Charge indicator light with one wire alternator

RBoots · Aug 2, 2019

I'm trying to button up some stuff on a tractor of mine. It has a 12v generator that works, but has a bad voltage regulator. Now, for those of you that haven't bought a voltage regulator recently, unless you buy a VERY expensive one, they are all junk. And, the junk ones aren't exactly cheap at all either. It's actually cheaper and less hassle in the long run for me to just stick an alternator on it, since I have some wiring to do anyway. I dont buy wiring harnesses for anything, I have a large stock of electrical supplies and loom, and just make my own harnesses, and I love the simplicity of a Delco 1 wire alternator. But, I'll also use the regular 10si 3 wire alternator if that's what I have on hand. But, on this tractor, it has an idiot light on the cluster that goes out when it's charging, or charged up. In going through all my mental notes on how I could wire it up, I'm just not seeing how it's possible to get an idiot/charge indicator light to work with a 1 wire alternator. I'm sure there must be a way, but right now it is not coming across in my memory. It currently has a single wire panel light for the charge indicator. Would there be a way to do it with a 2 wire panel light? I'm thinking it may just be easier to wire it with a regular 3 wire 10si that I have on the shelf. Any of you have any insight on this? Thanks for any ideas guys.

Ross

old · Aug 2, 2019

To use an idiot light yes you need to use a 3 wire alternator

Destroked 450 · Aug 2, 2019

On my Fords I connect the warning light wire to the exciter wire on the Delco.
Turn the key on and the light comes on, start the engine and when the alternator starts charging the light goes off, something happen and the alternator stops charging the light comes on warning of a problem.
I've always preferred the 3 wire or a one wire.

SkipperII · Aug 2, 2019

Installing a voltmeter makes a lot more sense, it actually tells you something.

Bob · Aug 2, 2019

(quoted from post at 12:18:41 08/02/19) I'm trying to button up some stuff on a tractor of mine. It has a 12v generator that works, but has a bad voltage regulator. Now, for those of you that haven't bought a voltage regulator recently, unless you buy a VERY expensive one, they are all junk. And, the junk ones aren't exactly cheap at all either. It's actually cheaper and less hassle in the long run for me to just stick an alternator on it, since I have some wiring to do anyway. I dont buy wiring harnesses for anything, I have a large stock of electrical supplies and loom, and just make my own harnesses, and I love the simplicity of a Delco 1 wire alternator. But, I'll also use the regular 10si 3 wire alternator if that's what I have on hand. But, on this tractor, it has an idiot light on the cluster that goes out when it's charging, or charged up. In going through all my mental notes on how I could wire it up, I'm just not seeing how it's possible to get an idiot/charge indicator light to work with a 1 wire alternator. I'm sure there must be a way, but right now it is not coming across in my memory. It currently has a single wire panel light for the charge indicator. Would there be a way to do it with a 2 wire panel light? I'm thinking it may just be easier to wire it with a regular 3 wire 10si that I have on the shelf. Any of you have any insight on this? Thanks for any ideas guys.

Ross

Since you have a conventional Delco "on the shelf", and the tractor already has an "idiot light" and you want to keep the idiot light it seems like a "no brainer" to me to use the conventional alternator.

One side of "idiot light" is powered when key switch is "ON", other side now likely goes to the "ARM" or "GEN" terminal on your existing voltage regulator, connect that wire (only) to the alternator's #1 terminal, jumper #2 terminal over to large output stud, and you're DONE!

Traditional Farmer · Aug 2, 2019

Do you really need the light? If it charges it charges.You could get one of those bar type testers with a magnetic back stick it to some metal on the tractor to constantly monitor charging,I don't see the point in doing that.On my last 1 wire conversion the Idiot Light stays on when the switch is on and its handy for me since its a diesel I won't forget to turn the switch off once I pull the fuel stop to kill the engine.As long as the battery stays charged up and the tractor starts I figure it charging anyway.On a couple diesels I have one wire running to the battery from the alternator and
a push button switch to start, no off/on switch needed.

Steve@Advance · Aug 2, 2019

Under the rubber plug, the regulator terminals are there.

I've never tried, but the #1 might still work as a charge indicator.

Easy enough to try it with a volt meter.

John T · Aug 2, 2019

Yo Steve, that just may be right ???? I have seen some original THREE WIRE units converter to ONE WIRE by simply modifying that plug (small 1R and 2F terminals) and using a fixed in place resistor in which case the small 1R terminal wires to an idiot light via the ignition switch so when ON engine not running it would glow, but once running and the genny produces voltage it would go OFF. That's the same method for initial excitation of the three wire where EITHER an idiot light or resistor or diode can be used. Worth a try IFFFFFFFFF it has the 2 small terminals under the plug ???

