How To Wire A Vintage GM 3 Wire Alternator

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  • čas přidán 28. 11. 2023
  • A simple method for restoring the charging system on your old 1960s-1980s GM car or truck, or how to wire an AC Delco alternator to your marine boat or farm tractor. I show you what wires do what and where to make easy connections for power and grounds.
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Komentáře • 96

  • @johngillon6969
    @johngillon6969 Před 7 měsíci +2

    Thank you , I am not a mechanic, but I have been driving over 50 years and have never taken a car or truck to a mechanic. Way back when i started driving my world was full of wrenching brothers, but over the years they all disappeared, I want to consider you a wrenching brother and subscribe and will watch every one of your videos. I have an alternator like this in my boat and have been trying to figure out what you taught me today. Thanks a million.

  • @azmadnesshustle
    @azmadnesshustle Před 2 dny +1

    Thank you this really did help 🤙

  • @kevinbresnahan3394
    @kevinbresnahan3394 Před 2 měsíci

    I'm wiring up an old straight 6 Chevy in a t bucket, you helped me out, you're a good teacher. 👍.

  • @miketuch
    @miketuch Před 2 měsíci +1

    I have a 95 S-10 2,2 L Auto, CS130 alternator with PLFS connector. I have watch dozens of alternator videos - this is far and away the best alternator video to get your 80s/90s vehicle running. I was losing run/start through the dash PC board. This video will show you how to duplicate that circuit.

  • @conniemorris9025
    @conniemorris9025 Před měsícem +1

    Thanks for the video . I'd like to replace the one wire alternator in my 1950 GMC pickup with a 3 wire . A good demonstration on how it works.

  • @JayCee_1014
    @JayCee_1014 Před 2 měsíci

    Great video thank you gotta learn the systems to never be stuck while traveling in these square bodies

  • @glennmiller9031
    @glennmiller9031 Před 7 měsíci

    Thanks. Facing wiring one in to my 62 Chevy C-10 resto. Glad to find this, Very helpful.

  • @fitzpreacherfarm6826
    @fitzpreacherfarm6826 Před 4 měsíci

    Very good and simple video. Much appreciated!

  • @jarrettslee1
    @jarrettslee1 Před 6 měsíci +1

    Awesome! Best video on this so far.

  • @guyprimo6414
    @guyprimo6414 Před 5 měsíci

    Extreme simple great job buddy

  • @garyboase7981
    @garyboase7981 Před měsícem

    Thanks, exactly what I needed to know.

  • @robertgeary7520
    @robertgeary7520 Před 4 měsíci +1

    Great video 👍

  • @80fordmustang6
    @80fordmustang6 Před 3 měsíci

    Thank you for explaining bought a 59 fairlane that’s been converted to this system and wanted to make sure it’s wired correctly

  • @No1Beaver
    @No1Beaver Před měsícem +1

    Thank you. Great video!!

  • @russellnorton9940
    @russellnorton9940 Před 3 měsíci

    thankyou thankyou very much from canada, you made it look easy and i appreciate that, i have an old ford 2n tractor im converting from 6 volt to 12 . i installed the same alternator as the one shown here, you made it easier for me now. thankyou

  • @ivandhotmanvilliers3361
    @ivandhotmanvilliers3361 Před měsícem

    Great explanation

  • @enriquerodriguez1804
    @enriquerodriguez1804 Před 2 měsíci

    Thank very clear and precise information, and video . 👍💯

  • @garrettwagner8880
    @garrettwagner8880 Před 28 dny

    I just absolutely love your intro 😂

  • @jerryhaggett2391
    @jerryhaggett2391 Před 2 měsíci

    Good advice thanks.i have got use 10g to run from the alternator on my puegout diesel as the loom heavy cable broke the copper tab connector. Thanks hope it does nt confuse the e c u

  • @krstoner53
    @krstoner53 Před 5 měsíci +3

    Great common sense video on this subject. Off subject maybe you’re in southern states and don’t get much snow but your trusses seem a little far apart for the pitch of your roof. My building is similar pitch (12-3 ?) and width (24’)as yours and engineer at local truss factory said I would need a 2x6 on the bottom of the truss instead of a 2x4 like yours appears to be since I was spacing them 3 feet apart instead of 2. Yours looks to me 3 or 4 feet apart. I guess this depends on region or location where they’re being used.

  • @jasonerb2577
    @jasonerb2577 Před měsícem

    I picked up an old Ford 8n tractor. This is the third N-series tractor my family has owned in my lifetime. We had an 8n when I was little, then a 9n when I got to high school/college, now I picked this 8n up about a month ago. I'm not sure if the original 8n was ever converted to 12v, the 9n was. When I got this home, I found that they had hotwired it enough to sell it. It was a real mishmash of 6 and 12v parts, mostly all bypassed and a fried condenser because there was also no resister or anything else in use...it was a mess. These old Fords actually take a GM alternator because they fit in the mounting brackets available. Most guys use a single wire alternator for ease of installation, but I was thinking about wiring up a 3 wire alternator (the fit is the same) for longevity, but I haven't seen anything about hooking one up to one of these tractors. This puts my mind at ease. These basically hook up almost identically the way the old generators did (minus the exterior regulator). Thanks for the video, and keep up the good work.

  • @clubhousemma7360
    @clubhousemma7360 Před měsícem

    very good, thanks!

  • @bamatractor
    @bamatractor Před 7 měsíci +1

    The wiring was very accessible!

  • @kern_yak_angler
    @kern_yak_angler Před 3 měsíci +1

    Great video thank you

  • @user-xs2zr2gg4z
    @user-xs2zr2gg4z Před 6 měsíci +1

    Excellent video

  • @ishaw763
    @ishaw763 Před 3 měsíci +2

    Great video. Lots to learn

  • @jamestregler1584
    @jamestregler1584 Před 4 měsíci

    Naa , dad gum it ; I'll stay with my generator 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks from old New Orleans 😎

  • @youngjj757
    @youngjj757 Před 2 dny +1

    I ordered an alternator
    it's the 1 wire kind
    would anything happen if I hooked it up the way my old alternator was before I removed it?

  • @user-qm1cf1zc5g
    @user-qm1cf1zc5g Před 6 měsíci

    Thanks!

  • @fourfortyroadrunner6701
    @fourfortyroadrunner6701 Před 3 měsíci +1

    You can also replace the internal regulator with a "one wire". These do NOT NEED the no1 circuit. Some "one wire" regulators seem to "like" having no2 connected (sensing) and some do not seem to care

  • @canalm4ch4d03
    @canalm4ch4d03 Před měsícem +3

    If alternator is not hooked up correctly like this guys is saying, you need to regulate the charge going to the battery, or it will overcharge the battery and ruin most likely, i bought like 3 batteries until i decided to search and came up to this video and realized i was destroying my batteries, and another reason one of my dash lights was aways on not knowing what it was.

    • @panchoveliz1098
      @panchoveliz1098 Před měsícem

      How was yours wired up? Did it melt any battery post? Mines is only missing that last 10 gauge wire back to the positive battery post and I believe that’s what melted the ground terminal on my battery.

    • @canalm4ch4d03
      @canalm4ch4d03 Před 26 dny +1

      @@panchoveliz1098 was wired 1 wire before, and the alternator never stops charging as a result batteries die and the alternator voltage regulator could fail, iwas using a 8 gauge wire, and you absolutely need those 2 wires connected, to find out witch side is the dummy light just plug in the battery and the alternator charging wire, hook the dummy to the battery and just touch one of the ports on the alternator and see witch one turn on the dummy light and plug it there, and the other one is the regulator back to the battery.

  • @skipwilson5086
    @skipwilson5086 Před 4 měsíci +1

    That was a SI Delco Remy alternator I'm thinkin' , Can you do a CS for us?
    Very good, plain, simple explanation. I liked it alot. Thanks it was delivered good too...

  • @thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259

    Correct! I do prefer to connect the sense wire (spade #2) directly to the battery positive terminal as opposed to the alternator output post. The reason is, this way the regulator is sensing battery voltage directly, and it compensates for the slight drop that occurs between the alternator output and the battery.
    Incidentally, the spade #1 (excite) regulator terminal can be connected to your electric choke heating element to power your choke heater. In this case, removing the internal alternator wire-wound resistor allows you to use your alternator idiot light to monitor the choke heater element. An idiot light that fails to illuminate during key on bulb check indicates the choke heater may have failed

