ohiovet

I have done a search but can't find the answer so;
When installing a 1 wire alternator on my 57 modified car how do I wire the original voltage regulator or do you just terminate the connections?

wmf62

I believe the one-wire has a built-in regulator. my thought would be to abandon the original regulator and run a wire directly to the battery/battery terminal on starter.

Bill

jim lockwood

Bruce,

If it were mine, I'd remove the regulator and the short regulator harness entirely. They are not needed. Connect the large red wire, which formerly tied to the regulator, to the alternator output.

Yes, the 1-wire alternator has an internal regulator.

Connected as I suggest and your Ammeter will function as normal.

Jim

Frankie the Fink

More than you probably want to know on the topic:
http://www.madelectrical.com/electri...hreewire.shtml

GCD1962

Read the above article from Madelectric. Almost all the one-wires can be run as a 2-wire with internal reg. Remove the plastic cover for the two-wire hook-up, get a connector at auto store and follow the madelectric instructions. With only the one wire hookup you can not get the maximum voltage

jasonsamara

I put a 1 wire on my 60 a year ago. Someone had already put an alternator on it previously. I determined either the alternator was bad or the external regulator was bad. After we determined my alternator was made up of spare parts it was an easy decision. I have had no issues and all gauges still work.

jim lockwood

Undeniably true. However, that may not be a bad thing.

I am informed by a friend with significant experience in battery operated systems that charging a battery to less than a full charge increases its longevity.

So let's say you lose a few 10s of milli-Volts in that 12 gauge wire from the 1 wire alternator (only when there is high current draw, BTW) and maybe your battery gets slightly less than a full charge. You get longer battery life as a result.

Sounds like a good trade off to me.

Jim

GCD1962

When I had it hooked up as a 1-wire it put out 12.2. volts, when I switched it to a 2-wire it got a full 14.2 volts. HEI units like full voltage. Also, I have the same battery in the car when I first installed it - that was nearly 10 years ago (Optima battery)

dplotkin

That has never been my understanding but it would account for a few epic lifespans of batteries in my 8 car fleet, one is closing in on 12 years. None are regularly topped off given trip length.

Dan

jim lockwood

I'm not a battery expert so I have to take what I'm told at face value.

My friend who told me about the inverse relationship between charging Voltage and longevity has a lot of experience installing remote data gathering equipment which is solar powered and battery backed. His stuff just works and that gives what he says a lot of weight.

YMMV, of course.

Jim

jim lockwood

That sounds like there was something not quite right about the 1 wire configuration. It certainly doesn't match my experience. I've got two engines with 1 wire alternators which reliably source in excess of 14 Volts.

ohiovet

I took the time to read the article, http://www.madelectrical.com/electri...hreewire.shtml, and it is very interesting.
I still believe I will go with a 1 wire alternator.
Jegs has one that "kicks on or cuts in" at 880 rpm which is a improvement over the older ones which need about 1200 rpm to start.

Thanks to everyone for the great info and opinions.
Bruce B

wmf62

I REALLY don't understand the fascination with 1-wire alternators, especially if one wants to use 'stock' gauges... on a John Deere tractor, maybe; a corvette, no....

Bill

jim lockwood

Not following, Bill.

The way I suggested the 1 wire alt be connected, the stock Ammeter will work as it always did. When I put a 1 wire alt on one of our Grand Sports, I wired it in such that the stock '63 battery gauge would function correctly.

IOW, retaining stock gauges, if that's what one wants to do, is all about the installation and not about whether it's a 1 wire alternator or not.

Or am I missing your point (always possible)?

Jim

wmf62

Jim
no, you didn't miss anything; I just stated it poorly...

MOST folks seem to hook them up with a wire-to-the-battery/starter; so I understand what you said..

what I REALLY meant was, as I said to start with, what is the fascination with 1-wire alternators when a 'standard' alternator is so easy to install/use?

Bill

Canuck62

Got a question
would the heavy red wire (12 gauge) from ammeter connect to the same place (output) on a 3 wire alternator and allow the gauge to work properly
my car does not have the VR connected to anything

wmf62

have you read the link in post #4? if not, please read it.
Bill