electric component?

Question

im installing an amp meter in my car. i tapped into the ignition wire because i couldnt get into the ignition fuse. everytime i attach the positive and negative to the battery. the fuse blows from the wire that is tap into the ignition wire. and im only getting electric current from the negative wire nothing from the positive. everytime i touch the negative with the wire it melts onto the battery. what causes the fuse to blow and what causes the negative wire to only get electric current and not the positive? any help will be appreciated. thankyou

Answer 1

An ammeter has to be in series. It sounds like your connection is in parallel like a volt meter.

Answer 2

Your current should flow THROUGH the meter not across it. If u connect pos from the battery to pos on the meter, and neg from battery to neg on the meter, it will blow every time. Positive should come in one side of the meter and wire should run out the other side to wherever the circuit runs to.. It should be in a series circuit between the battery and something else, Not parallel.

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Answer 3

As above, your ammeter should be wired in series with the load.

Leave it alone or have someone else do it. I have first hand experience of being in a vehicle where suddenly everything stops working because the "handyman electrician" that wired in the ammeter did a poor job and the connection fell apart.

Answer 4

An amp meter IS A DEAD SHORT.

Disconnect the positive wire from the battery, connect the positive wire of the amp meter to the positive connection on the battery. Connect the negative wire from the amp meter to the wire you took off of the battery. Done.

The amp meter had better be able to handle at least 100 amperes, if not, it won't work.

Answer 5

could it be you have it wired incorrectly? try swapping your leads.