The GM internal VR alternator on my '41 died. Thought I would change to a one wire since I'm buying an alt anyway. Just run the same 12V to the alt and call it macarooni? Anything else I need to do or know?
The only real difference is you will not have the small exciter wire that goes through the Gen or Alt light. The one-wire are self-exciting. Just run the large wire on the new 1 wire alt direct to the battery. Insulate your other wires that are going to the alt - the small exciter wire and if present the other larger wire that should be +12 switched. BTW, you will lose the idiot light from working. You should have a voltmeter or ammeter to be able to tell if the 1-wire alt stops charging.
Thanks for the input Wadda; Could you fill me in on the charging problems? Since I'm buying an alternator anyway, I might as well get the most dependable. What don't you like about the one wire?
http://www.chevelles.com/techref/ftecref14.html don't know how much this pertains to your vehicle but I saved this link awhile back..might give you some ideas anyway.
If you already have a 3 wire setup then stay with it.The sense wire allows for far better control of the charging rate relative to system requirements. Read this thread for more information . The 3 wire is definitely the way to go. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=380620.
Then it would seem there's a possibity that there is a exciter issue at hand. Not knowing how your wireing is I can't say. Just as other's have said a 3 wire is better. But if it makes things easier for you then a 1 wire is the best option for those that can't make a 3 wire work correctly or to clean up wiring on a show type vehicle where dependability is not an issue.
As "cheap" as GM is don't you think that if they could run a charging system on 1 wire they would??? The answer is: They won't! Why: It doesn't work properly.
By now you're wondering why the one wire is less desireable...its cause it only charges the battery, makes the battery do all the work powering the electrical system. The three wire has a sensing wire that determines the load the alternator needs, to power the system and charge the battery. The two should work together, a one wire doesn't do that, as I said, it only charges the battery, I for one can't understand the willingness to use them, a three wire is cheaper to buy, just as easy to wire and far more dependable. Just my two cents.....
ABSOLUTELY GM never ran an extra wire for anything that wasn't required. Has the one wire alternator suddenly become a status symbol?
I agree with "hotroddon," you need to read the link he posted, then decide for yourself: http://madelectrical.com/electricalt...hreewire.shtml
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