GM 1 wire alternator help 1976 bronco

[Crazz]

ok i have a 1 wire self exciting alternator and want to do away with the factory voltage regulator and alternator on the bronco. my question is do i use the big black wire that powered the original alt or do i kill it and run a heavy wire from the battery to the alt and its done ?

any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks Rich

 

[Broncobowsher]

If the 1-wire is 60 amps or less then just hook it up to the big wire already there.
If it is more then 60 amps then it will probably overwhelm the stock wiring and should get a direct feed to the battery. that will render the factory ampmeter useless.

 

[bmc69]

What he just said.

I'm running a 1-wire 140A alternator, 4 ga connection direct to battery, and a volt meter to keep track of its output.

 

[Crazz]

thanks, i figures as much. do i need to do anything with the voltage regulator or just leave it there so the amp gauge works as well. its a 65 amp stock alternator, hoping i don't have to rev it much to make it charge its a self exciting so will see how that goes.

Thanks for the fast responses much appreciated

 

[Broncobowsher]

Just unplug it. Unless you have a need to remove it, just leave it. Someday, someone will be on the trail and need one. You can take it off and give it to them.

 

[70_Steve]

thanks, i figures as much. do i need to do anything with the voltage regulator or just leave it there so the amp gauge works as well. its a 65 amp stock alternator, hoping i don't have to rev it much to make it charge its a self exciting so will see how that goes.

What Broncobowsher said.

The circuit for the voltage regulator has nothing to do with the ammeter. The ammeter is "wired" in the loop that starts (ends?) at the heavy wire at the alternator (alternator output) and ends at the fusable link at the starter solenoid, which is/was connected directly to the battery. It is the direction and amount of current flow in that loop that the ammeter indicates.

Just cap off the heavy wire at the alternator, and install a voltmeter. The voltmeter will give you much more information about the state of your charging system.

 

[Crazz]

Thank you all for the info. will install and get it all up and going tomorrow.