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Alternator cable connection

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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 07:24 PM
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Default Alternator cable connection

'80, Delco alternator.

The postive cable attaches to the left side (viewed from rear) of the alternator with a bolt. Near that bolt is a threaded stud with a red plastic washer and a nut on it. Isn't that the normal connector? Why would there be two locations?
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 07:37 PM
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Your ground wire goes on the bolt thats on the right side of the Alt when looking from the rear.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by SEVNT6
Your ground wire goes on the bolt thats on the right side of the Alt when looking from the rear.
Yes, the ground is hooked up with a bolt on the right. The positive bolts into a hole on the left, but I am wondering about the threaded
stud with the red plastic washer which is next to that hole on the left.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 07:52 PM
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The positive cable should never contact the case, the red washer is between the case and the stud to prevent contact of positive voltage. If you are putting the red cable directly on the case, or on a bolt that threads into the case you're doing something wrong.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 07:53 PM
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On mine the positive is on that stud and I don't see a hole around it.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:05 PM
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Red arrow is positive
Dark Blue arrow is Negative
This one has a black insulator behind stud instead of a red one.


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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:06 PM
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Originally Posted by Ben Taylor
The positive cable should never contact the case, the red washer is between the case and the stud to prevent contact of positive voltage. If you are putting the red cable directly on the case, or on a bolt that threads into the case you're doing something wrong.
Thanks.
Mine was bolted into the threaded hole-been that way since I got the car.Never was a problem until my warning light came on and I found the bolt had come loose.I'll move it to the other connector.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:15 PM
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Are you sure it was installed that way? Because you would either have a fire, or burnt up fuseable links.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:26 PM
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Originally Posted by noonie
Red arrow is positive
Dark Blue arrow is Negative
This one has a black insulator behind stud instead of a red one.


This may sound dumb, but is the lead off ther "batt" terminal on the alt, supposed to go to the battery? It just seems like a long run, couldnt it just go somewhere else like the starter?
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Ben Taylor
Are you sure it was installed that way? Because you would either have a fire, or burnt up fuseable links.

Ring out your wiring, perhaps someone has altered it and didn't use the correct colors.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:29 PM
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Originally Posted by cherrybombc3
This may sound dumb, but is the lead off ther "batt" terminal on the alt, supposed to go to the battery? It just seems like a long run, couldnt it just go somewhere else like the starter?
Yes it does go to the battery via the starter.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:32 PM
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Originally Posted by noonie
Yes it does go to the battery via the starter.
ERR, mine goes all the way back to the actual battery????
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:33 PM
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Originally Posted by cherrybombc3
This may sound dumb, but is the lead off ther "batt" terminal on the alt, supposed to go to the battery? It just seems like a long run, couldnt it just go somewhere else like the starter?
It does go to the starter. Battery just means "output."
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Big2Bird
It does go to the starter. Battery just means "output."
Though it was done well, I could tell it was not original, I'll have to put it back to the starter. I always thought that was a long run.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Ben Taylor
Are you sure it was installed that way? Because you would either have a fire, or burnt up fuseable links.
Mine is a little different than the one pictured above. There is a threaded hole directly above the red terminal. It looks just like the hole for the bolt on the negative side, but is slightly smaller in diameter.

It was absolutely positively hooked up there all along.Wierd.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:43 PM
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Originally Posted by noonie
Yes it does go to the battery via the starter.
The terminal on the starter just acts like a junction block and continues to the battey with a much larger cable and this is why the "bat" terminal on the alternator is always hot, even with the key off.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:44 PM
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Originally Posted by randyredleg
Mine is a little different than the one pictured above. There is a threaded hole directly above the red terminal. It looks just like the hole for the bolt on the negative side, but is slightly smaller in diameter.

It was absolutely positively hooked up there all along.Wierd.
Post a pic if you can
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:48 PM
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Originally Posted by noonie
The terminal on the starter just acts like a junction block and continues to the battey with a much larger cable and this is why the "bat" terminal on the alternator is always hot, even with the key off.
This is a 10si, any better? I think this case maxed at 70amps
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 08:51 PM
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Originally Posted by cherrybombc3
Though it was done well, I could tell it was not original, I'll have to put it back to the starter. I always thought that was a long run.
You're serious
I thought you were just kidding and asking a question.

It's not original that way but doesn't make any difference functionally as long as there is a fusable link or breaker in there.
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Old Feb 27, 2007 | 11:37 PM
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Originally Posted by noonie
You're serious
I thought you were just kidding and asking a question.

It's not original that way but doesn't make any difference functionally as long as there is a fusable link or breaker in there.
Yah, I was serious , I wonder why someone would go through all that?? Wierd, I still think I'm going to re-do it to the starter. It will drive me nuts now that I know.
Jimbo
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