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alternator not coming on

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Old 11-17-2010, 11:13 PM
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Default alternator not coming on

truck alternator - here is how its wired.

big power cable straight to battery in the back.

B cable on connector( second one from the left when sitting in drivers seat) connected thru a 470 ohm resistor to 12v

C cable (third one from the left when sitting in drivers seat) connected to 12v


why could it not be working?
Old 11-18-2010, 10:29 PM
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ok, I have a newbie question.

I checked the resistance of the 470ohm resistor and it is 470 ohms(1/2 watt)

yet, when I apply 12.5 volts to one side, I get 12.5 volts out the other side, not 5 volts. I hope I didnt destroy the alternator. what am I doing wrong?
Old 11-19-2010, 11:25 AM
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Not sure why it seems alt's are such an issue w/ these swaps. I ended up using a warning bulb, 194, coming from 12v switched, then have that going to pins B and C. This is working for me, may not be exactly right, but it hasn't failed me.

If you don't have a 194 bulb holder (if you've gotten any aftermarket gauges, they use 194 bulbs/holders) try that out.
Old 11-19-2010, 12:53 PM
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Originally Posted by rotor vs. piston
Not sure why it seems alt's are such an issue w/ these swaps. I ended up using a warning bulb, 194, coming from 12v switched, then have that going to pins B and C. This is working for me, may not be exactly right, but it hasn't failed me.

If you don't have a 194 bulb holder (if you've gotten any aftermarket gauges, they use 194 bulbs/holders) try that out.
thanks for the information. I happen to have a couple of those laying around.

do you have to run a ground?
Old 11-19-2010, 01:16 PM
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No, just the power, after the bulb, going to B and C.
Old 11-19-2010, 01:34 PM
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Originally Posted by rotor vs. piston
No, just the power, after the bulb, going to B and C.
thanks.

ok, to clarify, my bulb has positive and negative. I hook a lead from 12v to positive, and a lead out of negative to the alternator?
Old 11-19-2010, 08:58 PM
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What is the problem? you only have 12.5 on your voltmeter? or 12.5 when accessories are used? Or 12.5 at the alt power lead is being produced or 12.5 at the battery not charging?


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Old 11-19-2010, 09:40 PM
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hey Bozz, I was only getting 12.5 while running to everything.

but, I replaced the resistor with a lamp tonight, and of course it works. sometimes it makes no sense because the resistor was dropping the voltage down to 1.26 and the lamp was dropping it to 1.28 so they are very close. I just dont have any explanation for why the resistor didnt work but the lamp does

thanks RvP and Bozz
Old 11-19-2010, 10:05 PM
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What year bro alt?..... I had a low voltage issue with my setup.... it would be 12.5-12.7 when car was running:

if I turned the healights on 11.8-12
turn the radio up 12-12.5
press the brake, voltage drop as well...

So I went back and tracked back how its all setup/69 Chevelle... well the 06 GTO alternator I have has:
B+ lead: wire going to the battery(voltage sensoring done here)
L lead: lead to the 3k ohm resistor (50mA max )
Ground connection (via the installation bolts)

With the ignition switched ON, current is supplied via resistance to the L terminal of the regulator with a maximum sinking current of 50mA. This allows current to flow (within the regulator) from the generator B+ terminal to the brushes and rotor winding.

The current in the rotor winding creates magnetic fields between adjacent rotor poles. As the rotor spins, the stator windings cut through this field at right angles and induce voltage. As the speed increases, this induced voltage increases. Current then flows through the 3-phase diode bridge in the rectifier to convert the AC voltage to DC. This is supplied to the B+ output and then to the battery.

The regulator B terminal monitors the system voltage. When this voltage reconnects approximately 14.5 volts , the regulator opens the circuit through the rotor winding, causing the generator output voltage to drop. When the regulator senses a voltage below a preset value, of the B Terminal, the regulator closes the circuit through the rotor winding and voltage to the battery again increases. This cycle repeats very rapidly.
The voltage sensing is done at the battery especially since I do not have a external regulator as such... Also with the old chevy 68-72 muscle car wiring aka Chevelle..... The external regulator regulated the voltage by sensoring the voltage at the junction/horn relay.... Now this will affect the rest of the car...

With the one wire alternator setups, them problem is the voltage sensing.... and depending on your alternator, your going to have to find a way for the alternator to be able to sense the voltage at a junction with your accessories.. With most 1 wire Alt, if the voltage sensoring issues is not handled, all your alternator is doing is serving as a great battery charger.

My motor and engine harness runs self sufficient of the Chevelle factory harness I have primarily.... I used the GTO engine relay/fuse box and the inside fuse box from the gto......

Now with our LSX conversions most do not have anything from the engine harnesses getting a voltage sensor signal for the accessories of the car/ Chevelle....

Now in our Chevelles all of the acessories are primarily receiving voltage at the horn relay/junction, most located on the driverside by the radiator and headlights..

My problem was the horn relay screws were rusted and corroded, plus I think the relay was bad... I went to Oreilly, bought a new horn relay.... problem solved..... now I have 13.8-14.0 on the digital, healights on 13.5 I also made sure I had a good 8 gauge wire from the horn relay/junction to the battery.

Remember our cars 68-72 muscle cars, the main voltage sensoring is done at the junction/ horn relay and serves as a junction.... From this junction aka horn relay is a wire that runs from there to the battery..... Now if you have deviated from this setup as such or put the battery in the trunk, then this may be a problem.... depending on your wiring.. The reason why I bring this up is becuase however you have it set up, how does your truck alt know when to activate the internal regulator from voltage sensoring?




Bozz

Last edited by bozzhawg; 11-19-2010 at 10:12 PM.
Old 11-19-2010, 10:40 PM
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thanks for the info man



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