Wire Melt Down

[Hyperlite]

I own a 68 Camaro and have aftermarket gauges above the console. They are oil pressure, amps, and oil. I installed the amp guage from positive directly to the fuse box and grounded the negative. However, the posite wire begines to smoke and melt when I engage the key. It melts, i cant figure it out. It has a good ground to the chassis. Any suggestions?

[myclone]

From the sounds of it you connected to + wire on the gauge directly to a +12v source in the fuse box and grounded the - wire on the gauge. Correct? If so you then you have it connected in parallel with the +/- like you would a voltage gauge and the amp gauge is a dead short.

An amp guage needs to be in series in the circuit where as a volt meter is connected in parallel.

[Hyperlite]

So where should I put the positive wire? What exactly should i do about the promblem. Thank you

[myclone]

So where should I put the positive wire? What exactly should i do about the promblem. Thank you

What are you trying to measure the amperage draw of? Are you wanting to measure the output of the alt while charging the battery or do you want to measure some other circuits current draw?

Lets assume you are wanting to measure the alternators output to the battery then you will need to install the amp meter between the alt and the battery connected in series with the + on the alternators output and the - going to the batteries + side (yes, the - off of the meter connects to the + of the battery).

Here is an excellent thread on series/parallel circuits since I am pretty lousy at explaining things in written text.
https://www.pro-touring.com/forum/sh...light=parallel

[Hyperlite]

Thanks for your advice, i want to measure average amprage drawn by the car. Directions say to hook the positive to a 12v source of the fuse box, this is why i cant understand why the wire melts. Any suggestions

[myclone]

Directions say to hook the positive to a 12v source of the fuse box, this is why i cant understand why the wire melts. Any suggestions

Just to make absolutely sure you have an amp gauge not a voltage gauge? The reason I ask is that from the statement above the directions are telling you the proper way to connect a voltage gauge.

None the less if you are wanting to measure the current draw of the electrical system of the car you need to install the amp gauge in series on the main power feed from the battery between the fuse box and the battery (assuming the main feed to the fuse box comes off the battery. If its the alternator then install it between the alt and fuse box on the main feed in series.

After cutting the main feed that goes from the batt (or alt) to the fuse panel connect the + wire of the gauge to the + side of the battand the - of the gauge to the main feed wire going to the fuse panel. This puts the amp gauge in series between the fuse panel and its feed and the amp gauge will read what the amp draw is for the entire electrical system of the vehicle (assuming all of the electrical components are powered off the fuse panel).

Hope that helps and my apologies for what may very well be a confusing explanation. I can show someone pretty easily but putting it in written text so someone can understand it seems to be a challenge for me.