I have an old ford that has been converted to a Delco alternator before I got it. It was not wired with an exciter wire, so I presume it is meant to be the one wire kind. But I installed a new voltmeter and I cant make it show over 13 volts unless I take a jumper wire and energize it, then it shows over 14 V. Would it hurt anything to put in the exciter wire if it was meant to work without it?
- Thread starter r3ritter
- Start date
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
Will not hurt a thing other then maybe not being able to shut the engine down when yo turn it off due to the alternator back feeding the ignition circuit. Good chance you will need a diode or light bulb or resister in the wire so you can shut it off
Hook the exciter wire up to the ACC terminal on your ignition so it doesn't back feed the ignition and keep the engine running when the key is turned off. You don't hear that mentioned much because most don't know that.
An idiot light will do the same thing or an old Chrysler ballast resister works good too and can be bolted onto the back of the alternator. I've done all these and they all work good. I have seen some people hook up an exciter wire with a push button switch in the circuit just to momentarily excite the alternator to get it charging. The only bad thing is with the push button you have to wait untile the engine is running then push the button to excite the charging system.
An idiot light will do the same thing or an old Chrysler ballast resister works good too and can be bolted onto the back of the alternator. I've done all these and they all work good. I have seen some people hook up an exciter wire with a push button switch in the circuit just to momentarily excite the alternator to get it charging. The only bad thing is with the push button you have to wait untile the engine is running then push the button to excite the charging system.
Hobo,NC
Well-known Member
- Location
- Sanford, NC
No problem, I buy "1 wire" regulators by boxes of a dozen. Instructions with that box of regulators stated that while the regulator will self energize, If you want it to excite at lower rpm or want to add a charge indicator light, It is fine to wire in an excite wire.
One tip is to go to the auto parts store and buy a Delco SI series alternator harness repair plug and use it to wire in your excite wire, less chance of a bare terminal shorting to the alternator case and looks neater. Tape up the sense wire in the plug and leave it there for the time you might want to replace the 1 wire alternator with a std 3 wire Delco. Just add a ring terminal to connect it to the BAT stud and you are wired for a 3 wire alternator.
One tip is to go to the auto parts store and buy a Delco SI series alternator harness repair plug and use it to wire in your excite wire, less chance of a bare terminal shorting to the alternator case and looks neater. Tape up the sense wire in the plug and leave it there for the time you might want to replace the 1 wire alternator with a std 3 wire Delco. Just add a ring terminal to connect it to the BAT stud and you are wired for a 3 wire alternator.
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