1 wire alternator

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May 12, 2003 | 11:29 PM

Ron Kelley

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Joined: Mar 2003

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From: ohio

1 wire alternator

Okay have been reading through all of these posts about alternators and such and cant find the crucial info that I need about my alternator. I have a 71 F250 with a 390 and was thinking about going to a 1 wire alternator. First what alternator do I use and what about the brackets? and second where do you hook it up?? I really dont see how it could be a one wire when you need a output wire and also a input wire to turn the alternator on right? But at least I could get rid of some wiring and also the external regulator. So if you have some down and dirty information about this it would be appreciated.

RJK

May 12, 2003 | 11:41 PM

FrayedSanity

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1 wire alternator

A 1-wire alternator turns itself on by reaching a certain RPM. Not sure of the exact principles, so maybe someone else can shed some light.

May 13, 2003 | 12:08 AM

Faithful Old Road Dog

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Joined: May 2003

Posts: 520

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From: california

1 wire alternator

I don't see the big advantage of having one wire alternators. Having changed external and internal regulators, I find that external regulators have the advantage. I don't have to disassemble the alternator. It's so much easier.

May 13, 2003 | 12:13 AM

FrayedSanity

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Joined: Dec 2002

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1 wire alternator

Quote:

Originally posted by Faithful Old Road Dog
I don't see the big advantage of having one wire alternators. Having changed external and internal regulators, I find that external regulators have the advantage. I don't have to disassemble the alternator. It's so much easier.

Not to mention that many people will simply replace the alternator because the internal regulator goes bad. Much cheaper in the long run to go with a stock setup.

Besides, 1-wires are Ch3^y thing, IMO.

May 13, 2003 | 10:12 AM

Ron Kelley

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Joined: Mar 2003

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From: ohio

1 wire alternator

So your telling me that the one wire alternator is from a chevy? The reason that I would like to go to the one wire is that the owners before was a hack and cut and spliced everything everywhere. I spent a long time rewiring the alternator and volt reg trying to get the system to charge correctly. So was thinking that maybe could reduce some clutter and make it more simple. You know the saying K.I.S.S.. Any help of what alternator to buy would be appreciated. Thanks

RJK

May 13, 2003 | 10:16 AM

dbc

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Joined: Jan 2003

Posts: 87

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From: SoCal

1 wire alternator

Try this. It is a pretty accurate description of 1 wire alternators.
http://www.alternatorparts.com/what_...alternator.htm

May 13, 2003 | 01:16 PM

FrayedSanity

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Joined: Dec 2002

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1 wire alternator

Quote:

Originally posted by Ron Kelley
So your telling me that the one wire alternator is from a chevy? The reason that I would like to go to the one wire is that the owners before was a hack and cut and spliced everything everywhere. I spent a long time rewiring the alternator and volt reg trying to get the system to charge correctly. So was thinking that maybe could reduce some clutter and make it more simple. You know the saying K.I.S.S.. Any help of what alternator to buy would be appreciated. Thanks

RJK

The 1-wire alternator was originally made for chevy's (GM in general) and as such, it's like the rest of General Maintanence, er, Motors stuff. It's everywhere, and everyone has one, it seems.

Just my opinion, though, like I said. If it works for you, then more power to you, especially considering a wire-harness nightmare like you speak of

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May 13, 2003 | 07:56 PM

J Selman

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Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 99

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From: TN

1 wire alternator

I really like the alternators found on mid 80's- mid 90's ford trucks .There is only two wires to hook up. It looks like more at the alt, but if you follow the harness to the starter relay you'll find that there is 1 wire that connects to the hot side of the relay and a small engizer wire (hot with key on).These are the alternator's that have a gray box on the back. that is the regulator and the brushes ,so you don't have to open the alt to change either one!
Johnny

May 13, 2003 | 08:43 PM

#10

baitmaster

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From: nevada

1 wire alternator

I believe I saw the Ford 1 wire alternators in the Jeg's catalog. Give it a look. I think it was 80 or 100 watt.

May 14, 2003 | 09:51 AM

#11

Ron Kelley

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Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 88

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From: ohio

1 wire alternator

Hey thanks everybody. I am in total agreement about keeping a ford a ford. Especially thanks for the diagram. THat is the best diagram that I have seen yet for this system. Finally a picture that accurately tell you where the ammeter is supposed to be hooked up to. Somewhere along the line somebody had it hooked up to the +bat and the other side to ground. I found this when i took off the instrument cluster and seen all the melted panel on the back of it. So I disconnected the wires out in the engine and fixed the panel on the back of the cluster but then was wondering where they are supposed to be hooked up to so the diagram really helps. Thanks a lot everybody. I also will maybe look into the 80 and 90's ford alternators.

RJK

Aug 22, 2003 | 07:02 PM

#12

J Selman

Junior User

Joined: Dec 2002

Posts: 99

Likes: 0

From: TN

1 wire alternator

O.K. guys. I finally got to the point in my restoration where I could come with something on a nice alt. set up. This alt. is from a 1994 Ford aerostar.It actualy had a Napa tag on it with a part # of 213-3086.It is rated at 95 amps . The wiring is from a 1994 F150 .I chose this wiring becuase the alt ,relay, and Battery are in the same postion as our trucks. This thing only uses Two wires. One hooks to the hot side of the relay .The other hooks to our factory enigizer wire.It mounts in the factory location using the factory(our truck) spacer and V pully.The pulley installs with No spacer or fan .The donor alt. uses internal fan.The only modifiction is to remove about 1/8- 1/16 from the back side of the pulley edge.Ther is pics of the wiring in My gallery. This is only my 390.The back of the alt is close to the block ,but doesn't hit.

Last edited by J Selman; Aug 22, 2003 at 07:06 PM.

Aug 22, 2003 | 08:05 PM

#13

Opiewan

Elder User

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 952

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From: iowa

1 wire alternator

i had the same thing with mine. I could never get it to charge right no matter what rpm it was at. Some fool had tried the one wire concept and cut and hacked all kinda wires off the harness. it took me three weeks walking thru part yards and climbing thru trucks to find an orignal harness with all the wires intact. I bought a new alternator and a new regulater and now i have rewired my truck and have no problems with charging at all.