Posted By: 68red440
100A 3-wire alt, regulator or no regulator? - 04/01/11 12:22 AM
This winter on my Coronet I added electric fans so I upgraded to a 100A tuff stuff alternator with an internal regulator. On the back of the alternator, I attached the ground wire to the case per the instructions. I added an 8Ga cable from the alternator stud to the starter relay. I left the voltage regulator in the car, overlooking the fact that the alternator already had one. So when I drove it, the volt meter inside the car was oscillating from 14 to 16 the entire time. Before the upgrade the voltage would stay steady at 14.7, and that is how I drove it the past few years.
Last night I removed the regulator from the firewall, and jumpered across the regulator connections. I also removed the regulator ground strap and left it off. Tonight with the engine running, the volt meter climbed to 18V and stayed pegged.
The regulator is one that looks stock, but is electronic. It worked great for years with the 60A alt.
Did I miss something in the wiring? I don't need an external regulator, do I?
Last night I removed the regulator from the firewall, and jumpered across the regulator connections. I also removed the regulator ground strap and left it off. Tonight with the engine running, the volt meter climbed to 18V and stayed pegged.
The regulator is one that looks stock, but is electronic. It worked great for years with the 60A alt.
Did I miss something in the wiring? I don't need an external regulator, do I?