More generator Alternator conversion.... 1-wire GM

I kind of drew up this little wiring schematic based on merging my 56' pontiac w/ a few other wiring diagrams for a 1 wire.

No idiot light, but with ammeter and voltmeter

Basically it requires removing the voltage regulator. Disconnect the wire from the battery terminal on the regulator and attach it to the battery terminal on the 1-wire alternator.

I am hoping that somebody can look over this drawing and see if I've messed anything up. I failed college Electrical Engineering twice before finally getting a C for my Civil Eng degree. haha

 

instead of putting the ammeter between the alternator and terminal block, you need to put it between the battery and terminal block. Otherwise it will show "charge" any time the engine is running, whether or not the battery is being charged or is discharging (it could be discharging if the electrical load is higher than the alt can supply)

 

I posted a modified version....

But I was looking at my '56 schematic and it shows current flowing from the regulator to a junction block that splits between the fuse panel and dash lights before the ammeter. Then it goes from the ammeter and meets up with the battery at the starter. Isn't that pretty much the way I had it set up before?

 

Here is a good wiring schematic. It just dosn't have an ammeter in it. Why would you want a voltmeter and an ammeter anyway?

 

I agree, there isn't any need for an ammeter if you have a volt meter.

But there is one problem with your modified diagram oldsrocket, which kind of is my fault for not mentioning it before, the wire from the battery to the starter is a big fat one, the wire from the battery connection on the starter (or directly from the battery) to the terminal block should be a medium sized one (10 gage). the ammeter would go in this second wire.

 

I just put a Powermaster alternator in place of the generator in my 55 Pontiac. It works either as a 1 wire or 3 wire. I went with 3 wire. I ran 8 guage wire from the "batt" terminal on the alternator to the battery positive.
The white wire on the plug went to the ignition switch, after I threw in a small 12v light in series, in case the car ever throws the belt, and the red wire on the plug got looped to the "batt" terminal on the alternator.
Simplest hookup around.
Disconnect the voltage regulator and discard it. My ammeter still works and shows discharge when the lights and signals are on.

This is the way I've always done these conversions, and I called Powermaster's Tech line and got the same answer.

1 wire alternators are nothing but battery chargers. You have to rev the motor to get them up to around 1200 (Alternator-not motor) rpms to get them to excite and start charging. You can drop this figure by putting on a small pulley.