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Replacing my Alt dash gauges?
- Thread starter caladin
- Start date
No. Not without rewireing a bunch of stuff.
Since you said two alt gauges, we will assume you are talking about a CUCV. (always helps to tell us what vehicle you are working on)
The CUCV alternators use the idiot lights as part of the excitor circuit. It doesn't draw much amperage. Without the lights, the excitor circuit will not function and the alternators will not "excite" (turn on)
The gauges you listed are designed to go in the output side of the alternator, where all the load is.
Since you said two alt gauges, we will assume you are talking about a CUCV. (always helps to tell us what vehicle you are working on)
The CUCV alternators use the idiot lights as part of the excitor circuit. It doesn't draw much amperage. Without the lights, the excitor circuit will not function and the alternators will not "excite" (turn on)
The gauges you listed are designed to go in the output side of the alternator, where all the load is.
Thanks sorry I forgot to post that it was a blazer. Well that is a bummer. I was hoping it was all wrapped into one. I am looking to replace all the gauges in my dash for a cleaner more practical setup. Back to the drawing board It seems. So what do those lights mean then? I mean if I hook up the other gauges to the load and I have excellant load then would I need an idiot light telling me the alternator is good bad or ?
Mind you Im a electricaly challenged.
Mind you Im a electricaly challenged.
Barrman
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Yes, in theory. The gauges will tell you if the alternators are charging or not. However, if you remove the idiot lights as wired stock, the gauges will always show you no charging is taking place.
The alternator has to be turned on. Since the CUCV trucks have two, both have to be turned on. Turning on a 27SI Delco alternator is as simple as putting 12 volts to the exciter wire or plug on the side of the alternator. The idiot lights on a stock truck are part of that exciter wire circuit. Removing the lights disables the circuit.
Sure, wiring around them and all that could be done. However, why? The truck already has a volt meter that pretty much tells you if an alternator is working or not. Truck running and needle at the top of the yellow = 1 non working alternator. Truck running and needle in the middle of the yellow = two non working alternators. Truck running and needle in the middle of the green = two working alternators.
I would be and actually am more concerned with a temperature gauge, oil psi gauge and a tach. The charging system is pretty much covered.
The alternator has to be turned on. Since the CUCV trucks have two, both have to be turned on. Turning on a 27SI Delco alternator is as simple as putting 12 volts to the exciter wire or plug on the side of the alternator. The idiot lights on a stock truck are part of that exciter wire circuit. Removing the lights disables the circuit.
Sure, wiring around them and all that could be done. However, why? The truck already has a volt meter that pretty much tells you if an alternator is working or not. Truck running and needle at the top of the yellow = 1 non working alternator. Truck running and needle in the middle of the yellow = two non working alternators. Truck running and needle in the middle of the green = two working alternators.
I would be and actually am more concerned with a temperature gauge, oil psi gauge and a tach. The charging system is pretty much covered.
