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| | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 | Running a Denso one wire alternator on my '46 for several years now and just noticed voltage at the terminal only reads 12 volts. Shouldn't this be reading around 14v. Not sure if I have a problem here or not. I make short trips mostly then back home connect Batt Tender, thinking I could be masking a charging problem since I keep battery charged with plug in charger. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | I'm anything but an expert but it sure sounds low to me. Even without the engine running battery voltage should be a tad over 12v I believe. If I'm wrong someone will let us know. 
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | The alternator is not charging. Without the tender, you'd be getting a dead battery after a few miles. Factory specification for a battery is that it's supposed to be able to run out a full tank of gas before the engine dies, with minimum current draw, mainly just ignition, etc. Not lights, high blower, A/C, etc. Om a modified vehicle, it just depends on the reserve capacity of the battery that's used.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 91 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 91 | I have a one wire Alt. on my 46 the volt meter reads over 13 volts even at idle.When you say "at the terminal" is that the battery terminal? | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,771 | Either place, the voltage needs to be 13+ even at idle speed. Against a fully-charged battery at a fast idle or cruise speed, it should be around 14.5 Volts.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 328 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 328 | Some good reading on this topic here..... one wire alternators vs. "standard" ... no more one wire set ups for me. http://www.madelectrical.com/enjoy | | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 303 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2010 Posts: 303 | thanks for the link, but I noticed that the article was written 10 years ago. Would that still apply to 1 wire alts made today? | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | "One wire alternators" are regular alternators that read their own voltage with the sensing wire rather than reading voltage of the system somewhere closer to the load. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 2,074 | Here's what I found out, the company had send me the 3 wire unit instead of the 1 wire and as I'd kept the truck on the batt tender, never really had a visible problem. Called them yesteday, they will send me the components that make it work as a 1 wire unit, NO CHARGE even after 3 years. No arguments just want to make sure it's working as it should. These guys are DB Electrical in TN and sell lots of this stuff on ebay. Parts should be here tomorrow.
Thanks guys for all the good advise. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Sounds like an upstanding outfit to deal with.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 303 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: May 2010 Posts: 303 | That's who I picked up my 1 wire alt from DB Elictrical. The customer service is very good.
Last edited by tracern1; 05/22/2012 9:37 PM.
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