Ammeter installation

why not just test the wires when the stuff is running by haveing points that u can connect/disconnect the ammeter when u want.  that way u can see how much juice youre using and to keep the juice flow as high as possible u can just disconnect the ammeter....some amps come with built in ammeters.  I agree with Teken though, it would be worth measuring the alternater if u dont have an ammeter hooked up to that yet...thats more vital.

I'm not really sure how this thread got dragged back to the top, but I have heard a couple of people say to use the shunt method. This is the better way to do it, I don't even know WHAT this "loop" thing is you are talking about. Some of the better meter/shunt combos I have found, and coincidentally the ones I use, are from Datel. That's the link directly to the page for the digital meters, and this will get you right to the shunt resistors. This is to the meter pdf, for all of your technical information is there. Your meter version MUST be a high-side, isolated model, or, unless you have an isolated power supply in you car to power the meter itself, you'll blow it up! The model I went with was the DCA5-20PC-5-DC4-BS. This is the 50mV, 8 to 36 volt, isolated power, blue LED version. Not cheap, at 72.00, but it is useful. Also, everybody seems to mention monitoring the output of your alternator, and this is smart... It is FAR more important to monitor your alternator output. It will allow you to know if your system is being overloaded. I did, and I am glad I did it this way. I can kkep a constant eye on my whaole car's current demands, and I know if I am getting close to the output capabilities of my alternator.It all reminds me of something that Molière once said to Guy de Maupassant at a café in Vienna: "That's nice. You should write it down."