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One wire alternator

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2018 9:04 pm
by bobv
Anyone using the one wire alternator? Ihave had many of these fail.I have three in stock not working. I found a u tube on exciting a one wire alternator.
I tried this and it worked my alternator charges fine now. the other two I have probably have the same issue. Beats buying a new one.I had to cut a small hole in the cover to access the r terminal a sillicon sealer with a small patch will close the opening back up.It appears that if these alternators sit for a time they need to be excited.
Bob

Re: One wire alternator

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 8:37 am
by EWRice
You must have the old style 10SI se alternators. I have never heard of having to manually excite one. I know that all of the one wire alternators being sold today are using AC activated regulators. This means that they self excite at very low rpm almost instantly. They were originally created for the antique tractor guys.

Re: One wire alternator

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 6:21 am
by bobv
Nope they are the new style. If they sit too long they loose charge and you need to excite them. This thing would not work at any rpm. I jumped it to the battery and in couple of seconds it was charging. I didnt use the boat last year one stayed working. The other wouldn't charge.
Bob

Re: One wire alternator

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 11:19 am
by Tuggle
Replaced both of mine last year with Arco's, wired them directly to the positive battery lead, they've never missed a beat.

Re: One wire alternator

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2018 9:36 pm
by EWRice
I think you have a defective regulator. I worked at a starter/alternator shop for five years. We built many different custom 1 wire alternators and I have never seen one have to get excited to work, with one exception: some battery isolators will screw with a one wire alternator. The only piece of charging equipment we ever had to excite (polarize) was a DC generator.

Re: One wire alternator

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2018 5:16 am
by Tuggle
On a one wire alternator isn't the voltage regulator internal, thus completely bypassing any external regulator?

Re: One wire alternator

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:27 pm
by EWRice
The voltage reg is internal. It is inside the back cover.