More info on alternator question

grandpa Love

Well-known Member
When we got the tractor the #1
wire was burnt in two. So I ran a
new one. Well now alternator
charges! Yay. Well after working
tractor hard for a couple hours
the wire burnt up again,with
flames. So I ran a new wire with a
switch in it. So I flip it on for
30 minutes then flip it off. It's
been working but I don't think
it's right? What do y'all think?!
Also if I don't take cable off
battery when I ain't using the
tractor the battery will die with
in 20 hours. Battery is new.
 
(quoted from post at 21:47:54 06/24/18) When we got the tractor the #1
wire was burnt in two. So I ran a
new one. Well now alternator
charges! Yay. Well after working
tractor hard for a couple hours
the wire burnt up again,with
flames. So I ran a new wire with a
switch in it. So I flip it on for
30 minutes then flip it off. It's
been working but I don't think
it's right? What do y'all think?!
Also if I don't take cable off
battery when I ain't using the
tractor the battery will die with
in 20 hours. Battery is new.
ave alt tested or replace it.
 
Your wire should never burn up. It also sounds like you need a diode on that wire to allow the electricity to flow in only one direction, otherwise alternators will drain the battery. Look up how to wire in the diode. It is simple and that should fix that problem unless your alternator is bad.
 
Wire goes from stud on alternator to amp gauge. 2 wire plug ,1 wire goes to stud. 1 wire goes to key switch. Wire to key switch is the wire that burns up. Also wire with switch I added.
 
(quoted from post at 07:22:48 06/25/18) Wire goes from stud on alternator to amp gauge. 2 wire plug ,1 wire goes to stud. 1 wire goes to key switch. Wire to key switch is the wire that burns up. Also wire with switch I added.

You must be using quite a small gauge wire to the #1 terminal, which is normal/OK/fine.

Apparently, the alternator is either internally shorted, or charging through the "excite" wire, rather than out it's large output stud.

This can happen if the main rectifier bridge fails or there's an "open" in the charging circuit, somewhere between the output stud and the battery.

Have the alternator checked and/or replace it and be SURE the charging circuit is not "open".

Also, add a diode , "idiot light", or resistor in the "excite" circuit to the alternator's #1 terminal.

DelcoSIA1A.gif


DelcoSIB1A.gif
 
Bob, thanks for the diagrams. We
are actually using the tractor
today to bushhog 6-7 acres. We
will run down the issues this
evening. I just won't flip that
little switch!! Lol
 
I would second the question, what are you calling the #1 wire?

On a 3 wire, one wire is feed off alternator (big wire), one is excite, little wire, one is sense, little wire.

On a 1 wire, only feed (big wire)

I would want a #10 feed wire.
 

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