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+--- Thread: W123 One wire alternator (/showthread.php?tid=4651)
W123 One wire alternator - MFSuper90 - 06-17-2013
My alternator always gives me fits, back feeding, not charging, etc...
So my plan is to do away with it and put a one wire alternator on it. I saw a thread were someone did it, but I cant seem to find it again.
I figure I will have to tweek some brackets or maybe even make some, thats no big deal. But what about wiring? Does the stock alternator control anything else?
And what size alternator do yall think I should run?
RE: W123 One wire alternator - MFSuper90 - 06-19-2013
Guess ill be the first to try it out!
Not sure how soon ill get it done, but I will keep y'all updated
RE: W123 One wire alternator - mxfrank - 06-24-2013
There are "one wire" alternators that self energize, I think the only brand is Delco. They have a big disadvantage: They don't begin to charge until you rev the alternator above 3000 rpm, because they use residual magnetism in the rotor to bootstrap.
Pretty much all the alternators you will find on production cars have a second wire, usually labeled D+ or I, to provide a trickle of current to bootstrap the alternator as soon as it starts turning. The voltage to the D+ connection actually filters through the indicator light in the dash. The light goes out because the alternator itself suppplies the D+ terminal with 12v+ once the alternator starts turning.
The sensible thing to do is to figure out why your alternator isn't charging, as there really is no better alternator than an old Bosch. Why wouldn't it charge? Is your dash indicator light ok? It often surprises people that a blown indicator bulb will keep the alternator from bootstrapping. The other possible causes would be a faulty regulator, bad wiring, worn brushes, or carbon'd slip rings.
RE: W123 One wire alternator - MFSuper90 - 06-24-2013
Indicator does work, and I've tried two different alternators and regulators.
Honestly, I am tired of fooling with it. Plus I like fabricating stuff to make it fit and work properly. As for it not energizing til 3k, why can't I just put a little smaller pulley on it? I have done it on tractors before to make them energize sooner and it seemed to work great.
Another reason I am turned towards a one wire is they we have several laying around our shop that we could use
RE: W123 One wire alternator - Captain America - 09-04-2013
I just put a 150amp CS-144 Delco from a GM truck on mine, had to use longer belts and mod the top bracket but it went good. Now just to figure out where the Batt wire from the alternator go.... Looks like they go through the firewall to somewhere inside the car
RE: W123 One wire alternator - MFSuper90 - 09-05-2013
Capt, I think the battery wire runs though the indicator. At least I believe that's what I think read somewhere.
Don't hold me to that though. My alternator hasn't acted up for quite awhile now, so I haven't messed with mine. Plus I am at college so I don't have time or a place to fab or even work on stuff