  • @lenturtle7954
    @lenturtle7954 Před měsícem

    Well done

  • @leewilkins8341
    @leewilkins8341 Před 10 dny +1

    Thanks

  • @therollingstone5495
    @therollingstone5495 Před měsícem

    Hello. Very good video, informative and well illustrated. Hopefully you can help me with my problem. I just replaced a non working Delco Remy 10SI with a 22SI on my 1995 Cummins 8.3 (RV). Before the replacement, I was getting 0 voltage output and my tach was all over the place. With the new alternator, voltage output is 14v but now my tach doesn't work at all. Did I miss something or is the tach gauge not working? Is there a way to test for a tach signal from the alternator? Thanks

  • @badwolf1795
    @badwolf1795 Před 2 měsíci

    I have question.I have a Mercruiser 140 inline 4 Chevy motor. I installed a new alternator that only has 2 wires. Battery+ and ground. The old alternator had 4 Wires going to it. I taped back the other wires from the boat and used Bat+ and ground on the new alternator. I measured the voltage when the engine was running with a meter and its charging 14.4 volts or so. I can turn off and on the engine no problem. My question is would one of those wires from the alternator I did not use go to the key? Would accessory's run off the alternator while running ? Newer alternator does not have a 2 wire plug. I assume because I was getting 14v at the battery. Thanks

  • @clintmcalister7834
    @clintmcalister7834 Před měsícem +1

    Exactly what I needed. Thanks

  • @Rambow145
    @Rambow145 Před 5 měsíci

    Thank you

  • @thomwessels2281
    @thomwessels2281 Před 2 měsíci

    So what gauge is used for #1, the exciter terminal that's only?

  • @garyalford9394
    @garyalford9394 Před 3 měsíci

    Go thru the junk yards and search for one that hasn't been messed with, thats what I did with a 69 2500 I redid years ago.

  • @rosemcbirney5123
    @rosemcbirney5123 Před měsícem

    Stater wire which one is that as I won’t to use for electric choke

  • @tomference4618
    @tomference4618 Před 3 měsíci +1

    I am confused now,..please wink at my ignorance. I would like to install an "ammeter" in the #2 line before connecting to battery positive.
    And I would like to have a warning light in the #1 line, but don't know where to connect the other side of it.
    ???

  • @garryharris9098
    @garryharris9098 Před měsícem

    Thanks, I have done this on old tractors what if your plug has 3 terminals. I have one with a 3 wire plug like that on the side and one with a 2 prong on the back of the alternator.

    • @thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259
      @thisisyourcaptainspeaking2259 Před 28 dny +1

      The third terminal is probably connected to the #1 spade, there were several iterations of regulators available for various reasons. I believe your 3rd terminal was intended to power a low-current accessory such as a lamp or small heating element such as a carburetor choke heater.
      There were are regulators available for 24V systems and several voltages available to better match the intended vehicle use, such as a taxi-cab that runs all day and night, the regulated voltage was a few tenths less to extend battery life (avoid slight overcharge that can benefit short duration but extended duty will cook the battery too quickly). Those regulators were around 14.4V and 14.1V, if I recall.

  • @likamafi6593
    @likamafi6593 Před 5 měsíci

    Thank you Sir..been trying to find info on how to wire a Mahle alternator generator to a 5000 ford tractor..would this apply the same??

    • @fourfortyroadrunner6701
      @fourfortyroadrunner6701 Před 3 měsíci

      DO NOT use the wiring in this video. IT IS WRONG. USE a series warning lamp or a DIODE in the no1 lead or you will eventually fail the DIODE TRIO. Info i nthis video is WRONG

  • @tomference4618
    @tomference4618 Před 3 měsíci

    Can you advise if I need to put a fuse in the #2 line when I insert an ammeter? Is polarity of the ammeter important?
    Also, I want to use an old 1950 amp gauge,..is that possible?
    Amps are amps right?
    Thank you for this teaching video!

    • @fourfortyroadrunner6701
      @fourfortyroadrunner6701 Před 3 měsíci

      NO2 was not normally fused. If the ammeter reads backwards, just reverse the connections. You can use any amp gauge if it has enough capacity, AKA don't use an old 30A gauge on a modern 60A alternator. The info in this video is WRONG

    • @tomference4618
      @tomference4618 Před 3 měsíci

      ​@@fourfortyroadrunner6701thank you for your advice about the ammeter, and not trying to use my old '50 ammeter.
      Can you advise how to connect the warning light?

