the one I look at last, and you've got that in the middle!

Let's have "TonyFromJersey" and "FlyingThere" weigh in on the "instrument scan" ...

[pope]

Bernie, we have a thing called the Detroit Lean, so the gauges you think we can't see are the ones we can see best.

Detroit Lean
Driving with the left hand high on the wheel and the right shoulder dropped low. Mentioned in the Pretender's hit "Brass in Pocket".
"Been drivin'... Detroit leanin'..."

[TJC]

Yes, I've grown to love this version of the classic pose we called the guido slouch in my hometown of Brooklyn, NY (best suited for Monte Carlos, Camaros, and my 1977 Chevy Crapice Classic). I'm glad to see it in practice everyday in the Motor City. The Brooklyn (and Queens) version, however, situates your elbow out the window while driving with your left thumb and index finger and your right arm over and behind the passenger side of a bench seat.

Actually, since this pic was taken, I installed the voltmeter in the center and put the fuel gauge back in its rightful place. Therefore, the only gauge not in it's original location is the oil pressure gauge (and, of course, the clock). But, I use the voltmeter more than than the oil pressure gauge anyway. As with many old cars that sit for long periods, I think the charging system is probably taxed the heaviest. Besides, right now my motor runs like a top (thanks Jon) and only infrequent glances over to the "oil side" of my IP need to be undertaken.

[mdrburchette]

Looks good. Now tell me how you hooked the thing up! Is it something a non-mechanically inclined person can do...namely me?

[baltobernie]

Red to +, black to -
Anywhere ther's voltage, hon.

[mbouse]

i put mine on the pink wire for the coil. then i know when the coil should be getting juice, and it is keyed so the meter does not suck down valuable electrons while in storage.

course, just any ground is adequate.

[racydave]

Non-mechanically inclined? No, thats a load! You could out-wrench most guys I know! And your cars prove it! I bet you hustle pool for beer money too!

[mbouse]

Non-mechanically inclined? No, thats a load! You could out-wrench most guys I know! And your cars prove it! I bet you hustle pool for beer money too!

naaah... most guys just buy the beer for her. saves time that way.

[TJC]

Looks good. Now tell me how you hooked the thing up! Is it something a non-mechanically inclined person can do...namely me?

Hey Denise,
I wanted the voltmeter to be switched, of course, but I also wanted a measurement of voltage that was fairly representative of what was being supplied between the alternator and battery.

The pink wire that emanates from the switched terminal 15 on the ignition switch powers terminal 9 on the fuse box. Terminal 9 powers the un-fused terminal 10 and fused terminals I & L. Now, fuse L happens to power the field wiring on the alternator and also has a free piggy-back connector next to it on the fuse box that you can connect a positive lead to the voltmeter (the negative goes to any ground available).

The voltmeter will now read the voltage directly applied from the battery (through the ignition switch) to the alternator. In addition, your voltmeter circuit will be protected with the alternator field wiring's 8A fuse.

If you take a gander at Bradley Artigue's excellent color wiring diagram for the '69-'73 Spider, you'll see what I mean.

Note: You must also piggy-back a lead from one of your other instrument's backlight lead in order to power the backlight of the voltmeter with the lighting and rheostat control.

[mdrburchette]

Okay, I see fuse L powers the orange wire going to the external voltage regulator and since I've bypassed that, I can use that terminal. Thanks! That all makes sense!

Dave, Mike's right. The guys just bypass any hustling and buy me beer...but I do play a mean game of poker!