Electrical: Generator to Alternator Changeover

[345 DeSoto]

"I bought a single wire 6 volt, positive ground, alternator for my 55. To mount it, I removed the U-shaped bracket on the manifold, flipped it around, drilled the hole larger for the 3/8" alternator mount bolt. Installed the alternator, used washers to align the pulleys and used the same, old belt and adjustment arm.
Remove the old voltage regulator, isolate and tape up the field and armature leads, then connect the alternator, BAT terminal to the "B" wire that connected to your voltage regulator and you're good to go."

While researching information on the Titled swap, I came across the above statement on the Web Site. It states that his system is a Positive (+) ground system. Would this information be good for a Negative (-) ground system?...

[SN-60]

Are you saying that you have a 6 volt Stude with a NEGATIVE ground system?

[345 DeSoto]

No...I have a Sky Hawk with a 289 12 volt negative (-) ground system.

[SN-60]

Hmmm.....OK!

[bensherb]

So what is it YOU are trying to do? I can only guess your initial post is a statement from someone else?

If you are trying to install a 12V one wire alt. It has one wire, it goes to the battery +. How it gets there is up to you. Be advised, your gen/alt idiot light won't work if you have one.

I'm assuming you're using a late 70's GM internal regulator type alternator. If you have an idiot light and want it to continue to work. Get the standard 3 wire unit and the 2 pin plug for it. Put a ring lug on the heavier wire of the plug and connect it to the BAT terminal on the alt. Run a #8 wire from the alt BAT terminal to the positive (+) side of the battery. I connect it to the solenoid where the cable connects. The idiot light bulb should have 2 wires on it and no common ground, one should be + with key on. Connect the negative (-) side of the idiot light bulb, should be on the F terminal of the regulator you're removing to the remaining field exciter wire of the 2 pin plug (the smaller wire). The idiot light should come on with the key, and go off once the engine starts. If it doesn't check the idiot light bulb and it's connections. If the bulb is bad the alt won't charge, it all has to work.

[nvonada]

bensherb has it right. The self-exciting "one wire" alternators are not ideal and it is not much more work to hook up three wires instead of one. Search the interweb and you will find lots of wiring diagrams. I recently retrofitted my Jeepster's dead Motorola alternator with a AC-Delco. Pictures on the links below:

http://jeepster.vonadatech.com/2016/10/30/test-fitting-new-alternator/

http://jeepster.vonadatech.com/2016/10/31/alternator-and-steering-work/

Nathan

[Hawkowner]

I am in the process of putting air conditioning on my 62 GT. I have studied the article from the tech tips and decided to use that system.
I removed the gen. Drilled out the mounting holes used a piece of all thread to mount the compressor the belt alignment was perfect for the back grove on the comp clutch. I wanted the alt back as far as I could get it so I redrilled the Gen. mount bracket to move it rear wards so the alt could be driven by the back clutch pulley. I had purchased a 63 alternator and bracket. I have welded a 1&1/2 in extension plate on the end and bolted it to the right front intake manifold.Added tab to the bottom front of the bracket to brace from the top water manifold bolt to the bottom of the alt bracket. Have not figured out belt lengths or alt adjuster bracket yet.. will advise.will post pic if I can figure out how.
PS this is a non power steering single belt engine.

Hope to be cool soon Hawkowner

[345 DeSoto]

"connect the alternator, BAT terminal to the "B" wire that connected to your voltage regulator and you're good to go."

It states that HIS system is a Positive (+) ground system. Would this information be good for MY Negative (-) ground system?...

[Hawkowner]

The one wire alt is positive ground so that is no problem. Part of the need for the voltage regulator is a reverse current really when the engine is stoped the generator becomes a motor if voltage is back fed to the gen.
The one wire alt has B+ at all times. So I am running a 10 gauge wire from the alt to the battery cable terminal on the starter solonid.this will sense battery charge and control voltage,I plan to but the battery terminal wire from voltage regulation to the same terminal on the solonid this will power headlights not sure if amp gauge will work.
If you let the smoke out of the wires things don't work anymore
Hawkowner