Jay,
1. Mazda rotary engines spin the same way as piston engines, AFAIK.
2. Alternators don't care what direction you spin them in EXCEPT that the
brushes are typically offset from the rotation axis, I guess in order to
give better brush wear. