Alternator Question
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Alternator Question
I posted early in the week about not keeping the battery charged on a 52. I got it started last night, so thanks to all that helped me out with that. I got all giddy when it started up. Like a little kid with a new toy.
Now, I have another question.
The alternator is from a mid 70's- early 80's Ford vintage and it is set up like this, one wiring harness from the regulator that has two wires, and one stud on the back for the battery connection. My dillema comes as this, where are the two wires from the harness suppose to go? Originally one wire went back to the stud for the battery and the other went to some junction block that didn't really do anything.
Another thing I don't understand is how the power makes it back to the battery.
Thanks for help
Now, I have another question.
The alternator is from a mid 70's- early 80's Ford vintage and it is set up like this, one wiring harness from the regulator that has two wires, and one stud on the back for the battery connection. My dillema comes as this, where are the two wires from the harness suppose to go? Originally one wire went back to the stud for the battery and the other went to some junction block that didn't really do anything.
Another thing I don't understand is how the power makes it back to the battery.
Thanks for help
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,771
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From: Kalispell, MT
Congrats on getting it started - sorta feel like a kid in the candy store, huh? If I understand your predicament, some alt's use an external regulator and that's what the second wire is for. With a one wire alt there is only a connection for the battery as it has an internal voltage regulator.
Connect the heaviest cable to the alt and it should route power back to the battery via the batt side of the starter solenoid (probably - depending on what wire harness you're using)
Confused yet? If not I can keep trying
Connect the heaviest cable to the alt and it should route power back to the battery via the batt side of the starter solenoid (probably - depending on what wire harness you're using)
Confused yet? If not I can keep trying
Last edited by mtflat; Jul 1, 2005 at 09:02 AM.
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I think I am confused, not quite sure.
The alternator is internally regulated. So as it sits right now, From the battery, it goes straight to the battery post on the alternator via a 12 gauge wire. The harness that is connected to the internal regulater has two wires coming out. The heaviest gauge wire went back to the battery post on the alternator. Is that correct? The second wire (approx. 16 ga.) I think is just used as an auxillary power lead.
When I started the truck, the battery was reading at 12.18 volts and the same at the alternator. From what I understand, it should read 14.xx volts. When I check on my daily driver, as soon as I started the truck, it read over 14 volts.
I have heard that some older alternators won't start charging for 5 minutes or so. I have not tested that theory. Is that a possibility?
The alternator is internally regulated. So as it sits right now, From the battery, it goes straight to the battery post on the alternator via a 12 gauge wire. The harness that is connected to the internal regulater has two wires coming out. The heaviest gauge wire went back to the battery post on the alternator. Is that correct? The second wire (approx. 16 ga.) I think is just used as an auxillary power lead.
When I started the truck, the battery was reading at 12.18 volts and the same at the alternator. From what I understand, it should read 14.xx volts. When I check on my daily driver, as soon as I started the truck, it read over 14 volts.
I have heard that some older alternators won't start charging for 5 minutes or so. I have not tested that theory. Is that a possibility?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,769
Likes: 39
From: Minnesota
I am not sure of the alternator you have.
- Generally You have a heavy wire that goes back to the battery or terminal block some place.
- A second wire that is turned on and off with the vehicle to turn the alternator on.
- A third wire that is used for voltage sensing that is used to increase or decrease the output as needed. Third wire is usually on stud or fuse block someplace close to the elctrical draw and away from the battery.
