I completed converting our 400 to 12v w/ alternator. Had new brackets fabricated so it fits under the hood and uses the original belt.
The first alternator was a used freebie. would not charge. It had worked on the bench tester prior to my project but it did get rained on on accident.
the second alternator is store purchased but will not begin to charge until 3 notches from wide open on the throttle (around 1000 rpm). Even if you try to excite it with a jumper wire. once excited, it charges at all engine speeds.
I've double checked my wiring and it's correct. I thought the sealed warning lamp (not LED) was the culprit but the lack of excitement with a jumper wire seems to elminate that possibility. It's acting like a one wire!
The only other factor i can think of is the pulley size/alternator rpm. I am using a bigger pulley than a car. but it is smaller than the original adjustable generator pulley. i'll have to measure.
I assumed with the warning light setup that the alternator would become excited when energized regardless of rpm. Anyone else run into this before?
-karl f
The first alternator was a used freebie. would not charge. It had worked on the bench tester prior to my project but it did get rained on on accident.
the second alternator is store purchased but will not begin to charge until 3 notches from wide open on the throttle (around 1000 rpm). Even if you try to excite it with a jumper wire. once excited, it charges at all engine speeds.
I've double checked my wiring and it's correct. I thought the sealed warning lamp (not LED) was the culprit but the lack of excitement with a jumper wire seems to elminate that possibility. It's acting like a one wire!
The only other factor i can think of is the pulley size/alternator rpm. I am using a bigger pulley than a car. but it is smaller than the original adjustable generator pulley. i'll have to measure.
I assumed with the warning light setup that the alternator would become excited when energized regardless of rpm. Anyone else run into this before?
-karl f
