I'm so confused now. After googling "one-wire gm alternator", I read comments from people saying that hooking up the wrong wires will cause battery drain, or battery over-charge, your children to be born naked and might even cause Polio. Information overload: http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=one-wire+gm+alternator+jumper&btnG=Google+Search I even had one guy tell me to jump the two (similar) terminals together! Arghh! Edit:Yes, Frank's friend Rick was impressed with Rick's friend Frank's digital setup.
It has been running for about 6 months. It charges, just reads low on my volt meter. It holds a pretty constant voltage...so that is why I haven't messed with it. I just ran mine how the colored wires were set up on the jumper I bought with the alternator. I just assumed it was correct, but if yours is reading 14v, I might swap the jumper and see what happens. I want to do a little more research, I would hate to fry something. Rick, what part number is on that Alt?
I'll look at it later but I'm pretty sure it's the same as yours, only the guy who built it did 'something' to the inside of it. 'Not sure what he did.
So now I am wondering what gauge wire you have as a jumper, if I have it jumped to the wrong tab, if I should jump it to the battery and not that hot post, and finally, what "that guy" did to yours... I tried to find the guy at the local Ford dealer who drives an old 40 or 50s model ford, who recommended this alternator to me, and showed me how he had it hooked up. But he was not there and his car was gone...so...
I used a 10 gauge wire as the jumper AND for the one going to my starter solenoid. But really, I think you've jumped the right wire and I'm the one who's jumped the wrong wire. Let's just have a few beers and don't worry about it if all is good on both our cars.
I used 10 to the battery, but not on the jumper. The wire that came with the plug was only 12, maybe 14. I might swap that one out.
If you take the jumper off and put a wire connected to your ignition switch you will be a lot happier with your alternator and it won't drain your battery when it sits for a long time.
Please explain in a little more detail...and why would it drain my battery? Not arguing, just interested. Mine only puts out 13 volts when driving all my elec fan and fuel pump, so any extra push would be greatly appreciated.
The jumper needs to be connected to a switched means (key on wire) this turns the regulator on and off.( Yes the one wire gm alternator has a regulator its just built in) Usually without the switched means you cant turn the car off, due to the alt keeping on charging .You probably have a 35 to 65 amp alternator is the reason you don't see but 13 volts with everything on. I run the one wire PA 100 amp alt. and see 13.5 to 14 volts at idle. ( depends what i have turned on)
Gotcha! Mine is hooked up to a "switched means" so I should be cool. I agree, I see 13-13.5 only when everything is running, as it is a 64AMP GM alternator. I run electric fan, fuel pump, and if I detach the fan it will run a good 14-14.5. So I am just overdrawing it. It still keeps the battery charged (even with the 15' of line to the battery in the trunk, which I assume would also draw off the 14.5 volts... ). At $40, I am very satisfied with the performance AND THE LOOKS over the stock 3-wire with external regulator. I will go with a 100AMP when I get to installing stereo, amps, and A/C (for extra draw from the heater fan motor)
