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If it was me (well it was me and I cut and soldered the CS144 plug from the adapter into my harness directly ) I'd say if you don't want to start cutting the harness, purchase one of those other adapters and then cut both of the adapters and make one with the connector that matches your harness and the other end with the CS144 plug
You'll still need to jumper where the old external regulator was
M
Here. Get one of these. I included the image. It's easy enough to rewire but this kit will probably make it easier for you. You will then have a 12si connector to plug in your 12si to cs-144 wiring kit. This is just one choice. You can find other folks to purchase from on the internet. Google these words - Alternator Conversion Lead Delco 10DN External Regulator to 10SI 12SI Internal
There is so much conflicting information out there on wiring a CS144 that I am completely lost. I was under the impression that with the SIxx to CS144 pigtail adapter that from a wiring standpoint, was just was plug and play. I was assuming that the adapter would take the external voltage regulator out of the loop; however, the external regulator plug is nowhere even close to similar to the pigtail. I need one of you experts to explain to me like I am a 10 year old girl how to do this preferable using pictures and short words. Thanks.
If it was me (well it was me and I cut and soldered the CS144 plug from the adapter into my harness directly ) I'd say if you don't want to start cutting the harness, purchase one of those other adapters and then cut both of the adapters and make one with the connector that matches your harness and the other end with the CS144 plug
You'll still need to jumper where the old external regulator was
M
Let me make sure that I am following:
Existing external regulator harness connector needs to be jumpered. Earlier you had said to jumper the two outer lugs together and the two inner lugs together. Correct? In the pic that carriljc provided, it appears that every other lug is jumpered...more confusion...
The conversion pigtail that I bought is the wrong one. Apparently, the one that I bought is for an internally regulated SI to CS144. I need to purchase a pigtail for an externally regulated SI to CS144
The correct pigtail will plug into the harness connector with the two blue and white wires that is currently plugged into the back of the old alternator.
I need to make sure that the new pigtail has a resistor wire.
If it was me (well it was me and I cut and soldered the CS144 plug from the adapter into my harness directly ) I'd say if you don't want to start cutting the harness, purchase one of those other adapters and then cut both of the adapters and make one with the connector that matches your harness and the other end with the CS144 plug
You'll still need to jumper where the old external regulator was
M
And if I went this route, which wire connects to which? I have a red/yellow pigtail going into a blue/white harness.
Existing external regulator harness connector needs to be jumpered. Earlier you had said to jumper the two outer lugs together and the two inner lugs together. Correct? In the pic that carriljc provided, it appears that every other lug is jumpered...more confusion...
Honestly I thought (poor old mind) that it was outer and inner but the one carriljc posts looks right, red on blue and brown on white. I'll actually go look and if it's the not the way his shows I'll get back to you
Originally Posted by C3Wescott
The conversion pigtail that I bought is the wrong one. Apparently, the one that I bought is for an internally regulated SI to CS144. I need to purchase a pigtail for an externally regulated SI to CS144
Correct, that's the right pigtail (it's what I used but I needed to add the resistor) for a internally regulated alternator to CS144, plug and play for those ones
Originally Posted by C3Wescott
The correct pigtail will plug into the harness connector with the two blue and white wires that is currently plugged into the back of the old alternator.
Correct, if you can actually get one then it's just like what you have but with a connector that matches your current harness. (You still need to deal with the external regulator connector regardless of what you do)
Originally Posted by C3Wescott
Let me make sure that I am following:
I need to make sure that the new pigtail has a resistor wire.
Correct (from my conversion post) Wiring the CS144 required the addition of a resistor to the alt, if you check around you'll find that the resistance on the lead needs to be somewhere between 35ohms and 500 ohms (depending on who you believe) and with only a gauge, I needed to add resistance (if the car has a batt. light that should be enough resistance) you can check by disconnecting the positive cable and measuring between the cable and the alt wire to see what the resistance is.
I purchased two different adapters, one from a vette supplier, the other from NAPA, that were supposed to be the correct ones with the resistor, neither were. There was a story floating around that a bunch were mis-boxed but if you get one, open the conduit and see if there is a resistor heat-shrunk on the wire, don't trust the part number on the box.
