Fitting an alternator

Post by **morrisman1** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:20 am

there used to be instructions somewhere but i cant find them anymore!!

can someone detail what i have to do at the regulator when fitting a lucas self regulated alternator?

thanks

Post by **PSL184** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:35 am

http://www.mmoc.org.uk/index.php?name=P ... sc&start=0

Post by **morrisman1** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:52 am

thanks

i remember the one that i saw didnt require any new cables, it just required some shuffling and splicing at the regulator.

Post by **Matt** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:29 am

Sorry to nick the picture...

Where it says "new cable" you can take the charge light wire off the back of the alternator and connect it to the D terminal. Its advisable to run 2 large wires from the back of the alt. to the starter solenoid as one may not be up to the job! (should be 2 spade connectors on the back)

Post by **morrisman1** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 1:30 pm

ok thanks guys. what i have done is:

join cable on A with large cable from alternator + termainal and connect into A. (done by soldering both cables onto a large push-on female connector)

join small cable on F and small cable on D together. this operates the warning light. the small cable on D goes straight to the warning light, and the small cable on F goes to the IND termainal on the alternator so that connects the ign warning light with the IND terminal.

ive only got a 33amp alternator off a mini so the original cable is suffient for that (got it checked by the auto electrician)

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:19 pm

. Its advisable to run 2 large wires from the back of the alt. to the starter solenoid as one may not be up to the job!

The original wire wasn't rated for 33 amps and the insulation is now ~40 years old... It should work fine, but so if someone changes the alternator in the future for a fairly standard 45A one then it's potential fire time.
Sorry for being cautios but the Alternator wiring on my pickup was done by an amateur pyromaniac!

It's less than half a metre from Alternator to solenoid terminal, so not too hard to get a 50A rated wire across.

Post by **morrisman1** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:35 pm

ive got a brand new wiring loom. the size of the cable is actually slightly larger than the 33 amp cable that i got to extend the brown cable to the solenoid. i have a datsun engine and that has the solenoid down on the starter, so the wiring is slightly different.

i will keep that all in mind, i might put an ammeter after the alternator just to check the current, when the battery is flat and also when all accessories are going.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:25 pm

ive got a brand new wiring loom. the size of the cable is actually slightly larger than the

aha - righto!
As for ammeter to check peak current - you've already got far enough to know peak current is with flat battery... so not much to say really. One minor comment that for >10 amps it's best to use a current clamp rather than a basic ammeter.