The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Need help wiring a one wire alternator

Hi,

Installing a one wire alternator on my 56 Chevy pickup and need a little help. Someone (OK, It was me ) disconnected the wires from the ammeter and now I don't know the pin outs on the back of the gauge. Which side is positive? My understanding is that I connect the alternator to the positive side of the ammeter and the negative side of the ammeter to the starter. Sound right?

got a wiring diagram? across that diagram there's a line that's labeled "front of dash", beyond it the headlights, that diagram is laid out exactly like the truck, facing the dash you can see which wire goes where .... easy

Bill

Hey Bill,

Funny, I have looked at that wiring diagram so many times and never noticed the front of dash line. Only two connectors on the ammeter right?

Thanks.

yes 2, although sometimes folks use the ammeter to tap off for accessories, as it's a battery connection

Bill

I have a 1947 3100 with a 12 volt electrical system. Recently, I put new brushes and a voltage regulator in the alternator. However, I have to 'excite' the alternator on every restart in order to get it to put out 13 plus volts. The alternator has a battery wire and a two-terminal connector that has a jumper wire from the battery terminal to terminal number 2.

Any ideas how to remedy this condition? By the way, the PO has a simple toggle switch for the lights. Do I need to install the original light switch to resolve the issue or is there another problem with the alternator?

Thanks for your help!

I have a two pin alt on my 52 1/2 ton. I also have a 12 volt regulator. No one wire here. It takes a single rev up to about 1000 rpm to get it charging. Works fine and has no issues. I hit that rpm range at the first shift point from my driveway and after that no problems. I only use one pin out of the two, battery. It might be an internal regulator? It might not. It works so I have not messed with it. Will yours self excite at higher RPM? If not you might have a defective BOOB(Bad Out Of Box) regulator. Load switch like your headlight switch won't have any effect on the alternator, But might cause some issues if not fused.

You have gotten one of the early style internal regulators that don't self-excite unless the idiot light circuit is connected. You can either install a 2-wire warning light from the ignition switch output through the bulb to the unused blade terminal on the regulator, or swap to a later-design regulator that has an internal excitation circuit. The newer regulators (sometimes called "1-wire") work as soon as the alternator RPM is goosed up a little after startup.
Jerry

Now, that I did not know. Thanks Hotrod!

Thanks Hotrod and Steve,

I apologize for my late reply, a family member is hospitalized. All is well, so it's back to my p/u!

Thanks again,