What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

Wiring 3 wire alternator

85mudblazin

85mudblazin

1/2 ton status
Joined
Mar 26, 2004
Posts
3,950
Reaction score
0
Location
Austin,TX
All of my wiring is done except for this.
The alternator has a plug with 2 wires and then the other wire which is the exciter.

I know one of the wires in the plug needs to go to the starter for a constant 12v.

What I want to know is where to hook up the exciter and the other wire in the plug.
Thanks
-Chris
 
Ok so it looks like 915 goes to the battery, can I just connect this to the hot stud on the starter?

Where do I hook 914, the exciter to?
 
yes, hook to starter for 12 v
The exciter hooks onto the alternator on post #1 (closest to 12v post) the other end is coming from the fuse panel. Post #2 is just 12v hot from the post to the terminal #2 14 guage wire about 3 inches long.
 
Question - I'm doing the same thing right now. My truck has an aluminum tube that routes the wires to the started past the exhaust. If you have that, did you have any problems with that (getting the wires out or tube off)?

Charge.jpg
 
i had a tube and wanted to re use it then lost it. Made one, all it does is protect the wires from the exhaust.
 
onetonbb74 said:
yes, hook to starter for 12 v
The exciter hooks onto the alternator on post #1 (closest to 12v post) the other end is coming from the fuse panel. Post #2 is just 12v hot from the post to the terminal #2 14 guage wire about 3 inches long.
Click to expand...
So the exciter just goes to the fuse panel?
Note: I have zero stock wiring. I have a switched hot block that I have all my accessories wired into. So I guess just hook it up to that. Should I run it through a fuse first?
 
I can't get the wires out and I can't get the bolt loose. I can't get a good hold on the nut with a large enough socket wrench to break it free. Ideas?

Sorry for the hijack:doah:
 
AZ79K5Project said:
I can't get the wires out and I can't get the bolt loose. I can't get a good hold on the nut with a large enough socket wrench to break it free. Ideas?

Sorry for the hijack:doah:
Click to expand...
Cut the wires are run new wire.
Dont worry about the jack, its what CK5 is for:wink1:
 
i believe the exciter is a switched 12 v signal to the ignition side of the fuse panel. Hook it to the ignition hot wire on your custom setup. When i go to my truck in a couple mins, ill look at where 914 hooks to on my fuse panel to let you know which circut it is for sure.
 
AZ79K5Project said:
I can't get the wires out and I can't get the bolt loose. I can't get a good hold on the nut with a large enough socket wrench to break it free. Ideas?

Sorry for the hijack:doah:
Click to expand...
To get to the bolt, use a long extention or as many of them as you can find with a swivel socket 9/16ths from underneath. You can cut the wires if your re wiring them. Its probably stuck on the fuseable link in the tube. If still no luck, just rip it off by moving it back and forth until it breaks all it has is a tab that bolts to the bellhousing bolts.
 
Wiring

The exciter can go to a light bulb, as in the Generator Light on an older car. It just needs something to cause a draw, and get the alternator to start alternating.

If you want my opinion on the best explenation of automotive wiring I have ever seen, go to MAD Enterprises.

http://www.madelectrical.com/index.shtml
 
onetonbb74 said:
i believe the exciter is a switched 12 v signal to the ignition side of the fuse panel. Hook it to the ignition hot wire on your custom setup. When i go to my truck in a couple mins, ill look at where 914 hooks to on my fuse panel to let you know which circut it is for sure.
Click to expand...
Ok I have a switch that energizes a junction block. I have all my accessories coming off of this (rocklights, guage lights, etc.) I have a 10g wire from the battery to the switch which applies power to the junction block when switched.

So from what I gather the constant hot wire and the switched 12v wire on the alternator have to be on different circuits. If the constant goes to main power wire from the battery that is connected to the starter post will that be a dfferent circuit then the switched block?
 
The exciter wire from my understanding is optional. The 3 wire alternator has 3 wires so the light on the dash can tell you if the alternator is alternating current or not(charging). If it is not hooked up, the truck will still work but you must hook the jumper wire to the constant hot terminal post on the alternator. Mine is not hooked to anything on my painless. i have no dash idiot lights.
 
onetonbb74 said:
The exciter wire from my understanding is optional. The 3 wire alternator has 3 wires so the light on the dash can tell you if the alternator is alternating current or not(charging). If it is not hooked up, the truck will still work but you must hook the jumper wire to the constant hot terminal post on the alternator. Mine is not hooked to anything on my painless. i have no dash idiot lights.
Click to expand...
I dont see how you could run without it since its what tells the alt. to start charging right?
 
sorry, little long

The way I wire mine is from the stud on the back of the alt. I run a heavy wire to the 12V constant side of the starter or directly to the + side of the battery. And on the two wire plug , the bigger wire also connects to the stud on the back of the alt., the smaller wire runs inside the cab and connects to a light (I use a red one) that I mount in the dash. The other side of the light connect to the 12V+ key on side of my ignition switch. The alt. acts as the ground. flip the switch, the light comes on, start it, alt starts charging, light goes out. I've read somewhere about using a resistor instead of a light, but I prefer the light. I used to have trouble throwing fan belts and wouldn't know it till the engine over heated or I run the battery dead.
I've also heard that you can run without the two wire plug but the engine has to hit something like 3,000 RPM's for the alt. to start charging.
If this doesn't make sense I'll try to find pics.
Hope this helps
 
So when the alt. is charging the light will go out and when its not it will be on correct??
I guess I just need to start it up and test it out.
 
yup if the ignition is on and the light is on, it's not charging
 
re checked harness

My exciter wire goes to the ignition side of the fuse panel which is a switched 12 volts. I don't have idiot lights so i was confused on where i ran it. I wired my truck back in 03 so i forgot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom