How do you hook up a one wire alt wrong? It has only one wire. :D
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That of course, was meant sort of as a joke, since of course you can't really hook up one wire wrong.
I did install a 140 amp circuit breaker in the hot lead (as is suggested on just about every 3G upgrade site -- yes, this is a 3G alternator modded to fit the early ford cars). Many sites just show going to a wrecking yard and pulling one off a car, swapping pulleys, etc, but this one was new and already done that way. I used a 6 ga. wire and may increase that to 4 ga when I get some terminal ends to fit that size wire. I have the wire.
Anyway, as I searched on the Net last night I had noted a "Ground here to test" marking on the regulator on mine, and found that will show the unregulated output on the alternator. So this morning I put it all back in and fired it up, grounded that screw, and it came to life and so far hasn't stopped charging. It went to like 18 volts while grounded and has been pushing 14.5 ever since.
So, there you have it.
I will say, this thing really sound like it is putting out the current. You can actually hear it. My battery is a little flat from sitting for 6 months, so it's charging away like mad.
[thumb]
When I was doing all that work under my wagon I decided I really ought to clean up my gas tank and straps, so I did. I used temporary straps while I blasted mine and painted them with this stuff I had called Rubber Synlac. The tank was done with Eastwood's TankTone. Now I just need to undercoat the rest of it under there to deal with the minor surface rust. Real soon now.
Clearly, I need to polish the chrome. :o