Steve@Advance...

banjoman09 · Oct 7, 2020

Steve...(or anyone) I found a wire diagram on my Super C (simple yes) have it wired and still not charging; I put no.2 on plug to back of alternator; still have not hooked up no 1...the only light on my dash is a "one wire light" for the charging system...how should I run my no. 1 wire? Thanks.

old · Oct 7, 2020

An alternator can never charge till you have put power to the #1 wire which is what excites the alternator or in other words turns it on. One can touch the #1 wire to the charge stud for a moment and that will turn it on. That is how I do it on my IH584 since it has only the battery cable the charge wire and a start wire

J Hamilton · Oct 7, 2020

You just can't leave that wire attached though or it will drain the battery. I always install a one way diode so it always comes on to charge but doesn't allow backfeed.

old · Oct 7, 2020

It only takes a moment to power up the excite circuit and you do not need to leave it hooked up since once powered up it stays powered up till it stops spinning

J Hamilton · Oct 7, 2020

True, but I always put the diode in when I convert from a generator to alternator for people so they don't forget to power it up. Just makes it easier for them

old · Oct 7, 2020

Yes but if you read wht I said about my IH584 it has only enough wires on it to make it run. Being a diesel if doesn't need much and since it was on fire at one times all the wires got burned off so when I got it up and running I left only the needed wires on it to run it

J Hamilton · Oct 7, 2020

Oh I see, I didn't know you only had the minimal wiring on it from a fire.

old · Oct 7, 2020

In my post I stated it only has the battery cables then charge wire and a start wire no switches or other such things. I just touch the start wire to the battery

banjoman09 · Oct 7, 2020

This is what the parts store sold me ; but on the back it says "hook one wire to ground and one wire to hot wire"...so will this work? I think I need to hook No.1 wire to this light and other side to switch if I am right? Thanks

old · Oct 7, 2020

Yes #1 wire to one side of that light and the other side of the light to the same side of the ignition switch as the coil hooks to or to save wire hook to the ignition side of the coil less wiring and a whole lot shorter wire

Steve@Advance · Oct 7, 2020

Your on the right track, but that appears to be an LED light.

It won't have enough resistance to excite the alternator.

It needs to be incandescent.

old · Oct 7, 2020

You have it back wards. It will excite the alternator but it may not let him shut the engine off. I know a normal diode will work but not sure if the LED works the same as a common diode and be a one way device

banjoman09 · Oct 7, 2020

ok sounds good- I cant find the indicator light on this site or internet so guess ill go to parts store and make one work even if I have to drill out the dang hole! Thanks for your help!

John T · Oct 7, 2020

Banjoman, if its a Delco "Three Wire" Alternator you need to supply initial excitation voltage on the small side 1R terminal to start charging.

If its a gas tractor that's often fed by the wire that sends hot battery voltage to the ignition coils input when the ignition switch is ON IE wire alternators small side 1R to coils small input terminal and put a diode or small incandescent lamp in the circuit

HOWEVER to prevent back feeding the coil so the tractor shuts off when you turn off the ignition switch EITHER a Diode orrrrrrr an Incandescent (idiot light charge indicator lamp) orrrrrrrrr a 10 ohm resistor in the circuit FROM ign switch TO coil must be in the feed wire circuit. An LED may not work you need a small incandescent idiot charge indicator lamp if you use it instead of a diode like
most people use.

Run a wire FROM the coils input (NOT to distributor) terminal TO the alternators small side 1R terminal and in that circuit so the tractor shuts off when you turn off the ignition switch..........Install a diode or 10 ohm resistor or a small incandescent idiot light.

Got it ?? Any questions ??

John T

John T · Oct 7, 2020

If its an incandescent lamp it will work HOWEVER if its an LED it may not. Wire it in the circuit FROM coils input TO alternators small side 1R terminal

John T

old · Oct 7, 2020

If you have an O'Reilly's parts store you can use a VR-1 ballast resister to take the place of a light bulb

John T · Oct 7, 2020

Rich, in response you your statement "It will excite the alternator but it may not let him shut the engine off."

FYI actually a correct wired LED (between coil and alternator 1R) MAY WELL NOTTTTTTTTTTTTT excite the alternator !!!!!!!!!

And FYI the reason is if its resistance is too high (they are much higher resistance then an incandescent light) there's not enough left to excite the alternator THATS WHY A SMALL INCANDESCENT LIGHT (much less resistance then an LED) CAN BE USED for initial excitation so charging starts, while an LED may NOTTTTTTTTTTTTTT,,, too much resistance not leaving enough for alternator excitation.

Many many just use a regular Diode (one direction current flow check valve) as it allows current to flow into the alternator to allow initial excitation WHILE AT THE SAME TIME prevents run on when the ignition is switched off caused by the alternator backfeeding the coil. The Diode (one way current flow check valve) allows current flow INTO the alternator for initial excitation, but prevents backward current flow out of alternator into the coil !!!!!!!! To stop the engine when ignition is off you need EITHER a Diode or INCANDESCNT LIGHT (simply a voltage dropping resistor) in the circuit.

Its true an LED is still a Diode (Light Emitting Diode) but the reason it MAY NOT excite the alternator is due to its high resistance

Hope this helps, if you need more I will be glad to assist you.

Take care Rich, God Bless you and your mom

John T

old · Oct 7, 2020

Well the LED wa not around when I was an E.T. in the Navy so never have learned much about them or even worked with them.

I have when doing a 12 volt conversion used a diode on many but when radio shack closed I could no longer get them locally. So I now use a VR-1 ballast resister

miangus · Oct 7, 2020

I have a light on my Farmall 400. It is right at the alternator I can just look down the side and check it.

banjoman09 · Oct 7, 2020

Thank you all for this explanation it is very helpful to me! I will get this!

banjoman09 · Oct 7, 2020

Yes John and thank you ! BM

John T · Oct 8, 2020

You're welcome, Im sure you will, its easy peasey yayyyyyyyyyy

John T

banjoman09 · Oct 8, 2020

Yes but I want the light- one more question- I have it all working and charging now; BUT when I hook my Volt Meter to the battery the digital read-out jumps all over the place so I cant see a reading on meter; it works fine on all my other equipment so has to be something wrong with the way this is wired? Correct? Thanks.

JMOR · Oct 8, 2020

(quoted from post at 11:19:25 10/08/20) Yes but I want the light- one more question- I have it all working and charging now; BUT when I hook my Volt Meter to the battery the digital read-out jumps all over the place so I cant see a reading on meter; it works fine on all my other equipment so has to be something wrong with the way this is wired? Correct? Thanks.

ust the nature of many digital meters.

banjoman09 · Oct 8, 2020

Never has done this on any other equipment....

old · Oct 8, 2020

Your meter is picking up stray voltage from th spark plugs and or alternator which is a common problem with digital meters

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