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| | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 | I replaced the alternator on my 53 with one with an internal regulator alternator. It is a 12 volt system and it seems to be charging a little high. I wired the system as it is explained in this article. http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref14.html I did this a couple of days ago, and then today I installed a kill switch in the battery negative batery cable. If I turn the kill switch with the engine running to off the engine keeps running, horn works etc. Once I turn the ignition switch off the circuits are all dead as should be. My question is, is this normal or do I have something wired wrong in my alternator conversion? Thanks in advance, Ralph | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Normal. Everything is feeding off of the alternator when the engine is running. The battery is basically out of the loop unless there's a load the alternator can't meet.
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| | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Ralph,
Tiny has been doing great in the alternator department lately, so I won't dispute what he says above.
I didn't know that it would behave that way, but I think that interrupting the negative cable is akin to disconnecting the battery, and I thought this was a near death experience for a alternator equipped charging system.
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 324 Member | | Member Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 324 | Originally posted by Tiny:
Normal. Everything is feeding off of the alternator when the engine is running. The battery is basically out of the loop unless there's a load the alternator can't meet. yep. Don't make a practice out of it as you could fry some alternator wires.
"It ain't a truck if you can't hose out the cab."
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 586 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 586 | You can put a diode in the power line TO the alternator that will prevent the engine from running on with the ignition off.Go to a Napa store and ask for a diode trio for a GM internal regulator alternator.Use one leg of the three,wired in line (ignition power [on/off] to alternator).This should have been done inside the one wire alternator before you bought it.Send me a PM message with your address if you need a diagram.
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| | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | As far as charging high, put a voltmeter across the battery. It should read close to 14 volts with the engine running & little or no load.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | One episode of Ice Road Truckers had one of the drivers that lost his battery box & all of the batteries in it & didn't even know he lost it until he got to the end of the 200+ mile run & shut his rig off. His boss wasn't happy at all.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
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Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 843 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 843 | NHRA drag racing rules state that the battery disconnect be installed on the positive wire.So if you run the battery wire from the alt. directly to the battery when the switch in turned off every thing goes dead | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 | Thanks for all the replies. I will install the disconnect in the positive line. Now I have another problem, since I installed the new alternator, I am having an intermittent problem with the igniton going dead. Just acts like a loose wire, some times I can move a couple of wires and it will start. It usually starts and as soon as I let up on the starter switch she dies. Had her out last night and she went dead so I had to run a hot wire from the cigar lighter to the hot side of the ignition and we were off and running again. It has the HEI distributor installed in it. I am going to take the mulit meter out and do some checking today.
Thanks,
Ralph | | | | | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 Riding in the Passing Lane | | Riding in the Passing Lane Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 8,597 | Are you running the HEI through a resister? The HEI doesn,t use a resister in the system .It should have 12 gauge wire comeing off the ignition switch. If that is the case you probably have a bad ign. switch.
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne SuperIn the Gallery Forum | | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 | Wrenchbender Ret, Yes it does have HEI ignition,and the resistor is bypassed. That is my thought also, bad ing. switch. The next time it stops on me I will put a test light on ing. switch to conferm.
Thanks,
Ralph | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,031 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,031 | using your reference article. The wire that goes from the "BATT" terminal to the #2 terminal is a new wire that you will have to add. You can use a 14 gauge wire. that should be the DA plug wire from a further 'reference point' NOT just off the big lug @ the alt.
Jim & Caroline
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| | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 | carolines truck, I am a little confused, OK I understand what you say, I did run the new wire just from the big lug on the Alt. to the #2 post but where should this wire be coming from?
Thanks, Ralph | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,031 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 2,031 | any place that draws power to the working electrical components of the truck, a way from the alt. just NOT directly off the big alt lug read this http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/remotevoltagesensing3.shtml
Jim & Caroline
The highway is for gamblers, better use your good sense."
Gooday-that's my 1¢ answer due to the lousy economy ~ cause I ain't got - no . mo . doe
Every Shaver | Now Can Snore | Six More Minutes | Than Before ... | Half A Pound for Half a Dollar | Spread On Thin | Above the Collar || BURMA-SHAVE
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 21 | Jim, I did run the wire to another point away from the Alt. and don't see any differance. The Alt. is charging good and the truck is starting much better now when hot, turns over well. The ignition has decided to keep working so haven't found what was causing intermittent problem. We will keep on trucking.
Thanks,
Ralph | | |
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