John T

buickanddeere · Aug 2, 2019

(quoted from post at 13:18:41 08/02/19) I'm trying to button up some stuff on a tractor of mine. It has a 12v generator that works, but has a bad voltage regulator. Now, for those of you that haven't bought a voltage regulator recently, unless you buy a VERY expensive one, they are all junk. And, the junk ones aren't exactly cheap at all either. It's actually cheaper and less hassle in the long run for me to just stick an alternator on it, since I have some wiring to do anyway. I dont buy wiring harnesses for anything, I have a large stock of electrical supplies and loom, and just make my own harnesses, and I love the simplicity of a Delco 1 wire alternator. But, I'll also use the regular 10si 3 wire alternator if that's what I have on hand. But, on this tractor, it has an idiot light on the cluster that goes out when it's charging, or charged up. In going through all my mental notes on how I could wire it up, I'm just not seeing how it's possible to get an idiot/charge indicator light to work with a 1 wire alternator. I'm sure there must be a way, but right now it is not coming across in my memory. It currently has a single wire panel light for the charge indicator. Would there be a way to do it with a 2 wire panel light? I'm thinking it may just be easier to wire it with a regular 3 wire 10si that I have on the shelf. Any of you have any insight on this? Thanks for any ideas guys.

Ross

The problem is the one wire alternator, they are simple but have design and functionality deficiencies. Plus they run the battery dead.
Use a three wire alternator , they are not complicated .

Ozlander · Aug 2, 2019

Plus they run the battery dead.

That is another of your bull patties.

My naa has had a one wire alternator on since before I bought it. Maybe 25 years, have not had a dead battery in all that time.

old · Aug 2, 2019

Ah but it all depends on how the 1 wire is set up. I have had 1 wire that would run the battery down after a couple of weeks and others that did not run the battery down. The one wires are modified Delco 10SI 3 wire alternators

john in la · Aug 2, 2019

I would be surprised any of you actually have a true 1 wire alternator no matter what it was advertised as.

RBoots · Aug 2, 2019

Traditional Farmer, I'm kind of an a-hole when it comes to having everything work as designed. The indicator light is part of the instrument cluster, and it just absolutely drives me nuts to have something not work as it was designed to. It's like I have a mild case of OCD or something.

RBoots · Aug 2, 2019

Skipper, I know that, and on some applications maybe I would, but this is all in the instrument cluster, and I don't want to take a hole saw and cut a hole in the dash. If I want to sell it, I want it to work correctly and appear correct.

Ross

fixerupper · Aug 2, 2019

Along the same subject, I have a garden tractor with a starter generator. There is a charge indicator light in the dash. Its been a few years since I have worked on the charging system but it seems to me it is wired the same as a regular generator-regulator setup. How does a charge indicator light work with an old fashioned generator regulator? Where does the indicator light hook up?

Traditional Farmer · Aug 2, 2019

I think the ones years ago that were converted over would run the battery down none of the new ones I have run the battery down no matter how long they set.People tend to repeat what they have heard/read with no first hand experience.

John T · Aug 2, 2019

On the old Voltage Regulator systems the idiot light basically (via switching) wired across the Cutout Relay portion of the VR. One wire to a feed (such as that fed from the BAT terminal or ammeter etc) that got hot when the switch turned on,,,,,,,,,,Other to the VR's GEN/ARM terminal. If you turned on the power and she wasn't charging the light grounded through the genny so it lit up HOWEVER once the tractor started and the genny was producing voltage (cutout relay closes if alls well) there's no voltage difference across the light so it went out......?.

John T

fixerupper · Aug 2, 2019

Thanks John. I was thinking armature terminal but I couldnt wrap my feeble mind around the idea.

Bret4207 · Aug 3, 2019

(quoted from post at 21:25:34 08/02/19) I think the ones years ago that were converted over would run the battery down none of the new ones I have run the battery down no matter how long they set.People tend to repeat what they have heard/read with no first hand experience.

I have had new factory 1 wires that would run the batt down and conversions I did myself that would or wouldn't. I researched this a bit last year and was told some diodes "leak" and that was the cause. I dunno. I do know some do and some don't. I was big on the 1 wires for a while, but now I'm preferring the standard 3 wire since they are just easier to source at junkyards or peoples parts collections.

And it's not just alts that do this, I've had gens that would do this too. Bad parts is bad parts!

Charge indicator light with one wire alternator

RBoots

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old

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Destroked 450

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SkipperII

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Bob

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Traditional Farmer

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Steve@Advance

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John T

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buickanddeere

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Ozlander

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old

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RBoots

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RBoots

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