Table of Contents
- 1 Can I wire my alternator directly to my battery?
- 2 What wire connects to the alternator?
- 3 What is the sense wire on an alternator?
- 4 What happens if alternator is not grounded?
- 5 What should I do if my alternator gets too hot?
- 6 Where are the wire connectors on an alternator?
- 7 Do you need an alternator in a 1960 car?
Can I wire my alternator directly to my battery?
Attach a cable directly from the alternator output post to the positive side of the battery. This allows for full output from the alternator to the battery when heavy electrical demands are placed on the alternator.
What wire connects to the alternator?
Remote voltage sense alternators: The three wires connected to the alternator are the positive, negative cables and a third smaller gauge wire connected to the alternator remote sense or (S) terminal. To determine if your vehicle has remote sense, voltage will always be present on this terminal at all times.
Where does the alternator ground wire go?
The alternator is grounded to the engine block by its mounting points so the engine block itself becomes an electrical ground distribution block. You just need to find a suitable bolt to secure your additional ground wire. You can add a wire from the chassis of the car to the engine block.
What is the sense wire on an alternator?
These sensing wires measure the actual battery terminal voltage and allow the regulator to drive the voltage at the battery end to the correct point. Voltage is the pressure that allows current to flow into the batteries. Incorrect voltage sensing causes your regulator to prematurely begin limiting voltage.
What happens if alternator is not grounded?
Poor ground connections are a cause of low charging output. There are positive and negative battery cable connections, the BAT+ power connection, and the engine ground strap. Overcharging can be caused by voltage dropping on the negative side.
What does the alternator exciter wire do?
An alternator is an auto part that transmits power from the fuel system to the battery for operating vehicle accessories, such as the radio, headlights and air conditioning fans. A wire called an exciter generates the voltage needed for an alternator to start working once a vehicle is started.
What should I do if my alternator gets too hot?
1. measure voltage. if above 14.8ish, regulator is bad, and is running alternator wide open, resulting in excessive heat. Will very soon ruin your “brand new battery”. 3. If voltage is between 13.2 and 14.8, disconnect exciter wire. Run alternator.
Where are the wire connectors on an alternator?
Since the 1960s, alternators have been of the 3-wire type. Inspect the back and sides of the alternator to locate the two wire connectors. One of the connectors is typically a threaded bolt protruding from the back (the opposite end from the pulley) that a wire with a boot on the connecting end is snapped onto.
What happens when you remove wire from alternator?
This permits power to begin flowing through the alternator as well as the other components of the car. Always mark each wire that you remove from an old alternator, if necessary, to ensure you can easily replace the wires in the correct connectors when you install the replacement alternator.
Do you need an alternator in a 1960 car?
Vehicles older than a 1960 model may require all of the connections of the alternator, except ground, to be connected to positive and negative terminals of an external voltage regulator instead of directly to battery and ignition connectors.