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Need Help With CS144 Alternator Install

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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 03:55 PM
  #61  
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Originally Posted by BerniesVette
I would definately go with 8 guage wire from the alt to the battery. I would also run an 8 guage wire from the batt post on the alt to a buss barr and use relays to turn on circuits to your lights and other accessories. this will keep all the heavy amperage from the dash area.
Bernie
Bernie...can you expand on the "buss bar"? What it is, where to get one and what it costs?
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by Jclgodale3
Ok...hooked it up with the 1 wire going to the red wire of the original 2 wire plug (one is white and one is red) Started up. 18 volts at 2500rpm! About 14.3 volts at idle. I smelled wire insulation heating up so turned it off. The hot lead going to the battery was extremely hot. The source of the smell. What do you suggest from here other than a larger wire replacing this one that goes to the starter?

18 Volts is WAAAAY to high. VERY dangerous. An alt should not be allowed to make that. It's regulated. The gauge of the wire will only let more in, and that's bad. You have a wiring issue somewhere that needs to be solved.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 04:07 PM
  #63  
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Originally Posted by Durango_boy
18 Volts is WAAAAY to high. VERY dangerous. An alt should not be allowed to make that. It's regulated. The gauge of the wire will only let more in, and that's bad. You have a wiring issue somewhere that needs to be solved.
Thats what I'm trying to find out. It's not a previous wiring issue because everything ran and charged fine with the stock 63A alternator. I think it's a matter of a new wiring setup and am waiting on Bernie to elaborate
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 04:10 PM
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Originally Posted by Jclgodale3
Thats what I'm trying to find out. It's not a previous wiring issue because everything ran and charged fine with the stock 63A alternator. I think it's a matter of a new wiring setup and am waiting on Bernie to elaborate
Hey, did you see the PM?

I have a feeling it's that 1-wire crap. I have a link at home for a vendor that sells the SI to CS adapter, that has two wires. I think that's the fix for me, and probably for you too.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 04:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Durango_boy
Hey, did you see the PM?

I have a feeling it's that 1-wire crap. I have a link at home for a vendor that sells the SI to CS adapter, that has two wires. I think that's the fix for me, and probably for you too.
I think they are updating the server. Every time I click on PM's, it locks up.
What are the 2 wires for? Where do they go? 1 is white and one is red on the original connector. I plugged the one wire from the CS144 into the red lead. Should I try the white lead?
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 04:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Jclgodale3
I think they are updating the server. Every time I click on PM's, it locks up.
What are the 2 wires for? Where do they go? 1 is white and one is red on the original connector

