How can this be happening?

I reinstalled the Delco generator on my 1955 70 L.P., and I'm still getting the kinks out of everything. The ignition switch is missing so I temporarily ran a hot wire from the negative post of the battery to the coil/distributor and voltage regulator. Everything works just fine, battery charges, starts easily. My question: before I reinstalled the generator, if I disconnected the hot wire from the battery, the engine went dead. Now, it keeps running, so to shut it off I have to shut off the fuel. No problem, but why does this work with my setup, but on any other motor vehicle I have owned, if you don't have voltage coming in from the battery, the engine dies, charging system or no charging system. Just wonderin'....
 
Sounds like your guessing at a wiring diagram....why no rewire like factor settings. I don't have the diagram but a parts manual, service manual would.
 
You have it hooked up in such a way that your not powering down the generator but you are unhooking the ignition from the battery but not form the generator system and by doing it that way the generator is still producing voltage so it keeps the ignition system powered up. Be careful because having it that way you can/will get a nasty shock that can in fact cause you harm and if you have a heart condition maybe kill you
 
Diode on a generator system???? Yes with an alternator but I have never in the 10 plus years heard of a diode on a generator system from any body on this site. From what he said he has the V.R. and the ignition wired together which is not correct
 
Well said, and point taken. Does anybody have a wiring diagram concerning voltage reg, generator, and ignition switch? I of course need to buy all the related manuals, but Christmas wiped out all the $ for a while. But thanks to all for the input, including the warning about voltage and cardiac arrest, it is a timely and relevant point. Hugh
 
(quoted from post at 10:48:49 01/03/13) Well said, and point taken. Does anybody have a wiring diagram concerning voltage reg, generator, and ignition switch?

Found this wiring diagram on this forum by using search function at the top of this page.
13481.jpg
 
The fact that it can hurt you is not something that is likely to happen but all it takes is less then 100Th of an amp to kill and a generator puts out 35 plus amps so yep many time more then enough to kill if you did get hooked up in a wrong way. I prefer to warn a people of something that is not likely to happen then to have it happen
 

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