One Wire Alternator Over Charging

Anonymous-0 · Jun 4, 2010

About two years ago I put a rebuilt one wire alternator on my tractor. About a year ago it started overcharging. It was still under warranty so I exchanged it. Now the second one is doing the same thing. It has the amp gauge pegged and is putting out over 20 volts. Any ideas what is causing this? Has anybody else had the same problem? The tractor is a Case VAC if that makes a difference.

Janicholson · Jun 4, 2010

The one wire regulator is a compromise of function.
Some are marginal, some are pretty worthless. For the effort of putting a parking light bulb (not LED) idiot light in the middle of a wire with one end attached to the #1 spade terminal, and the other connected to the ignition switch hot when on, you can have true regulation, and excitement at low RPM. The #2 terminal just hooks directly to the output stud on the alternator.
Reliable, cheap and the way it is done at the factory on GM cars! Jim

Janicholson · Jun 4, 2010

It does not work to "fix" the one wire this way, but you probably could just put a regulator from a Normal 10SI in it and the wires above and be done!! Jim

36F30 · Jun 4, 2010

if you don't like adding the light because of looks, you can hide them under the hood or inside the switch box.

Anonymous-0 · Jun 4, 2010

smash it with a sledge hammer and put a 2-wire delco SI on it, very few 1-wires work very good very long

old · Jun 4, 2010

Put on an alternator mad e to fit say a 1980 Chev pick up truck no power any thing. Cost at O'reillys is $45 plus a core. Life time warranty by the way. Simple 3 wire set up and there is about 4 or 5 ways to hook it up and all are simple. Me I use the diode set up and buy the radio shack part #276-1661 which is way over kill and be done with it

Mike M · Jun 4, 2010

A volt gauge is more suited for an alt.

And even when working fine that 14.5-15 volts is still way more then a tractor needs unless you run lots of lights !.

Owen Aaland · Jun 4, 2010

Run a wire from the output terminal to the #2 terminal. If that does not correct the problem the trouble is either poor connections on the regulator or the regulator itself.

Jon Hagen · Jun 4, 2010

I suspect your rebuilder is using cheap, short lived one wire regulators. I have used them for many years and find them as reliable as any std 3 wire regulator.
Replace your bad regulator with another brand of self exciting (one wire)regulator.
If you find the right jobber, should be under $10.

DeltaRed · Jun 5, 2010

I use a one wire from a local rebuilder(Whittingtons Auto Electric,Delta,Co.) that works perfectly(i heve 3 of them).dont use a light,and they dont 'bleed'.even after months of nonuse ,the tractor starts like it was run yesterday,evencharges at low RPM.

One Wire Alternator Over Charging

Anonymous-0

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Janicholson

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Janicholson

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36F30

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Anonymous-0

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old

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Mike M

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Owen Aaland

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Jon Hagen

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DeltaRed

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