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Auto electric experts needed!!!

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N

nomad

Yoda
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As mentioned in an earlier post my memory failed me and I bought a Festiva alternator instead of a Fiesta alternator which is a common swap. I like this thing and am going to fit it. It is a modern ventilated alt W/O a cooling fan which should add a fraction of a HP or gain me a fraction of a MPG. It is also tiny and will take up no space.
Now to wire it!!
It has 4 connections. The big screw post is, of course, the battery connection. The next 2 are spades for a common plug. Next to them is marked a S and a L. Previous alt experience tells me one of these is for the ignition light the other ?.Can anyone tell me which is which???
Then I have a separate spade lug that appears to be insulated from the case. Previous experience saays the last wire should be a ground wire but this lug does'nt appear to be that.
So I have 2 lugs that I hav'nt a clue on and a third that is a question.

Help please!!!
Kurt.
 
All I can add is that the "S" terminal is probably for "Sense". It is intended as a battery voltage monitoring feed. However, in conversion applications it is commonly jumpered to the main battery cable connection on the alternator.
 
Thanks Doug, thats what my datsun wiring diagram shows but it only shows the plug and not what prong goes where. So if "S" means sense s'pose "L" means light??
As Frank used to say, I don't want to let the smoke out so I'm hoping for more info!!

Kurt.
 
As per Barney Gaylords "MGA Guru" site it is confirmed that the L terminal is for the ignition light and the S [in his case R] terminal is to be hooked to the bat lead, though, he says switched thru the coil hot lead.
Now all I have to figure out is the last spade terminal.
Anyone have a clue?? How about a lead to a Festiva wiring diagram??

Kurt.
 
Doesn't matter which way it turns... unless there is an external fan attached behind the pulley.
 
Well, apparently I have everyone buffaloed on the last connection. Wonder if it is critical to be hooked up at all? As mentioned it does not appear on other alternators of the same vintage.

Kurt.
 
I don't know the answer but I hope you're taking photos for the rest of us who might want to use the Festiva one day!

Thanks,
Charlie
 
mightymidget said:
Will an alternator work clockwise/counterclockwise? does it matter which way it turns?
Click to expand...

Are you looking from the driver seat or the front of the engine?
:lol:
Sorry, I just couldn't help but be silly.
 
dklawson said:
Doesn't matter which way it turns... unless there is an external fan attached behind the pulley.
Click to expand...

Ah, yes, good point. I was thinking about electrons, not air molecules.
 
Jeez--Sorry Charlie I haven't been taking photos and the alt is mounted so its hard to see the connections. The hook up is simple for what I've done. S lug hooked hot thru wire to + lead of coil. L lug goes ign light. Have to sort those wires out and change the wiring at the control box as to Steves diagram.
Large screw connection is the supply to and from the battery.
I'll try to get a pic of the installation when I'm done. Course this is on a Datsun A15 engine but I'm sure it would work fine on a BMC. Its smaller than most. Haven't figured out the last lead yet.

Kurt.
 
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