Charging system?

[VelodromeRacer]

Hey guys...
At Gingerman...Well I managed to qualify 2nd in group 2 and then led the first 8 laps until the gearbox went away...Well we figured out that the nut on the mainshaft came loose..lost second and fourth...but I have a question.

I want to install a small, yet durable charging system. The car currently does not have one, so I don't have the slightest on where to begin. I have the brackets..but what should I but and how does one wire one up? Is it worth it to then install a voltmeter?

Thanks...now getting ready for Blackhawk and Mid-Ohio. Larger 7/16" wheel studs over the 3/8" ones and rebuilt race lever arm shocks on the front.

 

[Michael Oritt]

Velo--

I have a Nippondenso alternator--I think it puts out about 35 amps--hung on the MGA engine of the Elva. It weighs approximately five pounds and mounts with one bolt on top and an adjustable arm. I picked it up used for $95.00 and though they are sold on the race sites for a lot more they are very common to small Japanese cars.

The one I have uses a three-wire modular plug which means the regulator senses system versus battery voltage plus it runs an idiot charging light but I don't think this is very important for racing applications and if you see a one-wire unit it would be fine.

Hookup is easy in either case--with the one wire just carry a heavy wire to a hot terminal that is downstream of your master switch. With a three wire plug you will also bring one small wire from a 12 volt source to "excite" the alternator, another TO a 12 volt source (can be the same one) to sense voltage and the third to the idiot charging light and then to ground to run the light.