brown wire from alternator
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 165
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From: concord ohio
brown wire from alternator
what does the brown wire that connects to the 2 wire clip on top of the alternator on my 78 do? It is broken, but the car is fine and the battery remains charged. I have noticed that the gen light on longer comes on. Does this wire do anything else?
thanks,
thanks,
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 18,731
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it is part of the charging system to maintain correct charging voltage.
they make the plastic clip with the two wires attached, you cut off the existing one and splice in the new one.
I'm sure if you used a voltmeter you will discover a problem with the output voltage of the alternator.
they make the plastic clip with the two wires attached, you cut off the existing one and splice in the new one.
I'm sure if you used a voltmeter you will discover a problem with the output voltage of the alternator.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
It's the wire for the alternator light. The circuit provides the indicator light and it also helps to excite the alternator and initiate charging when the engine is started. The alternator might not work with it disconnected, but in your case it seems the alternator is self exciting.
You can replace the clip, or just the end of the wire to fix it. The terminals are fairly easy to remove from the connector with a small screwdriver or other small thin tab. You just push it in on the side of the connector that plugs into the alternator on the back part of the terminal where there is a little tab that has to be depressed to release it.
You can replace the clip, or just the end of the wire to fix it. The terminals are fairly easy to remove from the connector with a small screwdriver or other small thin tab. You just push it in on the side of the connector that plugs into the alternator on the back part of the terminal where there is a little tab that has to be depressed to release it.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 516
Likes: 72
From: Modesto California
The single strand brown wire is what energizes the field and gets the alternator charging. You can buy new plugs with pigtails for about $3 from any auto parts store. Just butt connect it to your existing wires.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,230
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From: Wauconda IL