I wish I knew. The combo I thought I knew seems wrong...the same you know. But, this wire kit has pre-wired plugs, so you can't get them backwards. I have a feeing that's the solve. I wish I had the link here...
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 04:27 PM
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1 wire is the "Exciter" that turns on the regulator and the other is voltage sensing to tell the alternator what voltage to put out.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 05:25 PM
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Sixfooter,
I missed the 18 volts. It should only put 14.2 volts to the battery to fully charge it. It sounds like the voltage regulator may be bad inside the alternator. I would take it to an alternator repair shop and have it checked and also ask them how this alt. should be connnected to his car because of all the different variations of the CS144 alt.
As for the buss bar, it is not much more than a big bolt used to send wires to relays. The best place to look at the electrical upgrades I will be doing this winter is go to www.madelectrical.com and check out the startem up kit and relay kits he sells. Or call Mark directly at: 599-531-7128. He will give you information and advice freely. You can see diagrams of how to run wires from the alt to a buss bar, to the battery and accesories. Really good info.
Bernie
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Jclgodale3
Ok...hooked it up with the 1 wire going to the red wire of the original 2 wire plug (one is white and one is red) Started up. 18 volts at 2500rpm! About 14.3 volts at idle. I smelled wire insulation heating up so turned it off. The hot lead going to the battery was extremely hot. The source of the smell. What do you suggest from here other than a larger wire replacing this one that goes to the starter?
You need to connect the smaller red wire to the center of the bank of three terminals on the CS alternator. You aren't getting any regulation right now with the sense wire disconnected.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by BerniesVette
Sixfooter,
I missed the 18 volts. It should only put 14.2 volts to the battery to fully charge it. It sounds like the voltage regulator may be bad inside the alternator. I would take it to an alternator repair shop and have it checked and also ask them how this alt. should be connnected to his car because of all the different variations of the CS144 alt.
As for the buss bar, it is not much more than a big bolt used to send wires to relays. The best place to look at the electrical upgrades I will be doing this winter is go to www.madelectrical.com and check out the startem up kit and relay kits he sells. Or call Mark directly at: 599-531-7128. He will give you information and advice freely. You can see diagrams of how to run wires from the alt to a buss bar, to the battery and accesories. Really good info.
Bernie
Bernie...already bench tested and the alternator is fine. I'm guessing the wiring is not correct so I should get one of those CS to SI adapters since my CS plug only has one wire coming out of it?
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 05:40 PM
  #71  
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Originally Posted by I'm Batman
You need to connect the smaller red wire to the center of the bank of three terminals on the CS alternator. You aren't getting any regulation right now with the sense wire disconnected.
Thats kinda what I was thinking. Gonna pick up a CS plug at Advance. So which wire on the CS goes to which wire on the SI plug? Thanks for the help!
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 06:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Jclgodale3
Thats kinda what I was thinking. Gonna pick up a CS plug at Advance. So which wire on the CS goes to which wire on the SI plug? Thanks for the help!

I'll need to know this too since I have 1 wire and I think I need two.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 06:51 PM
  #73  
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Originally Posted by Jclgodale3
Bernie...already bench tested and the alternator is fine. I'm guessing the wiring is not correct so I should get one of those CS to SI adapters since my CS plug only has one wire coming out of it?
Ok...picked up a 3 wire plug from advance for the CS144. Now, these wires are marked "S" "F" and "L" with the "P" lug having no wire coming out of it. The original plug I took off only has the "L" lug with a wire coming out of it. Also picked up a Buss 40A bar. Nowwww! What wire from the original 2 wire harness (one being white and one being red) do I hook to the new 3 wire plug?
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 07:52 PM
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Maybe this will help.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 08:00 PM
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Originally Posted by shafrs3
Maybe this will help.

That diagram is even different than the one wire plug I have. This can't be that hard.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 08:31 PM
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It's not, the brown wire goes to the L lug, the S lug is jumpered to the batt lug. The black/white stripped wire is not used. The colors I'm quoting here are from a '72 harness.
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Last edited by shafrs3; Sep 8, 2006 at 08:48 PM.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 08:47 PM
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Originally Posted by shafrs3
It's not, the brown wire goes to the L lug, the S lug is jumpered to the batt lug. The black/white stripped wire is not used.

You're referring to the Autozone plug? Mine was ordered, and only has a single black wire.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by shafrs3
It's not, the brown wire goes to the L lug, the S lug is jumpered to the batt lug. The black/white stripped wire is not used. The colors I'm quoting here are from a '72 harness.
Jesus...now I'm getting only battery power and no charge at all...WTF?
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Durango_boy
You're referring to the Autozone plug? Mine was ordered, and only has a single black wire.
No, I'm refering to the original wires in the harness. I cut my original plug off and spliced in the new CS144 plug.

Brown to the L lug.
Strap the S lead to the batt lug.
Ignore the black/white stripped wire - not needed.
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Old Sep 8, 2006 | 08:54 PM
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Originally Posted by shafrs3
It's not, the brown wire goes to the L lug, the S lug is jumpered to the batt lug. The black/white stripped wire is not used. The colors I'm quoting here are from a '72 harness.
Mine's a 71 Harness. The original 2 lug connector has a white wire and a red wire. The red wire is the one, I assume, that goes over to the horn relay and then down to the starter
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