Quote:
Originally Posted by saxart
Sorry if it seems like I'm asking the same question 12 times. It's just a "measure eight times, cut once" type of operation when you're cutting that expensive 8ga wire!  |
Exactly right.
If you are keeping the battery gauge, you want to leave the 12 gauge SHUNT wire alone. The one on the left of the diagram. It is just for charging the battery and carrying engine off, power from the battery. The thing is, it is measured by the engineers for length and resistance and calibrated to the battery gauge. Altering it's size and length may change the way the gauge reads.
Using a voltmeter will give a better condition of the charging system because it reads out in volts what the system is actually carrying.
The battery gauge on the other hand is just a charge/discharge indicator and does not really show the state of charge on the battery and alternator.