The Ford Barn

louieglen · 05-09-2018, 08:39 PM

I bought a 31 A the other day, that has an alternator on it. No charge. I took the wire loose and touched it with a battery charger. The amp hand showed 10 amps charging. That tells me that that part is ok. I took the alternator to a repair shop. He checked it over and said that it wasn't a one wire alt. that I would have to ground the other terminal. Did this still no chg. Any suggestions?

MAG · 05-09-2018, 09:28 PM

There are instructions on the internet to convert it to a 3 wire installation and a One wire installation. One wire installation is a change of the voltage regulator. They are are available on-line. If you go that route order for correct voltage and polarity. Not difficult to do.

Badpuppy · 05-10-2018, 12:09 PM

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6 or 12 volt, positive or negative ground? If it has been converted to one wire, it won't show. Should have a plug over the two tab terminals. You have to rev the engine up to get the "self-exciting" feature to kick in, will start charging then. If totally dead, google "1 wire conversion kit", like MAG says.

05-09-2018, 08:39 PM	#1
louieglen Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 218	Alternator I bought a 31 A the other day, that has an alternator on it. No charge. I took the wire loose and touched it with a battery charger. The amp hand showed 10 amps charging. That tells me that that part is ok. I took the alternator to a repair shop. He checked it over and said that it wasn't a one wire alt. that I would have to ground the other terminal. Did this still no chg. Any suggestions?

05-09-2018, 09:28 PM	#2
MAG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 925	Re: Alternator There are instructions on the internet to convert it to a 3 wire installation and a One wire installation. One wire installation is a change of the voltage regulator. They are are available on-line. If you go that route order for correct voltage and polarity. Not difficult to do. __________________ I noticed the harder I work the luckier I get!

05-10-2018, 12:09 PM	#3
Badpuppy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Guthrie, OK Posts: 1,145	Re: Alternator Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 6 or 12 volt, positive or negative ground? If it has been converted to one wire, it won't show. Should have a plug over the two tab terminals. You have to rev the engine up to get the "self-exciting" feature to kick in, will start charging then. If totally dead, google "1 wire conversion kit", like MAG says.