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MG MGA - Voltmeter Advice Please

Hello Fellow BBS Participants,
I'm hoping you might help me source a panel-type voltmeter, preferably Smiths or Jaeger, that would look correct in the dash of my 1959 MGA roadster. The PO carved a hole and placed an ammeter there which has the wrong bezel plus I want to replace it to get away from the high current flows through the metal dashboard and firewall. I also want to gain a gauge that will likely provide more useful information. Most of the voltmeters I see on eBay are for later model cars and I don't think would look right. Do you have any suggestions?
Thankss,
Tom Heath
Tom Heath

If you have ammeter current passing through the dashboard it's not wired up correctly. Disconnect the wire from the A terminal on the regulator and connect it between these two points.
Jaeger meters are not very common on Ebay but you should be able to get a 2" Smiths or Lucas one easily enough.
I have a Motometer ammeter on mine but I don't like the fact that it's a German instrument on an English car so I'm on the lookout for a replacement.........................Mike
m.j. moore

I as well have a non standard dash and have a 2" Smiths voltmeter mounted where the speaker grill should be; see attached photo. The Smiths was the closest match that I could find to the original gauges. I replaced the Smiths chrome bezel with one from an extra Jaeger gauge I had, so all the chrome is the same style. I found mine on Ebay; just may need to be patient in your search.


Nick Kopernik

If you are looking for a nice gauge for your MGA, I have a brand new, never used, original lucas ammeter in its original box. I will sell it for £30 plus postage. See attachments.



F. Camilleri

Here's another pic.


F. Camilleri

Hi,


"If you have ammeter current passing through the dashboard it's not wired up correctly."


Got to query that. The whole point of an ammeter is to show current flow from the battery into the car's electrical system.


The only ones that don't pass full battery current are those designed to be used with a shunt, but doubt you'll find one of those in a suitable style to suit the MGA dash.


If correctly installed with suitable grade cable an ammeter is perfectly safe.



Regards Steve.
SR Smith 1

Thanks for all of your suggestions.
F. Camilleri in Malta, I appreciate your kind offer but that gauge is similar to the one I currently have and I am looking for a Voltmeter instead of an Ammeter. I did make a mistake in my first post - the full current to the ammeter passes through the firewall, not the dashboard as well. Thanks to Nick Kopernik - that is what I am looking for and will keep an eye on eBay.
Tom
Tom Heath

Tom, I was on the Moss Motors website looking for some parts and noticed that they are selling a Smiths Voltmeter for $88; its a 2" unit, part #360-975.
Nick Kopernik

Tom, sorry but I only have one Lucas ammeter gauge, it is brand new. I do however, have a volt meter but not a Lucas, it is a Yazaki gauge japanese I believe. If you're interested in it I can let you have it just for the postage. Drop me an email if you want it.

Frank
F. Camilleri

This thread was discussed between 02/07/2014 and 15/07/2014

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