The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay what kind of alternator....

I was hoping someone could tell me what kind of
12volt alternator I should be looking for in order to convert my 6volt '52 pick-up.

any suggestions or advice welcome, I am just starting to look into this topic.

thanks,
C

Hi Crow,
Use the type that has built in regulator. It will have the two prongs that are side by side for the plug like - - and not one on top of the other like = that way you go from your ignition switch to one prong and ground the other. When you turn on the switch, the rotor becomes a magnet and when it spins, you get voltage from the stater and it will come out the large post with a nut. Run a wire from the large post to the positive on the battery and it should work. Contriving a mount shouldn't be a large problem.

Truck Tinker

The Delco SI type alternator is self-regulated, and really only needs a jumper wire from the big Bat. terminal to the #2 connector at the regulator, the one on the left as you look at the rear of the alternator. You can route that conductor through the ignition switch if you want to open up the circuit with the engine stopped. The #1 terminal, the one on the right, is for an idiot light, if you choose to use one. Otherwise, don't connect anything to it, and definitely don't ground it. If the indicator light is used, run a wire from ignition voltage to the light, and run the ground side of the light to the #1 terminal. The light will illuminate when the alternator's not charging, such as engine stopped, switch on, and it will go out as the alternator begins charging the battery.
Jerry

Hotrod, my understanding of the 3-wire, internally regulated alternator is that something had to be connected to the idiot light terminal...either an idiot light or a 10 ohm resistor supplied by an ignition source. I thought this was the terminal that provided regulator "excitation". The other plug wire is a sensor wire and is used to measure the voltage at an appropriate location, usually the "center" of the 12V distribution system. The voltage at this location will determine what voltage the alternator puts out.

It depends on the year of production, and which design of regulator is being used. Almost all late-design regulators are self-exciting, and really don't need the extra connection. I've been retrofitting farm tractors with the Delco SI for several years, and I always get the latest-model regulator and a new set of brushes from my rebuilder friend whenever I install one. They last about 3 days past forever on a farm tractor application.
Jerry

In my opinion, the best, hands down, is the AC Delco si ... and the best way to wire it up is like This

Also, make sure you have the Delco regulator in there, too -- not some after market regulator. The si with the Delco built-in regulator is so cool, because it actually pays attention to your battery temperature and regulates the voltage accordingly. If the battery is extra warm, like in hot Summer weather, the regulator will put out a lower voltage (the after market regulators, and other alternators, won't do this) which saves your battery and evrything else electrical.

thanks for the info, is there any certain year or range of years for the alternator I should be looking for.

When I bought mine I was told to ask for one that fits a 62 Nova.

Here's what Mark Hamilton -- from www.MadElectrical.com -- recommends:

"for 63amp (10SI) models, ask for an alternator for a ’78 Camaro (with air cond.)

for 94amp (12SI) models, ask for an alternator for an ’84 Camaro, 305G engine, 94amp Alt"

I went with the 94 amp (12si).