  • @jerrellschevy
    @jerrellschevy Před měsícem +1

    my alternator on my 72 Cadi has the ground run to the battery, is that normal, or should I remove it and run a ground from the alternator to the engine block?

    • @onetransmission7871
      @onetransmission7871 Před měsícem +1

      Older Cadillac used to have a ground strap from the outside starter bolt to the frame. 10" to 12" flat braided cable.

  • @guylipsky3599
    @guylipsky3599 Před 5 měsíci +1

    The problem I see with this that red wire you took from plug to the battery wire will always be pulling amperage when check on the negative post on the battery

    • @fourfortyroadrunner6701
      @fourfortyroadrunner6701 Před 3 měsíci

      No. The no2 is designed to be connected that way. However, wiring no1 direct to switched 12V IS WRONG. Info in this video is WRONG. USE A DIODE OR SERIES WARNING LAMP or you will eventually fail the DIODE TRIO

  • @sunspiral79
    @sunspiral79 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Isnt there fusable links somewhere in the wiring?

    • @American-OutdoorsNet
      @American-OutdoorsNet  Před 5 měsíci +1

      Typically next to the firewall junction block near the power brake booster but after 50 years they tend to be MIA. They are easy enough to add.

  • @dongeorge4037
    @dongeorge4037 Před 7 měsíci

    Ok, 10 gauge output, but your replacement grounding wire seems to be 10X larger. Why?

    • @johngillon6969
      @johngillon6969 Před 7 měsíci +1

      he said in the video you can never have too much grounding i believe.

    • @American-OutdoorsNet
      @American-OutdoorsNet  Před 7 měsíci

      The ground bolt behind the alternator is designed for a large connector and ground cable. Yes, when using a ground cable for an alternative/backup ground, more is better.

  • @abcardenas35
    @abcardenas35 Před 3 měsíci

    Can you just run?The ten gauge were directly to your battery and don't need to use pin number one and 2

    • @fourfortyroadrunner6701
      @fourfortyroadrunner6701 Před 3 měsíci

      Maybe if you use a "one wire" regulator, otherwise no. The info in this video is WRONG

  • @gentlegiants1974
    @gentlegiants1974 Před 18 dny +1

    I'm looking to install this type of alternator on a IH Farmall 826 diesel tractor. It has a Delcotron externally regulated alternator and the old wiring harness is totally shot, grease encrusted, dried out, frayed, cracked, bare, broken, turning green, and none of the lights or gauges worked anyway. Hoping to simplify this absolute rats nest of brittle broken crap and get rid of it. All I need to run is the starter.

  • @godsownlunatics9650
    @godsownlunatics9650 Před 19 dny

    i have an alternator, the harness has3 wires protruding from its connector, 1 of the 3 is bigger then or thicker than the other wires. i m attempting to create a generator for another idea of an inexpensive e-v conversion i intend to use the alternator as the genset that will power the 120vac or 240vac electric motor using an inverter. my ideas are plausible well thought out ideas nobody is willing to help pay for anymore creative ideas coming from me.
    hard lesson to realize i live

    • @godsownlunatics9650
      @godsownlunatics9650 Před 19 dny

      I can hook up a 12volt car battery charger to a 4000watt inverter and still have enough power to run a hair dryer for example as long as the genset is creating perpetual power it can and will run for as long as it is plugged in

    • @godsownlunatics9650
      @godsownlunatics9650 Před 19 dny

      meaning why would anyone use 14 car batteries when 2 regular car batteries will do the same job

    • @godsownlunatics9650
      @godsownlunatics9650 Před 19 dny

      women think i think i m a baby men think i think i m an idiot and babies love me cuz i'll blaze weed in the childrens section at walmart. i m so sick of humanity gouging m,e for creationalist ideas

  • @brentalexander3459
    @brentalexander3459 Před 4 měsíci

    My charge light in Oldsmobile will not go out even when key is out stays on till I unhook battery

    • @Glens1965
      @Glens1965 Před 3 měsíci

      I believe you have a short in the voltage regulator. If its a reman take her back. Good Luck.

  • @vincenzoschettini5031
    @vincenzoschettini5031 Před 6 měsíci

    🌹 'Promosm'

  • @tomference4618
    @tomference4618 Před 3 měsíci

    Great effort,..a little long getting to what everyone wants to hear though.