Wiring on generator.....

banjoman09 · Aug 22, 2017

Well Im back - hope you all enjoyed the "Eclipse"...if you watched it. I just watched a video on "Utube" that said - hook the "battery wire from the VR to the positive side of the amp gauge... any thoughts?

roy prins · Aug 22, 2017

Yep -- should be ok

banjoman09 · Aug 22, 2017

I was in the understanding that the VR battery wire goes to "L" side of amp gauge?

Steve@Advance · Aug 22, 2017

I've never been real clear as to which side of the amp gauge is the right side.

But the BAT wire from the regulator, and all the accessory feeds go to one side of the amp gauge, the other side of the amp gauge goes to the battery.

After connecting, turn on some accessory, lights, ignition, whatever. The needle should swing toward the - side.

Start the engine, rev it up, if it's charging it will go to the + side.

If backward, switch the connections.

John T · Aug 22, 2017

BAT terminal on VR wires to the LOAD (NOT battery) side of ammeter. Same side of ammeter that can wire to loads like lights and ignition while the other SUPPLY side of ammeter connects to the hot battery post perhaps where the big cable wires to a starter switch or solenoid input. If its a 4 terminal VR loads wire to its L terminal instead of load side of ammeter.

ARM/GEN on VR to gennys ARM post
FLD on VR to gennys FLD post

John T

John T · Aug 22, 2017

Regardless if POS or NEG ground, the ammeter has a SUPPLY side which gets to battery often where the big cable wires to starter switch or solenoids input........The other LOAD side wires to BAT on a VR PLUS feeds loads like lights and ignition. If its a 4 terminal VR loads instead connect to the VR's LOAD terminal.

John T

banjoman09 · Aug 22, 2017

okee.....yes...I just posted this because on UTUBE the guy has a video that says the VR -batt wire goes to "+"side of amp gauge; John T says not. I think I better start with a "new" Genny...thanks all of you.

JMOR · Aug 22, 2017

(quoted from post at 22:37:48 08/22/17) okee.....yes...I just posted this because on UTUBE the guy has a video that says the VR -batt wire goes to "+"side of amp gauge; John T says not. I think I better start with a "new" Genny...thanks all of you.

unny! With all the "answers" no one ever questioned whether a pos ground or negative ground. Now if you never ID the ammeter as having a pos & neg terminal, it does not matter, but ammeters are usually marked +/-.

Janicholson · Aug 22, 2017

Change the wires to 10 gauge!!!!! first. The markings on amp gauges are not standardized because they often get used on equipment with either positive or negative ground. They are easily tested by hooking them to the non ground battery terminal and a headlight bulb to ground if correct, it will show discharge (toward negative draining of the battery) not negative polarity. The positive (plus mark) on the face is also not a polarity indicator, but an indicator of electricity charging the battery. Jim

John M · Aug 23, 2017

One word - Hitachi.

BarnyardEngineering · Aug 23, 2017

JMOR I don't know what your problem is. None of the answers are "incorrect." Some may be clearer than others, but they are all correct depending on the circumstances.

I've seen ammeters marked + and -.

I've seen ammeters with no markings at all.

Can't say as I've seen ammeters marked with an L, but apparently such things exist.

Suffice it to say, all ammeters are NOT MARKED THE SAME.

The only 100%, will-always-work method of hooking up an ammeter is to just hook it up and test it, then switch the wires if it read backwards, per Steve@Advance.

James Howell · Aug 23, 2017

"[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]<font color="#6699ff">hook the "battery wire from the VR to the positive side of the amp gauge... any thoughts?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>"

Hope this helps.

banjoman09 · Aug 23, 2017

yes thanks! and this is how I have it- with new wires....but my "Arm" post is not hot when running.

banjoman09 · Aug 23, 2017

yes sir!

JMOR · Aug 23, 2017

(quoted from post at 08:05:08 08/23/17) JMOR I don't know what your problem is. None of the answers are "incorrect." Some may be clearer than others, but they are all correct depending on the circumstances.

I've seen ammeters marked + and -.

I've seen ammeters with no markings at all.

Can't say as I've seen ammeters marked with an L, but apparently such things exist.

Suffice it to say, all ammeters are NOT MARKED THE SAME.

The only 100%, will-always-work method of hooking up an ammeter is to just hook it up and test it, then switch the wires if it read backwards, per Steve@Advance.

see no problem here. Who said any were 'incorrect'....wasn't me. I know how to do it right the first time, even with an old inductive gauge, but trial & error will usually get one there if that is what they need to do. I just don't like to redo a just finished job.

banjoman09 · Aug 23, 2017

To all of you - it is Positive ground- doesn't matter now its junk! I will get a new one; and to let you know the back of my "new" amp meter reads: Bat /L on the two posts. Thanks.

banjoman09 · Aug 23, 2017

To Mr Jim....the "re-wire" is done...10g...now I will look for another generator - thanks!

Wiring on generator.....

banjoman09

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roy prins

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John T

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