Can you help me get my hands on some diagrams??
Reply #30 –
Jay the alternator does not care what car it is on what device it is wired to or for that matter it does not even have to be on a car. I have seen them on WOOD CHIPPERS. As the matter of fact i have converted many a Wood chipper Fork lifts and refrigeration units log splitter cement mixer large generators with either Ford or GM alternators. So as i said the 3G needs only One wire to actually work just as GM and even Chrysler units. As long as the regulator is powered up with 12V and that is punching A which serves 2 purposes. It allows a minute amount of current to flow through the regulator to stabilize the regulator when the car is not running and the key is in your pocket. And it powers it up. The regulator is powered up from punching A. It is an electronic circuit and needs power. The S terminal is used to control the alternator output or how much it should charge. The I terminal wakes up the regulator and commands the electronics to start charging. By putting key run battery or a lamp on it in series with the key and a parallel resistance across the lamp. The resister increases the charge rate. Example GM diesels used to have 2 lamps in parallel. One on the dash and one behind the dash in a sealed capsule. The resister is used in case the lamp goes open or blows out. This provides a battery signal so the alt will still charge if the lamp is out. Some chevies do not have them and when it blows the alternator will not charge unless it is reved above 4000 RPM'S. (Regulator needs light off voltage) Big recall in the late seventies because the lead was eliminated on some models. It also doubles as the Indicator lamp on the dash. How that works is simple There is battery on one side of the lamp from the ignition switch the I terminal provides a ground before it starts charging after it sees a stator voltage. Then it puts the light out by applying battery to the lamp lead. battery on both sides of the lamp it wont light. That is why sometimes when a regulator or stator diode goes bad the lamp will glow dimly. I have also rebuilt numerous units in he old days before commercially rebuilt units were available. I actually made a BENCH to test them off the car. Just as any re-builder does when re manufacturing or rebuilding alternators. have a great day guys
NOTE the wiring is not different than any other hook up. What is different is how the unit is wired and the complications done because people do not know how they work. And use the factory harness to pick up all required leads, NOT NECESSARY. Other than indicator lamp lead for dash light. Once again how do you think ONE WIRE ALTERNATORS WORK. Everything is wired INTERNALLY. Also on cars like limousines that have 3G alternators a slave relay is used for isolation. Some are done with relays not diodes. The S terminal controls the relays winding. If the car is not running the relay drops out the cranking battery. When the relay sees battery from the S terminal alt putting out it closes it and charges both.
Note the 3G is an external regulator unit that is why it has the extra 2 leads A&S. GM for example only has 2 leads (heavy battery and I lead for the lamp)because the A&S are internally wired to the regulator. Ford 3G is not an internal regulator and there fore requires external hook up of those leads. For non complicated change overs just use a ONE wire 3 g on a TC and call it a DAY