gm single wire alternator

Part number 80500 will get you a standard GM 63 amp 1 wire alternator

 

Or NAPA 13-4011SW, 1 wire unit

 

well took it off and threw on a 3 wire that i had and go figure the three wire worked great wooohoooo

 

I got a brand new one at advanced auto for 50 bucks. Advanced auto will also test them.

 

Mine works great but I have seen an awful lot of crappy ones.

 

I use a 10SI that's a GM 3 wire converted with jumper from #2 to Batt. terminal to make it a one wire. It puts out a steady 13.7 volts and doesn't need to rev the engine to start charging. Never had issues with any electronics in the car using it.

 

One wire alternators have the voltage regulator built into the alternator.

 

So do the three-wire type...

 

these one wire alternators will not charge at all when you start the engine unless you blip the throttle to bring the rpms over 1500 momentarily.....then they will charge all day until you shut it off...to begin charging again??.....rev it just past 1500 and let it idle....I've used them for years with no trouble in various vehicles.

 

Strange.....I've had a 1-wire alternator on my '63 C10 for at least 4-years and have never had to "blip the throttle" to make it charge.

 

You still have a 3 wire, that is the way most people wire them up. A one wire is just that one wire.

 

Err- no, that's exactly how a "one wire" alternator is set up - it goes from 2 to batt.

Also, that's basically also how a 3 wire is wired. Except that 2 should be taken somewhere closer to where the load is, and not so close to the alternator.

 

Same here, altough the first few years it would take maybe 15 seconds at idle for the voltmeter to come up to charging. Now it jumps right up there as soon as it starts.

 

rebuild kit for the alternator is under 25 bucks for new everything, I have been using them on all my "fancy" housings for years.