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Old 07-03-2010, 03:03 PM
84ta406 84ta406 is offline
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Default Alternator issue?

Well I had my alternator tested and they said it was good went right to 14.5v

Car died a couple times lastnight downtown and crap. My alternator has 2 blade terminals on the top and a post on the back. Can someone tell me where theyre supposed to go? I have the wiring diagram but it makes no sense.

Someone said one of the blades needs to be grounded or something but I have no clue.

I currently have I think the #2 terminal wired to the back post and the back post goes back to the battery. Nothing on terminal 1

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Old 07-03-2010, 03:42 PM
84ta406 84ta406 is offline
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After doing some digging around... I found a diagram:

http://www.derbypro.com/goldmember/pics/alt.gif

1. This is the main power wire that goes directly to the battery. Make sure it is a heavy gauge since it has to carry the full output of the alternator (up to 100 amps).

2. This is the field wire that energizes the alternator. It must be switched, or else it will drain the battery overnight. Do not wire this into the coil power wire that you use to switch the engine on and off (a seemingly elegant solution), since once the engine is running, the alternator will power the coil, and your ignition switch will no longer kill the engine.

3. This is the lead for the sensing wire that goes to the idiot light in your instrument panel. A neat tip: if you aren't using a voltmeter or oil pressure gauge, run this wire to a light mounted somewhere on your dash. Often you can't hear your own engine running in the derby, so when this light lights up you know that your engine has just quit (or the alternator has just stopped charging for some reason).

4. This is the regulator bypass hole. Sticking a long thin metal object about 2 inches deep into this D-shaped hole causes the alternator to go to full charge. If you do this while it's dark out and the main power wire is disconnected, the whole alternator will emit a cool X-Files type glow. I don't recommend that you try this since you'll likely end up frying your alternator.

Could not having a switched source field wire stop it from charging? The way I read it, the alternator wont energize without it?
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Old 07-03-2010, 08:23 PM
bottledbird68 bottledbird68 is offline
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Yes, something needs to tell in to turn on. Unless you have a one wire alternator with a self exciting regulator.

I forget which post is which but the stud on back went to the battery, one spade was switched 12 volt source, and the other went straight to my volt gauge. Worked on the 68 like that for years.
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Old 07-04-2010, 01:22 PM
84ta406 84ta406 is offline
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Post #2, I walked around for like 2 hours lastnight looking at alternators. As you see in the pic though, i have #2 jumped to the back post. Wouldnt there be power there?
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Old 07-04-2010, 02:28 PM
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~snicker snicker~ self exciting regulator....
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Old 07-05-2010, 04:03 AM
84ta406 84ta406 is offline
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Think I figured everything out. I'll know soon enough I guess!
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