The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 12V starter side post question

Hey guys/gals;
Working on my 1950 3800 with the foot-stomp starter and am converting it from 6V to 12V with an external alternator and one of Langdons HEI ignitions. Question is what does the side-post terminal on the starter do? Here's what I have wired up so far:

Red wire from the Ammeter (-) terminal to the big terminal on top of the starter where the battery is wired.

Blue wire from the ignition terminal on the ignition switch to the coil (+) terminal (that wire splits off at the coil and also goes to the distributor).

Yellow wire from the voltage regulator (3rd post) to the big terminal on top of the starter.

Honestly, I haven't tried starting it yet. What function does the side post perform? Should I be running another wire from the starter's side post to the coil (+) terminal? 7:00am in the morning and my coffee-starved brain can't quite figure this one out.


thx - Bruce

That side post is used when cranking the stater with a ballast resistor on the ignition/coil lead.

Your HEI probably does not use a ballast resistor.

Presumably, you ignition switch provides 12v to the coil when cranking the starter (someone will confirm/correct this).

Hy WishekBruce, there is not enough information in your post to answer your questions about whether the engine will run or not. As to the side terminal on the starter switch, as tclederman said it is used to provide 12 volts when starting on a standard points ignition by bypassing the ballast resistor when cranking the engine to start, this feature is not used or needed when using H.E.I. ignition. In your post you said you will be using an external alternator, did you mean an external regulated alternator? By your description of your wiring you will be bypassing your ammeter, did you want to do that? The H.E.I.uses lots of power and the factory feeds it with a ten gauge wire, your ignition switch may not be up to the task of supplying the current needed, you should consider a relay to power the H.E.I., hope that helps.

oops! Yes, I meant an external voltage regulator. I don't think I want to bypass the ammeter, I think I have a 12 gauge wire running from the ammeter to the starter top post. Give me a couple of hours, I'll try to draw a picture.

Thx for the advice - Bruce