Alternator wiring

[Nic]

The D+ or Df post on the alternator, I'm not sure how to wire that. I've watch a few video's but they're all for installing in a bug with standard wiring. One video seems to say only a brief input voltage is need to excite the field to start the alternator charging, but another seems to say it needs constant 12V in while the engine is running so the field doesn't collapse.

So, do I wire it to the starter for the brief input, or do I wire it to the accessory, or coil, for constant 12V input? Help -confused*

 

[Brett Proctor]

What brand and model do you have??

 

[Nic]

I Actually figured out! Woop!

 

[vpogv]

I Actually figured out! Woop!

Well spread the knowledge so I don't have to ask the same stupid question later. *laugh*

 

[letterman7]

D+ to the battery, Df to the charge light on the dash.

 

[Nic]

Pog, I hadn't posted anything yet because I wasn't sure I actually had it figured out. Now, I have *rock on* And with an LED as the indicator. I put a resistor across the +/- leads, however you want to do this is up to you. I think it was a 220 ohm resistor and I soldered it to the +/- pins on the connector.

Connect the positive side of the LED to the Accessory position of the steering column power. Connect the negative side of the LED to the D+ on the alternator via wire.

How I think this works is, the D+ post on the alternator is grounded when the engine is not running, so the LED lights up. When the engine starts and spins the alternator, the power and draw across the LED triggers the D+ post to go positive, and the LED shuts off. If the alternator stops charging for whatever reason, D+ goes ground again and the LED lights up again indicating somethings wrong.