Mo questions Rich.
I replaced my ammeter today with a volt meter so I don't need that additional orange high current wire running up there. So back near the starter I cut the large orange wire that was going non stop from the alternator to the ammeter and put some shrink tubing on it. As we discussed, I should now just connect that orange to the main starter lug.
Up front I poked around with my meter and verified that in fact, the large orange wire changed to white on the other side of the under dash plug. That white used to go to the ammeter along with 3 fused reds that fed the switch, the main red from the harness/Bat and large ground. I should only need power and ground to the volt meter, correct? Obviously I need power for everything else AND I think the Main Red Battery wire should be fused. My plan is to put in a heavier duty terminal block and run the mains there, then branch out. I dislike all that daisy chaining but may not be able to get away from all of it. Depends on the terminal block I end up getting.
So my questions are buried in my ramblings. Guess what I am asking is:
1. I should cut the orange from the now fused alternator and attach directly to the starter?
2. The large white wire under the dash should now be useless? You mentioned before that the orange and white might be one in the same. I see what you mean now.
3. Volt meter should just require a (smaller gauge) hot and ground (and power for the light)?
4. What would you recommend the main power feed be fused at?
As it stands now, the switches are all that are fused. Blower motor-10 amps, Bilge pump-15 amps and lights-20 amps
When I get things more cleaned up, I'll need to verify the current wires at the ignition switch need to stay the way they are or if I can clean them up. Actually I just looked at my sketch, the old main that was on the ammeter used to feed the ignition switch so I'll have to change that and supply power from whatever terminal block I get.
Anything sound wrong?
