What causes alternator to spike?
An alternator spike would occur if the voltage regulator malfunctioned and failed to regulate the voltage output from the alternator. Usually it is limited to between 13.6 to 13.8 volts.
What is the IG terminal on an alternator?
IG terminal – Ignition switch that turns the voltage regulator on. L terminal – Closes the circuit to the warning lamp. F terminal – Full-field bypass for regulator. What are the three terminals on an alternator? The three wire types in a three-wire alternator include the battery positive wire, the voltage sensing wire, and the ignition input wire.
What is the wire that turns on the alternator?
• B is the alternator output wire that supplies current to the battery. • IG is the ignition input that turns on the alternator/regulator assembly. • S is used by the regulator to monitor charging voltage at the battery.
What happens to the alternator when the battery is not charged?
The voltage regulator adjusts the current on this terminal to maintain the system voltage around 14 V independently of the load and battery charge status. When this line is not driven, the alternator produces very little or no output at all. This is how alternators work.
How do I hook up a battery to an alternator?
Turn on battery switch. Install a jumper from pin F in harness plug to B+ terminal on alternator. Note: the alternator charge wire routes direct to the battery and not through any switch connection, the alternator will not operate correctly if not connected direct to battery or directly through the ammeter.
• B is the alternator output wire that supplies current to the battery. • IG is the ignition input that turns on the alternator/regulator assembly. • S is used by the regulator to monitor charging voltage at the battery.
Why does an alternator need a heavier wire than a stock battery?
“An alternator with a higher amp output than stock requires a heavier charge wire (the wire that connects the alternator to the battery) because of the increased amperage.” To evaluate your charging system, try this simple experiment.
Is it possible to upgrade an alternator for a charging system?
Among the available charging-system alternatives, you can choose to merely upgrade to a higher output alternator within the same design as your existing alternator, or update with a later model unit with more output. The simplest would be to upgrade your current alternator. For example, Tuff Stuff Performance offers a higher output 10-DN option.
Where is the voltage sensing wire on a GM alternator?
The Number 1 wire on the 10- or 12-SI is connected to the charge warning light on the dash. The Number 2 wire is what is called the voltage sensing wire. 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.