So you can check but chances are you need one since we use gauges that don't create the signal that the alt needs to excite the charger business.
I should really just wire my CS-144 in directly and solder those leads.
The only problem I've had with it is when that 12si to CS144 connector was not making good contact. I initially kept the 12si connector intentionally because 12si's were much more common then....
My external regulator is totally out of the picture and I soldered those connections to avoid hassles of potential intermitent connection issues.
Yeah on mine I didn't have the external regulator but I've cut my harness so many times over the years I don't even think twice anymore and I just soldered everything right to the cs connector but I'm certainly not worried about ever having to undo the wiring LOL
M
Agree...12.5 is too low, I just tried to anticipate as many questions as I could. No A/C, I am not sure if the regulator is original or not but it is a Delco Remy. Is there more info that you need on the regulator? I was checking the voltage at the battery at idle with the fans on.
if your car didnt have ac, It typically came with a 42amp alt I believe and im not sure how many amps it provides at idle. If you had the 63 amp (ac) alternator, both fans are using 28amps of current, If your headlights and wipers were off you should see more than 12.5v of charging current for sure ... typically when you put the electric fans in you want to beef up the power wire going from the alternator to the starter. ive also been told its a bad idea to power the fans from the alternator stud but some do it with no issues, that setup would be safer with the heavier wire going from the alt to starter as well.
I have the dual 11" fans with a cheap ebay "high output" chrome 80a alternator and when testing, at idle with both fans on along with headlights and wiper and stereo I am still charging at 13.7-13.9v. Other than the extra fused 4awg wire going from my alt to starter, I did not have to modify my cars stock wiring since the chrome alt was a 10si like the original
Last edited by augiedoggy; Mar 28, 2022 at 09:28 AM.
if your car didnt have ac, It typically came with a 42amp alt I believe and im not sure how many amps it provides at idle. If you had the 63 amp (ac) alternator, both fans are using 28amps of current, If your headlights and wipers were off you should see more than 12.5v of charging current for sure ... typically when you put the electric fans in you want to beef up the power wire going from the alternator to the starter. ive also been told its a bad idea to power the fans from the alternator stud but some do it with no issues, that setup would be safer with the heavier wire going from the alt to starter as well.
I have the dual 11" fans with a cheap ebay "high output" chrome 80a alternator and when testing, at idle with both fans on along with headlights and wiper and stereo I am still charging at 13.7-13.9v. Other than the extra fused 4awg wire going from my alt to starter, I did not have to modify my cars stock wiring since the chrome alt was a 10si like the original
Yep, I had read the same thing on running off the alternator and so ran the power to the fans from the starter. Thanks!
Yep, I had read the same thing on running off the alternator and so ran the power to the fans from the starter. Thanks!
you will want to run another wire from the alt to the starter then since the 10-12awg wire thats there now is not enough to supply enough amps from the alt to keep up with the 30amps the fans are pulling and then whatever else is drawing.
If you another lead in parallel you need to ensure you have adequate protection for it with the appropriately sized fusible link. Also note that your ammeter will not longer be monitoring the path appropriately.
If you another lead in parallel you need to ensure you have adequate protection for it with the appropriately sized fusible link. Also note that your ammeter will not longer be monitoring the path appropriately.
true, I did mention that in my original comment... as far as the ammeter, in my case I updated that too, with a volt meter.
Funny no one bothered to ask the op what his ammeter was reading when the voltage was 12.5v? in truth I have never seen any one state what their actual amp draw is with one at idle or otherwise.
I didnt use anything special as far as a name brand replacement alternator just something like this $80 unit, (although this one states its 120amps) https://www.ebay.com/itm/16524219016...oAAOSwsG1h6lFx To be fair though, I did have an issue with the voltage regulator in mine when I bought it. The seller promptly refunded me half the cost and I went to napa and bought a replacement voltage regulator for $14.. that was a few years ago and no issues since. Although the fans have only been installed since last spring.
Last edited by augiedoggy; Mar 29, 2022 at 08:20 AM.
