hey all, i just got a smiths amp gauge for my mini. it's got two connectors on the back. while looking at the back they are at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock. does anyone k now which should be the negative and which should be the positive?

thanks,
mike

 

I'm looking at the backs of two of 'em here and both have '+' and '-' embosed on the backs; They also are positive and negative reading (charging and discharging) so if you have one that has no indications on the back by the terminals, you can go ahead and hook it up either way - then observe the needle when the engine's running. If you think it's pointing the wrong way (showing a 'charge' when you think it's 'discharging'), just switch the leads ...

 

thanks 8ball.

 

ok, here's another question for ya... i ust got to installing the guage today. i took some wire and hooked one side to the ground and the other to a hot spot. once i turned on th engine, the wires heated up and started to melt. my buddy who was in the car said that meter read max +30. any ideas?

mike

 

http://www.ime.org.uk/ime/a/ammeters.html

 

VOLT meters go from line to ground.

AMP meters go in line between the battery and the alternator.

Sounds like your amp meter was measuiring the amount of current your battery was capable of delivering to ground as limited by the size of the wires in the path.

Hope you did not burn to many wires.

John