Customs 12 volt upgrade

I have an electrical wiring question for anyone out there in fattyland.....I converted my '46 Ford coupe to 12 volts and I am ready to wire up my gauges. I have 4 Stewart Warner gauges, fuel, temp. oil pressure and Volt meter. The question is can I connect the amp gauge wire from the harness to the voltage gauge?
Mike

 

You do not want to put all the amps through the voltmeter. The voltmeter shunt is not sized for that. You need to have separate wires for the voltmeter.

 

If you are removing the ammeter, you can simply wire both ammeter wires together to voltmeter + terminal. That way the volt meter gets +12 volts and also functions as a connection block to byp*** the ammeter. Of course the other volt meter terminal goes to ground.

 

The problem with that is it'll power the voltmeter all the time, and could drain the battery if the car sits for any time. Instead, splice the amp gauge wires together and power the voltmeter with the same 12V supply you use for the other gauges.

 

Yes, agreed, the battery voltage is always at the ammeter terminals.