What is an externally regulated alternator?
Internal regulator is inside the alternator. it uses 1 wire. External uses a box with a number of wires attached to it. This allows the removal of the external regulator for a cleaner look under the hood. Single wire is the only way to go.
How do I know if my alternator is internally regulated?
Check for regulator under the washer bottle and/or bracket on the driver side of the radiator support. If the pins are aligned like this “- -” on the side, then it is an internal regulated alternator. A 10SI will have a metal fan blade, or a 12SI, it will have a plastic fan blade.
How do you wire an alternator with an external regulator?
How to Wire an Alternator Voltage Regulator
- Open the hood of your car.
- Remove the black battery cable from the car’s battery terminal using a wrench.
- Locate the voltage regulator.
- Find the multi-wired harness nearby the alternator and voltage regulator.
- Insert the plug into the socket on the voltage regulator.
Do alternators have built in voltage regulator?
Some alternators required revving the engine to a certain RPM in order to excite the alternator so it would turn on and start charging. External voltage regulators are eliminated and built into the alternator itself.
Is the voltage regulator inside the alternator?
The voltage regulator can be mounted inside or outside of the alternator housing. If the regulator is mounted outside (common on some Ford products) there will be a wiring harness connecting it to the alternator. The voltage regulator controls the field current applied to the spinning rotor inside the alternator.
How is a voltage regulator wired?
Connect the positive battery cable wire — usually red — to the regulator. Connect the wire to the terminal marked “B” (sometimes this terminal is marked “BATT”). Connect the generator or alternator wire to the regulator. Connect the field wire — field coil wire — to the field terminal on the regulator.
Can a external alternator be converted to an internal alternator?
Here is a how-to for the conversion from an external regulator alternator to a “SI” internal regulator alternator. The bracket configuration is the same for the external and internal alternators. The colors of the wires called out are the “standard” colors and I can’t swear that your car’s wiring loom matches.
Do you need regulator for alternator plug conversion?
When you convert from the external regulator alternator, you no longer need the regulator that is mounted on the radiator support or firewall. Or,you could gut the inside of the regulator and solder a jumper from the F terminal to the 3 terminal inside the case. Then do the same for the 2 and 4 terminals.
Can you convert an external voltage regulator to an internal voltage regulator?
When converting from an external voltage regulator to an internal such as the 12-SI, many enthusiasts merely connect the Number 2 voltage sensing wire directly to the output terminal. While this shortcut is simple and functional, it will not optimize the charging system.
Why is one wire alternator not as efficient as remote sensing alternator?
Voltage sensing is accomplished internally, which (as we just covered) is one reason why one-wire alternators are not as efficient as a remote-sensing alternator. Another minor disadvantage to one-wire alternators is the rotor in the alternator must achieve a certain speed to self-excite.