The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay New alternator, old regulator

Hello, just installed a new alternator on my 63 C-10. The one that was bad was a newer type that someone put on (before I bought the truck) with the internal voltage regulator. The alternator I replaced it with is an original type that requires an external regulator. The old regulator had been disconnected, but was still on the truck so I connected it up per the directions that came with the alternator. My question is how can I test to see if the regulator is working properly? Thanks.

Jay M,

You must be doing some type of restoration to replace the nice SI unit with the older style alternator. The internal type is far less troublesome.

Without special test equipment and some experience, about the best way to find out if your regulator is good is to wire it properly to the new alternator and see what happens when you turn the key and hit the gas.

Lucky for you the previous owner left all the old wires dangling and the regulator in place. I wonder if it was bum and that's why he stuck the SI alternator on in the first place.

Stuart

You may be right. Actually, I may take it back and get one with the internal regulator. Is there a certain model year alternator that will work on this truck? I have no idea what model year the old one was.

Jay,

Unless there is some burning reason to stick the old 10DN alternator on, a internally regulated one is the way to go. The 10SI is cheap and available in different outputs depending on how much stuff you have to power.

I have enclosed a link that shows a few different alternators, complete with numbers and typical applications. There is enough info to make a pretty good choice on what you need, plus some dope for the counterman which will allow him to find the part.

http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/delcoremy.shtml

That site has lots of neat info, check it out. Good luck.

Stuart

Stuart,
Thanks for the great info. I'm going back to the parts store and exchanging it for one of these. No sense in going backward in technology. Thanks again.