The Big Problem with the old Mopar “Shunt Wire” by-pass, Circuit Protection-Explained.

[@DaveTurnerBassGuitar]

I looked at the wiring diagram from my '66 FSM and it doesn't really square up with what is presented here for the 70ish and later B/E bodies. A major difference is the column mounted ignition switch with Molex connector. Could it be that the mid-60s charging systems were different enough from the 68 and later to benefit from the ammeter bypass? Dozens of anecdotal accounts describe heavy loads showing a discharge on the ammeter on early cars, especially at idle. The bypass largely fixes this problem. These loads don't appear on later years because of changes in charging system design, but, I think there might be a case to be made that the bypass is actually beneficial in earlier models. Just my observations.

[@72roadrunnergtx]

The basic charge path diagram/design changed little since Chrysler moved to alternators in 1960. The ’70 and up column mounted ignition switch Molex is not part of the charge path and had it’s own issues (another video addresses that). For C-bodies, the first change came is ’72, the use of a shunted ammeter, with full charge path current no longer being routed through the passenger compartment. Yes, the old factory spec’d alternators couldn’t keep up with a lot of factory loads running at the same time at idle especially higher optioned platforms like C-bodies. But at off-idle, some rpm, this should equalize the current drawn through the ammeter and register little to no current, zeroed. 1970 also had a change in alternator regulation, from mechanical to Electronic but ran the same charge path. Your ammeter shows significant cumulative loads registering while voltage remains above battery voltage. Indicates all factory loads are now routed through ammeter, not designed for that. That bypass should make the ammeter non-responsive. Main point is it also bypasses the stock circuit protection for all the stock unfused wiring and components. Should there be a short circuit in any of that stock wiring at some point, things will burn. It is not the answer to a safer charging system especially if the ammeter is now exposed prolonged excessive load current flow it was not designed for. It literally makes it more dangerous. Be sure to take a look at the video on added loads, more detail on how this charging system works and how it differs from everything else. Again, very few understand this charging system, there is a lot of misinformation going around, has been for many years. If you want to discuss further, maybe not through KZbin comments, I’m at [e-mail]. Doug