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Old 01-20-2021, 08:46 PM   #1
ericr
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Default where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

many wiring diagrams I've seen are apparently some restatement of original diagrams with unhelpful particulars like showing the terminal located vertically, the ammeter is just a circle without plusses or minuses. Other diagrams are apparently from Dykes and show polarity of generator fields. Others reference connections via a plus and minus on the coil, which don't exist on repro script coils. Still other resources go into the alteration made after '28, and some of us are less interested in the "why" than the "how".

One member has pointed out a better diagram in Walt's catalog, but the catalog I have is a diagram rather tiny.

References to "driver" or "passenger" side are far easier to comprehend than a "plus" and a "minus" on a coil that don't exist.

in conclusion, is there a simple pictorial diagram outside of Shangri-la?
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Old 01-20-2021, 09:39 PM   #2
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Try this. based off the Dykes Manual
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Old 01-20-2021, 09:44 PM   #3
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

See junction box.
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Old 01-20-2021, 09:55 PM   #4
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Quote:
Originally Posted by ericr View Post
many wiring diagrams I've seen are apparently some restatement of original diagrams with unhelpful particulars like showing the terminal located vertically, the ammeter is just a circle without plusses or minuses. Other diagrams are apparently from Dykes and show polarity of generator fields. Others reference connections via a plus and minus on the coil, which don't exist on repro script coils. Still other resources go into the alteration made after '28, and some of us are less interested in the "why" than the "how".

One member has pointed out a better diagram in Walt's catalog, but the catalog I have is a diagram rather tiny.

References to "driver" or "passenger" side are far easier to comprehend than a "plus" and a "minus" on a coil that don't exist.

in conclusion, is there a simple pictorial diagram outside of Shangri-la?
I’ll bet your fingers were tired by the time you got to the final line !
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Old 01-20-2021, 10:27 PM   #5
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Check out this link. Look at the whole thing,there are actual picture
of the dash, terminal box, ect.
https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Semi...ex%20Janke.pdf
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Old 01-20-2021, 11:45 PM   #6
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

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I’ll bet your fingers were tired by the time you got to the final line !
LOL well, yeah, this has been a distraction for me for years. Unlike me, the mechanics working on these cars in the day had new cars sitting in the showroom to compare.

I thought I read once that the wires can be completely switched over between the two terminal posts and everything was jake but I knew not to go there.
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Old 01-20-2021, 11:48 PM   #7
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

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Check out this link. Look at the whole thing,there are actual picture
of the dash, terminal box, ect.
https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Semi...ex%20Janke.pdf
That about covers it all. Thanks for the link Bob C.
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Old 01-21-2021, 09:28 AM   #8
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Here is my rendition of the terminal box wire hookup.
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Old 01-21-2021, 09:32 AM   #9
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Bob, that is a great diagram. Nice and simple for nice, simple people like me!

Last edited by old31; 01-21-2021 at 09:51 AM.
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Old 01-21-2021, 10:32 AM   #10
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

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Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde View Post
Here is my rendition of the terminal box wire hookup.
Perfect drawing, Bob, but I don't recommend connecting anything else to the battery circuit. Accessories should be connected to the generator side, same as lighting, horn and wiper.
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Old 01-21-2021, 10:53 AM   #11
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

The diagram shown in posts #2 and #3 needs to be rotated 90° clockwise to put it in perspective.
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Old 01-21-2021, 11:18 AM   #12
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

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The diagram shown in posts #2 and #3 needs to be rotated 90° clockwise to put it in perspective.

You rest my case but simultaneously, thanks to the members who took the time to post the diagrams.

Perhaps some members have a more innate ease with circuitry. Alas, I'm between the town drunk and the village idiot.











yYou
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Old 01-21-2021, 11:25 AM   #13
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde View Post
Here is my rendition of the terminal box wire hookup.
Bob, thanks for this. I feel like I have found Davy Jones' Locker, Bluebeard's Treasure Chest , the Lost Dutchman's Mine, the Amber Room, the Oak
Island Treasure, Dutch Schultz's Strongbox, etc.
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Old 01-21-2021, 12:44 PM   #14
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob C View Post
Check out this link. Look at the whole thing,there are actual picture
of the dash, terminal box, ect.
https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Semi...ex%20Janke.pdf
This is the most complete documentation of the electrical system I have encountered. Many things in this document that I have never seen before.

Thanks
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Old 01-21-2021, 02:43 PM   #15
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is a difference between the 2 diagrams, and it is the Ammeter. Every time I use the diagram in post 2 & 3 I connect my ammeter backwards and it shows a discharge when it's running, so I end up reversing the wires on the ammeter. If you visualize the ammeter as being shown from the rear on this diagram, it will be correct. Since it shows the needle, it appears to me to be viewed from the front, that's where I go wrong.

I like the diagram that Bob posted, it's easy to see how the wires on the ammeter should be connected.
Thanks for posting that Bob, I hadn't seen this one before now!
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Old 01-23-2021, 01:04 PM   #16
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Studying the MAFCA 'wiring seminar' which is correct, page 2 or page 5, diagram for the ammeter wiring ?

Horn wiring page 52 shows the wire terminals installed from the bottom where as I thought the correct installation was into the sides of the horn terminal block ?

In both examples, which is correct ?
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Old 01-23-2021, 03:35 PM   #17
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob C View Post
Check out this link. Look at the whole thing,there are actual picture
of the dash, terminal box, ect.
https://www.mafca.com/downloads/Semi...ex%20Janke.pdf
Thanks for the link Bob. Great information. Don/WI
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Old 01-23-2021, 03:54 PM   #18
Jim Mason
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

Horn from the side.
Ammeter which every way to make it read correctly. many of the repops are backward. (Ive been told)
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Old 01-26-2021, 05:20 PM   #19
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

The two items that are as clear as mud are the coil and the amp meter connection. Many late type amp meters don't even have a + or - indicator stamped on. As was mentioned, if the amp meter shows a discharge when it's know to be charging then just swap the leads. On a coil, a person has to check the polarity. It can be done with a pencil lead but a polarity tester like the one Nu-Rex makes is a bit easier to use. Ford likely had a problem with polarity in the early days of the model A before that service bulletin came out in 1929 to change the coil wires around. It won't run as good if the polarity is off.
https://www.nurex.com/sparklite
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Old 01-26-2021, 06:07 PM   #20
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Default Re: where is the most idiot-proof diagram of terminal box wiring?

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Originally Posted by rotorwrench View Post
The two items that are as clear as mud are the coil and the amp meter connection. Many late type amp meters don't even have a + or - indicator stamped on. As was mentioned, if the amp meter shows a discharge when it's know to be charging then just swap the leads. On a coil, a person has to check the polarity. It can be done with a pencil lead but a polarity tester like the one Nu-Rex makes is a bit easier to use. Ford likely had a problem with polarity in the early days of the model A before that service bulletin came out in 1929 to change the coil wires around. It won't run as good if the polarity is off.
https://www.nurex.com/sparklite

The SparkLite is a very handy tool. I was skeptical when I first bought it, but I have used it frequently.


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