Hi all,
Apart from having trouble working out how to post this (new topic?) on the revamped Forum site …
I’m wanting to rig up an (analogue?.. retro +/ - 12A) ammeter … to keep an eye on the state of the whole electric system, … and would love to have someone explain simply where the 2 (unmarked ammeter terminal) wires connect into the (much altered) wiring on a '93 Cali 3… ??
Any pointers gratefully appreciated … thanks.
On old bikes it was fairly common and was inserted in the single wire between battery and everything else. That way it would show positive when charging and negative when battery is supplying the current. For an electric start bike, make sure the starter motor cable is still connected to the battery terminal as normal, not on the other side of the meter!
Note on the old big blocks with the Bosch alternator the output could be a maximum of 20 Amps, I’m assuming a 1993 Cali has the same or similar, so is something to bear in mind. Also the fuses tended to all be 16A, again too much for a 12A meter if there was a short circuit.
As Mike says - Main feed out from the battery - Can be a bit awkward to make that work - have you considered a voltmeter instead - will pretty much tell you what you need to know and is much easier to splice in anywhere in the wiring.
Hi Guys, … (Steve & Mike) … Thanks for your input on this ammeter business, … Hmm, … After reading your advice, … I’m now afraid that I’m trying to do something stupid ?
Unfortunately I’m stuck with the 12A meter (due to the small 40mm dia housing I’ve had machined) … and it would seem that the alternator I’ve got installed (in my '93 Cali 3) seems to be a ‘Ducati’ version … Which according to DR’s ‘Guzziology’ bible is going to put out maybe 25 A at full ( 5-6K) revs? … Yikes! … so my +/- 12A meter may end up getting fried? …
If I knew what I was doing I might try to put a fuse (15A ?) in line before the ammeter? … but from what I’m hearing about where to connect … all the wires from the battery (excluding heavy duty starter motor lead) … are going to be on the far side of the ammeter fuse … so everything will cut out should the fuse blow?
Hmm … Maybe running with dipped lights on will allow me to get away with it?
Perhaps I should check all this out with an auto electrician before I connect up!
Ho Hum …
Apparently tractor ones are 40mm … I found this … 30 - 0 - 30A, 40mm …
That’s what I would do. 
Or, Google: ‘30-0-30a ammeter tractor’ - or even ‘20-0-20a ammeter’ I got more matches that way.
Maybe you could get a 40mm voltmeter that would fit your housing? A safer bet and works well to monitor of the state of the charging system.