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Topic: alternator question

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alternator question (1/10)
5/27/11 6:49am

Crimson Ghost
Former Member
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Vette(s):
1968 convertible

Joined: 3/3/2010
Posts: 94

I ordered a nice chrome alternator (chevy bow tie style, real nice). But I ordered a one wire and my current alternator is a two wire. Can I install this or do I need to stay with two wire? the second wire is a ground, just wondering if I can ground it elsewhere.

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alternator question (2/10)
5/27/11 8:21am

yostusota
Former Member
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York, PA - USA

Vette(s):
1969 daytona conv. all original 350 350 380 4 sp w/air..and hard top

Joined: 5/18/2010
Posts: 1518

It is a ground..usually you cut the ground wire and put a loop hook on it..no solder..crimp only..and bolt it to the back of the alternator itself..but..I would call where you got it from to make sure..also when you cut the harness off leave about 3 inches on the end you cut off and plug it into you old one..never know if you want to put it back on someday..also..this should make your amp meter inop..you can change it to a regular volt gauge fairly easy though..

Rich

______________

My first parade at Carlisle 2010

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alternator question (3/10)
5/27/11 8:24am

Crimson Ghost
Former Member
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Vette(s):
1968 convertible

Joined: 3/3/2010
Posts: 94

Thanks !

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alternator question (4/10)
5/27/11 12:11pm

rraider1
Former Member
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Woodland, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 10/14/2003
Posts: 1165

I have a couple of articles comparing 1 wire to 3 wire. I believe you have a three wire the big red which goes to the starter then battery. then on the plug 2 wires one for the Gen warning lt then the other is for load sensing. on the one wire the voltage sensing is right at the big red wire which does not give good load sensing so you may have dimmer lights lower speed on your heater fan.

I am not sure I have this totaly correct hopefully some more help will follow

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alternator question (5/10)
5/27/11 12:19pm

rraider1
Former Member
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Woodland, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 10/14/2003
Posts: 1165

One-wire Alternator:
Is another name for the Self-Exciting Alternator mentioned above. You only need to connect the battery wire (one-wire).
The alternator turns on the voltage regulator when the engine starts turning the alternator.

Two-wire Alternator:
Most standard and all self-exciting regulator alternators will work using the two wire setup.
Two wire means that you use the main battery wire to the back of the alternator and also ignition wire to the
#1 terminal to activate the alternator. With this setup the alternator starts charging as soon as the engine is running

Three-wire Alternator:
This setup uses a battery wire, ignition/warning light wire and voltage sensing wire, Three wires. Voltage sensing is used when you want
the alternator to read voltage at some other point than the battery. Or the battery wiring is such that the battery is a long distance from the alternator.

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alternator question (6/10)
5/27/11 5:48pm

Crimson Ghost
Former Member
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Vette(s):
1968 convertible

Joined: 3/3/2010
Posts: 94

Yup. I took a good look at it today and sure enough there are two wires on the back (red battery andblack ground) but there is also a plug on the top that I did not recall - so yes, this is actually a three wire. I suppose I will need to reuse my old alternator for now. I really wanted the chrome with the bow tie :-( Oh well - I will change this down the road when I change out the fan for an electric one. I guess it will be baby steps. Which is perfect for me I suppose - still learning and all. Thank you for the information !

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alternator question (7/10)
5/27/11 8:31pm

nosal1
Former Member
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Dunedin, FL - USA

Vette(s):
1980 Corvette Torch Red with Gold metallic 370HP/350 CU.IN.Turbo 350 w/shift kit.Originally CA.Car with 305 CU.IN.

Joined: 3/21/2006
Posts: 262

Good Ghost,

             If I am not mistaken you have a '68 Vette and this year would have an external voltage regulator mounted on the fender well or core support not far from the stock alternator..Your Alt. should have a small plug on the top of the alt.,which would have a blue wire and white wire. In addition you would have a #10 red wire with a small rubber boot on it which should wind down and around to the positive post on the start solenoid that would then in turn connect the positive wire to the battery. Also a heavy gauge black ground wire the is attached to the back of the case itself..
           In order to be able to use a INTERNALLY regulated alternator like the one wire alt.,you will have to do some additional wiring to remove the external voltage regulator on attached to the Vette.They have an aftermarket piece you can buy to plug the existing wires from the voltage regulator into the complete the circuits set originally.
         It has and can be done,installing and using a one wire alt.I have many alts I use one of which is on my Vette,albeit I have an '80 and did not have to deal with the problem.I do have a Ceramic coated OEM external regulated alt on my '68 Camaro,however I took the OEM alt. and had the case coated then put the parts in the alternator back into the case..
          If I can find in my file on the piece I looked into to change out the voltage regulate,I will send as well..
          Good Luck,
                  Sal C

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alternator question (8/10)
5/27/11 8:56pm

rraider1
Former Member
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Woodland, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1977 T-Top,350,Auto Black Ruby Pearl,Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 10/14/2003
Posts: 1165

sorry I missed yours was a 68 you can still upgrade to internal reg or the one wire I was hoping some one with experience with the one wire might chime in. I believe their used allot in hot rods, but I believe the issue is where the load or voltage is monitored. Not sure rraider12011-05-27 18:06:10

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alternator question (9/10)
5/28/11 5:59am

Good Morning Ghost,

Here is a wiring diagram I used to convert the external voltage regulator to an internal regulated alt..It is a diagram used by many with great success ....

You can buy the plug that has the jumpers,however you have the plug on the car..All you have to do is hide the plug when you complete the wiring..

Have a great day

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alternator question (10/10)
5/28/11 12:45pm

Crimson Ghost
Former Member
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Vette(s):
1968 convertible

Joined: 3/3/2010
Posts: 94

Wow, how much do I love this forum ! thank you guys.

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