Atomarc, it all depends on which regulator assembly is installed. The very early internal regulators would not self-excite, and had to have at least the slight voltage available downstream of an idiot light on the #1 terminal to begin the charging process. A few years into production, Delco changed the internal wiring to allow the rotation of the rotor to begin the excitation process as long as battery voltage was present on the #2 terminal. The farm equipment I used to retrofit needed to have the engine revved up one time to begin the charging process, and somewhat later, with another internal regulator modification, that also became unnecessary. There are at least three different internal circuits on the regulators, with different operating characteristics. Only one needs the #1 wire voltage.
Jerry
