The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 1 wire alternator...?

HI...what are the benefits of a 1 wire alternator if any? Are there complete kits out there for my 1955-57/235 engine with 12 volts? We have never seen this conversion and have only just heard that it can be done DIY so its all new to us...T/C Steve

Steve,

I don't know who makes the brackets for a swap to the 10SI alternator but I think someone does. Maybe MAD Electrical!

About the only real benefit to a single wire alternator is less wiring...one wire versus three wires. It's the same physical unit with a different internal regulator. If you want a bazillion amps, you can get it either way...1 wire or 3 wire.

To get the alternator to start its charge, you need to bring the RPM's up a bit, but this is usually done by habit as you start your truck anyway.

Stuart

with a ONE wire alt you don't have the indication that something is wrong w/ it should it start to fail
whereas w/ a 3 wire unit .......... you do
you can read and decide for your self
http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/onewire-threewire.shtml
http://www.6066gmcguy.org/charging.htm

Steve,

Here is a mounting kit for your year engine. The main advantage of the one-wire alternator is the simplicity, especially of the wiring.

You can easily tell if something is wrong by looking at your ammeter. The 3-wire unit would also allow for a boob-light indicator (that you could mount somewhere) to also indicate that something is wrong?

My 1-wire 12v alternator on a 1954 truck has been working fine for 10 years. It self-excites at about 800 rpm. Once it is "excited" it charges at all rpms. As Stuart mentions, when you start your truck you usually rev up beyond 1,000 rpm, so this is not a problem.

Tim

Some 1-wire alternator info.

1-wire alternator on eBay

Here's a simple wiring diagram (ignore the spelling - the diagram is good)

WOW.....THANKS TC....now what to do...? I think you can still buy generators or have them rebuilt...? BUT...the alternator is always charging the battery and that can't be a bad thing. Does anyone know if it will affect my Langdon's HEI unit to move to the alternator three or single wire?.....T/C to you all! Steve

Not a problem Steve. Your HEI just wants to have 12V fed to it, it doesn't care where it comes from.

A quick note on the indicator light for a three wire... It is not optional.... the three wire unit will not excite without the resistance on that lead.

Bugsy,

Are you indicating that DA#1 needs a reduced voltage, not full system voltage to excite the field? How can this be...many rigs don't opt to run an idiot light or a resistance in that circuit and everything runs fine. Isn't this right?

Stuart

I'm sure I found it on the MAD Electrical site... I remember reading it before I converted. I didn't necessarily want to put the idiot light in the dash of the 48...

It has been a while though... but I seem to remember the alternator not working until I hooked up the light.