alternator upgrade and gauge help
Yep. The weak point in Mopar systems is that they ran the huge charging wire through the bulkhead connector TWICE, the ammeter can develop bad connections, not only just the wire connections but actually IN the ammeter, and in fact the "in harness splice" has failed in a number of cars
Read this article:
http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/amp-gauges.shtml
which came from here:
http://www.madelectrical.com/
The simplified diagram shows where PART of voltage drop problems are
What they do NOT show is potential (no pun intended!!) drops in the IGNITION CIRCUIT
In the diagram down the page, find the "welded splice". (This is taped up in the under-dash harness) where it says "to ignition switch". FROM THERE it goes through the switch, out the bulkhead on the dark blue "IGN run" wire
So the voltage drop you can have in the ignition supply buss (follow the diagram) is:
From the battery -- fuse link -- bulkhead connector -- ammeter circuit -- (not shown) -- ignition switch connector -- through the switch -- back out the switch connector -- back out the bulkhead on the dark blue IGN wire
So for higher current situations, ESPECIALLY if you are adding larger stereo, electric pumps, fans, etc,
Bypass the ammeter
Convert to voltmeter
Run relays on the headlights
Run relay for the IGN system / charging system
Run relay for fuel pump
Run relay for cooling fan(s)
If you are not "restore perfect" you can run wiring "straight through" the bulkhead connector for the large conductors, at least.