Where to hook up VOLTS gauge ...

mustang90

Founding Member
Feb 8, 2001
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When hooking up a automoeter 2.5" volmeter can I just tap into any power wire in the wire harness? Does the whole electrical system charge at 14.5 volts or is it just at the alternator? I hooked up a 140 amp powermaster altenator and was wondering if I should run the wire for the gauge right to the alternator? I want an accurate reading!
 
You can go off of anything really. In my coupe i hooked it right into the switched power wire of my radio and I get an accuracte reading checking it with a meter right off the battery. You should be good with that or any wire with key-on power

Kevin
 
NOSNotch said:
You can go off of anything really. In my coupe i hooked it right into the switched power wire of my radio and I get an accuracte reading checking it with a meter right off the battery. You should be good with that or any wire with key-on power

Kevin

I agree. You can pull from any of the common spots and get the same voltage reading.
 
agreed again. arguably, with some of the lamer circuits (further from the battery), they see less voltage than the battery terminals do. i like that - i want to know a realistic voltage (if i could find the weakest circuit that was important, i would).

for lighting, you can tap into fuse 13 (IIRC) - the ISO fuse. it is controlled with the dimmer, as the cluster lights are.
good luck.