Thread: differnce between 1-3 wire altenator

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can anyone explane the difference between a 1 wire altinator ,and mine a 3 wires comming from it , or what would really help me is if anyone knows of any sites that have basic wire diagrams, for the charging system, starter etc i need to understand where the wires go .
i have a motor im going to fire up on a stand and just need simple diagram for ing switch, hei,starter, altanator,battery.
thanks

Originally posted by blewbyou2
can anyone explane the difference between a 1 wire altinator ,and mine a 3 wires comming from it , or what would really help me is if anyone knows of any sites that have basic wire diagrams, for the charging system, starter etc i need to understand where the wires go .
i have a motor im going to fire up on a stand and just need simple diagram for ing switch, hei,starter, altanator,battery.
thanks

if all you gonna do is start it on the stand all you need to do as far as wires go is 1 -12 volt wire to the + on the HEI dist. from the bat.
a big ground from the bat. to the motor
a big hot wire to the big post on the starter solenoid
take screw driver and cross over the big starter wire to the"S" on the solenoid to get the motor to turn over then take it off when the motor starts. you can put a push button sw. there if you like
put some gas in it, time it and it should run.
thats all you need to make it run.

i dont think i left out anything.
if you are gonna run it any amount of time you need to hook up a radiator
you can use jumper cables from the bat. to the motor as the 2 big wires

Don't forget to put a switch in the 12v to the distributor so you can disconnect it to shut the engine down. Runaway engines are no fun.

you can put a toggle sw. going to the dist. if you like blewbyou2 but alligator clips at the bat and dist. works great for me.
hang loose im drawing you a diagram.

so while i know you guys are here could you explane the diff w/ the 1 wire altanator , im assuming since a total of three wire go to mine , mine is called a 3 wire? i have the big wire that goes to the back then 2 that go into the top in a din type plug , is the 1 wire hookup just the wire on the back , my truck is where i cant get to it to see where the two top wires went to ,i just have the altinator mocked up on the engine temporaly, but i would be intrested in changing it out if i can eliminate some wiring

Originally posted by blewbyou2
so while i know you guys are here could you explane the diff w/ the 1 wire altanator , im assuming since a total of three wire go to mine , mine is called a 3 wire? i have the big wire that goes to the back then 2 that go into the top in a din type plug , is the 1 wire hookup just the wire on the back , my truck is where i cant get to it to see where the two top wires went to ,i just have the altinator mocked up on the engine temporaly, but i would be intrested in changing it out if i can eliminate some wiring

a 3 wire alt has 1-12 ga. wire that's hot all of the time (from the bat.) that goes to the post on the back of the alt. in the plug you have 2 wires 1 about 14 ga. and one that's about 18 ga. (the little one) the big one in the plug is hot all of the time 12 volts and the little one is hot when you turn the key on, the little one excites the voltage reg. to get it going. To make your alt a 1 wire alt. do away with the plug, you don't need that anymore. then come off of the 12 volt post at the back of your alt and run yourself a short 12 ga. wire from the post to where the big wire was in the plug. thats all you have to do. when you crank the motor some times you have to idle it up some to get the alt to charge, but ive done that for yrs without a problem. if you don't under stand this let me know and ill get you a diagram. #1-12 volts 12 ga. wire to the big post on back of alt.#2- run a 12ga. wire from the post on the back of the alt to the right hand spade in the top of the alt. or the spade where the big wire came from in the plug in the top of the alt. don't take but a min.

THANKS I understand ,big wire on the back to the big wire on the top, then link it to the battery

Originally posted by blewbyou2
THANKS I understand ,big wire on the back to the big wire on the top, then link it to the battery

here is a pic.

blewbyou2 i am assuming you have a built in voltage reg. alt. if you got a older truck with a external voltage reg. then this wont work. you can replace the old alt. with one that has the built in reg. and then just run the one wire and that will work.

like i said i cant get to the truck to see where those 2 top wires are going to at the moment , and i know there is not one in the eng compartment ,so unless they hid one under the dash , its internal

whats the difference between60- 80-100-120 amp ratings , is that how fast they can charge the battery back up , or is it dependant on how many accesorys you have to run it all at the same time

Originally posted by blewbyou2
like i said i cant get to the truck to see where those 2 top wires are going to at the moment , and i know there is not one in the eng compartment ,so unless they hid one under the dash , its internal

whats the difference between60- 80-100-120 amp ratings , is that how fast they can charge the battery back up , or is it dependant on how many accesorys you have to run it all at the same time

if the plug is long and flat then its built in.

Originally posted by blewbyou2
can anyone explane the difference between a 1 wire altinator ,and mine a 3 wires comming from it , or what would really help me is if anyone knows of any sites that have basic wire diagrams, for the charging system, starter etc i need to understand where the wires go .
i have a motor im going to fire up on a stand and just need simple diagram for ing switch, hei,starter, altanator,battery.
thanks

blewbyou2

Go and read here:

http://www.madelectrical.com/electri...hreewire.shtml

It will give you a great understanding of how things work together

Pat

you can do what every you wont to blewbyou2 but i have and know other people that have run them the way i said with no problems, at no extra cost, and best i can tell this guy is selling 5.00 worth of wire for 28.00 plus shiping with no advantage that i can see. if you want to have the light its no big deal. if they was selling alt. they wouldnt be making 25.00 profit on each one, so hes makes more money by selling wire kits.

I only posted the Mad site because there is a lot of good tech info there that explains how things work.

its some good stuff in there stu, but someone that don't understand auto. electrical wiring may not be able to separate the good stuff from the bull crap. i know a little about wiring and the way i read it, if you didnt have this kit then you are gonna mess something up. blewbyou2 has got the factory wiring and from what i understood he wanted someone to tell him how to eliminate some wiring and what i told him is the only way i know how to eliminate any wiring from a 3 wire alt. and use his old alt. it will work just fine that way.