Alternator and wiring problems

[mtnman210]

On the project truck I've come to find out that I'm not getting a charge. I've totally rewired the truck so it's minimal wiring and I think I found the problem. On the back of the alternator there was a plug with 2 wires. I've gotten rid of the plug and just ran 2 separate wires. Now one I believe is a hot from the battery to the alternator.( i could be wrong). Now the second wire I have no clue where it goes and it's currently hooked to nothing. So I'm sure this is where my no charging problem is.

So where do I run this second wire? I was told it should go to a 12volt ignition hot(that would mean any circut that gets power when the ignition is on correct?), but I want to make sure before I run it to the wrong place.

 

[dremu]

One should go to the ignition hot, yes, and the other should go to the ignition hot through a light bulb or resistor, IIRC.

-- A

 

[mtnman210]

yeah I keep hearing it should go to a dummy light on the dash. I never had one on the original dash and I don't have one on my other 77 k5 either. so I'm not really sure where to stick it.

 

[dyeager535]

Actually isn't one contant hot, the other an ignition hot? Then the charge lug to battery or starter lug.

 

[mtnman210]

Actually isn't one contant hot

???

that would be straight to the battery?

 

[dyeager535]

???

that would be straight to the battery?

Well if both were hooked to ignition 12V, would there be much purpose to having two wires? I thought one was used to "sense" that the vehicle was running, thus the alternator starts working. I dunno for sure, but that's how I understand it. Any of the wiring diagrams out there should show the wiring schematic