Help on alternator connections

[Mike]

I need help figuring how to hook up my new alternator. My old one is a Delco Ramey (picture) and the new one is shown in the diagram. I am confused on the connections. The new alternator was ordered from Victoria British to fit my 1972 1275 motor. Things just look different.

Old alternator. One blue and black wire in and one wire appears to be some type of bridge connection.

New alternator which has three connections as shown in diagram.

 

[MichiganTed]

Your delco is wired correctly for an aftermarket fit - the small wire from the spade terminal (#1 on the casting) goes to the charging light on the dash. That circuit is often marked "IND", short for indicator light and is the top terminal on your wiring diagram. B+ is battery, your heavy gage wire. But from the circuit diagram, it isn't clear to me what's going on with the two block connections. I appears +VE is switched power; 12 volts only when the key is on.

 

[Mike]

I added a second diagram, perhaps that may be helpful in trying to help me. I understand the Indicator Light connection to the top prong connector. The heavy wire, being the power wire going to the the bottom prong connector? Do I bridge the Indicator Light wire to the middle prong connector?
Thanks,
Mike

 

[MichiganTed]

I remember now. The two large spade terminals are the same, B+ battery source. The Lucus splits the rectifier. Take a look at the link below. There is a link (within that one) to a wire diagram that shows both of the large terminals going to B+.

https://www.ziplink.net/~undo/genalt.htm

The lucus you have is known as an "ACR" type. You can also buy a 90 degree connector that might make your hook-up cleaner. Plugs into the three spade terminals and allows for a more conventional wire hookup. Just seach the internet for lucus ACR connector for an illustration. Good luck,

 

[Mike]

I remember now. The two large spade terminals are the same, B+ battery source. The Lucus splits the rectifier. Take a look at the link below. There is a link (within that one) to a wire diagram that shows both of the large terminals going to B+.

https://www.ziplink.net/~undo/genalt.htm

The lucus you have is known as an "ACR" type. You can also buy a 90 degree connector that might make your hook-up cleaner. Plugs into the three spade terminals and allows for a more conventional wire hookup. Just seach the internet for lucus ACR connector for an illustration. Good luck,

Ted:

It appears that I can bring both lead wires on the bottom connectors back to the positive side of the starter solenoid according to the the link you provided.

Thanks for the input!

Mike

 

[RyanBez]

You could also just hook it up and see that terminals have a +14.X Volts.

 

[Mike]

You could also just hook it up and see that terminals have a +14.X Volts.

Would that be just hooking up one postive lead and the indicator light lead?

 

[Mike]

Okay, got things installed and running. To my disappointment though, the mounting kit (from Victoria British) had several items (bolts and such) that were sized incorrectly so a run down to Home Depot to do some re-engineering was on hand. I scratch my head and wonder if I bought the one Bugeye that has everything go wrong with it! A nice ride after the repair in the Hill Country in 74 degrees made me feel all good about things again.

 

[MichiganTed]

Mike, your correct. You really only need one of the large spade terminals going to the battery. As I recall Lucus splits the B+ to provide two parallel paths for the current. Those spade terminals are limited by the amount of current they can carry which is less than a post, nut and eyelet, so they provide two. A healthly charging system will maintain between 13.8 - 14.2 volts, warm idle, with lights and fan blower on. Sounds like your back on the road,

 

[Mike]

Mike, your correct. You really only need one of the large spade terminals going to the battery. As I recall Lucus splits the B+ to provide two parallel paths for the current. Those spade terminals are limited by the amount of current they can carry which is less than a post, nut and eyelet, so they provide two. A healthly charging system will maintain between 13.8 - 14.2 volts, warm idle, with lights and fan blower on. Sounds like your back on the road,

Thanks Ted.