67 capacitor

[Joseph M.]

Does it matter what side of the ammeter gauge wire connector the capacitor wire goes into? If it does,what side should be used? Also I seem to recall some discussion re frying the ammeter if the battery/power is not done properly? Could anyone clarify/explain. Thanks.

[John H.]

Re: 67 capacitor

Does it matter what side of the ammeter gauge wire connector the capacitor wire goes into? If it does,what side should be used? Also I seem to recall some discussion re frying the ammeter if the battery/power is not done properly? Could anyone clarify/explain. Thanks.

Joe -

No, it doesn't matter, but typically the "flag" on the capacitor wire is on the outboard terminal, as shown in the Assembly Manual.

[Joseph M.]

Re: 67 capacitor

John, thanks for the reply. Any comment on my question re damaging the ammeter?

[Jerry R.]

Re: 67 capacitor

John, thanks for the reply. Any comment on my question re damaging the ammeter?

Joe, ammeters work by sampling a little of the current that is flowing through the main power wire from the battery and converting it to voltage to drive a meter (via Ohm's law). If a dead short is induced at the output side of an ammeter, the range/tolerance of the sensing circuit components can be exceeded - primarily by excessive heat build up (thus frying parts).

It's picking the nit but I'd put the capacitor lead on the output of the ammeter. Check your AIM or schematic for the correct answer, I'm just answering based on RF noise suppression on the far side of the main inductor and any sensing inductor in the ammeter. The battery is also a huge capacitor by itself - thus I'd go to the far side. Believe me, either side should be fine as long as the connection contacts in the meter are clean. _Jerry_

[John H.]

Re: 67 capacitor

John, thanks for the reply. Any comment on my question re damaging the ammeter?

No damage will result; your gauge isn't an "ammeter" - it's simply a sensitive voltmeter (galvanometer). One sensing lead goes to the battery (+) at the cable stud on the starter solenoid, the other sensing lead goes to the (+) screw-terminal buss on the horn relay, and the "battery gauge" reads the voltage difference between those two points (across a shunt wire of known length in the engine harness between those two points) and displays whether current is flowing TO or FROM the battery, with the gauge face graduations roughly approximating amps. The gauge is NOT in series with any current flow.

"Ammeters" were only used on C1's, with the battery (+) connected to one side, and all the vehicle electrical loads connected to the other side, placing the gauge in series with all current flow; this was a dangerous design, and disappeared after 1962.

[Joseph M.]

Re: 67 capacitor

Thank you very much for the information.