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Access to generator "sense" terminal

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Old Feb 6, 2003 | 07:49 AM
  #1  
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Default Access to generator "sense" terminal

Hello,

I was wondering if there is a diagram
available for the generator for the
2000-2002 SS. There is a two wire connector
going to the generator - what do signals do they carry (12V and gnd?). I want to be able to
change the sense voltage (not sure if this can be done externally) so I can control the 14.2V
at a remote point rather than at the generator terminal.
Thanks,

Gert
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Old Feb 6, 2003 | 07:43 PM
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Default Re: Access to generator "sense" terminal

Altenator?
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Old Feb 6, 2003 | 08:02 PM
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Default Re: Access to generator "sense" terminal

If your talking about changing the charging system voltage, that controlled by the regulator inside the alternator. The "sense" wires are one to key on pwr. & other to pcm for regulator & charge light/gauge feed to cluster. You cant make the output volt level what you what externally on these alternators. + never heard of a non-stock regulators for delco CS alternators.

<small>[ February 06, 2003, 08:07 PM: Message edited by: wrencher ]</small>
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Old Feb 7, 2003 | 06:45 AM
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Default Re: Access to generator "sense" terminal

Thanks for the feedback. The service manual actually calls the alternaor a generator. Itr makes sense, because it generates electricity.
In the manual it shows an "S" terminal but
does not give any further info. I know that back
in the Buick GN days folks used to tie in a
signal to this terminal to temporarily increase
the generator output to 16V or so for the fuel pump to push harder to overcome additionl boost
(stock was around 12-13psi, but of course folks bumpoed it up way more). The voltgae was increased to say 16 V whenever the boost exceeded 10psi, otherwise the voltgae was stock.

Gert
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Old Feb 7, 2003 | 10:15 AM
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Default Re: Access to generator "sense" terminal

Hmmm...interesting. Alternator or generator?

Let's break out the dictionary...

"alternator

\Al"ter*na`tor\, n. (Elec.) An electric generator or dynamo for producing alternating currents.


Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


alternator

n : an old term for an electric generator that produces alternating current (especially in automobiles)"


And generator...

"generator

\Gen"er*a`tor\, n. (Elec.) Any machine that transforms mechanical into electrical energy; a dynamo."


Sounds like we have generators to me...unless they produce alternating current and then you could call it either a generator or an alternator. I know batteries are of course DC but does that necessarily mean that they are fed DC?

-Electrically ignorant
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Old Feb 7, 2003 | 10:53 AM
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Default Re: Access to generator "sense" terminal

A DC device must be feed a DC charge or supply or else BOOM.

As a young boy I decided to make my Lionel train (0V-16V DC) go faster <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> (go figure) with 120V AC. I hooked up the wires to the track and pushed the plug into the wall and all of a sudden there was a flash and a BOOM and the room went dark. Needless to say I did not try that again.

John

<small>[ February 07, 2003, 10:55 AM: Message edited by: JNorris ]</small>
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Old Feb 7, 2003 | 11:27 AM
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Default Re: Access to generator "sense" terminal

The Colonel is right again.
Technically it is a generator because the output is DC. Actual alternators have an AC output and feed an externally mounted regulator/filter that helps "smooths out" the waveform before charging the battery.

The terminology got confusing when the old DC generators went away in the 60's; replaced by the devices we have now. It's basically an AC operation going on inside, but it's fully filtered and regulated with diodes and the electronic regulator, making the output DC with a little ripple on it.

I was an engineer at Delphi (Delco Remy)for many years before starting my own business, and there was always a battle over being technically correct versus what the public wants to call things.

The other one was the "starter", which technically is a "cranking motor", but I think the public finally won that one, and starter is internally accepted as "ok" to say. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
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Old Feb 7, 2003 | 04:34 PM
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Default Re: Access to generator "sense" terminal

if you overcharge the whole car you stand a change of frying lots of expensive stuff.

if you want more voltage to just your fuel pump, well they sell things specifically for that

atthe very least you can just run a hotwire to your pump so you get 14.2 volts instead of the 12 that the computer regulates to it.
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