I thought there was a rectifier in the alternator to keep it from going way
overvoltage.
The battery acts as a filter to get rid of a lot of that AC stuff.

But I agree....a separate regulator is what I'd use....


"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:40ABEF1A.19212F79@sympatico.ca...
> They are pretty picky. Your method would rely on alternator output with
> no regulation and the gauges would go with the rpm or lights or...
>
> Mine has a punky rivet connection on the board inside so I sometimes
> only get 3 volts and my gauges act accordingly.
>
> Mike
>
> SB wrote:
> >
> > You could also take a 4.1kohm and a 5.8kohm resistor (or a 41k and a
58k)
> > and tie them in series.
> > Tie the 58k end to +12 and the other end of the 41k to ground. Grab
approx
> > 5 volts from where these two join.
> >
> > I don't know how picky these gauges are about their 5volts!! But note
that
> > +12v isn't exactly clean.....so maybe a capacitor in parallel might
smooth
> > it out!
> >
> > "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > news:40AB796C.3C341383@sympatico.ca...
> > > Yes.
> > >
> > > Here is a link on a regulator:
> > >
> > > http://members.aol.com/moparnuts/modify.htm
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > > William Oliveri wrote:
> > > >
> > > > So if I under stand you correctly I the voltage regulator would drop
12
> > > > volts down to 5 to power the gauge. Is this correct?
> > > >
> > > > Is so It would look like this:
> > > >
> > > > 12v source -> 5v regulator -> To pole on temp gauge opposite sender
> > pole.
> > > >
> > > > Yes?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > >
> > > > Bill
> > > >
> > > > "Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
> > > > news:40AB6A5E.A2FA11C1@sympatico.ca...
> > > > > Nope.
> > > > >
> > > > > The power for the temp gauge comes from a voltage regulator built
into
> > > > > the gas gauge via that copper strip. It needs 5 volts.
> > > > >
> > > > > You 'can' just make up a small electronic voltage regulator to
power
> > up
> > > > > the gauge, they are pretty easy to make if you know how to solder.
> > > > >
> > > > > Here is a good link on how the stock gauges works:
> > > > >
> > > > > http://www.off-road.com/jeep/tech/electrical/gauges/
> > > > >
> > > > > Mike
> > > > > 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> > > > > 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> > > > >
> > > > > William Oliveri wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I just installed new fuel and oil pressure gauges from
Autometer.
> > Now
> > > > my
> > > > > > temperature gauge doesn't work.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Can the temp gauge be run without connecting to the fuel gauge
> > (there's
> > > > a
> > > > > > crossover there which combines the two) and if so how is it
> > configured?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Bill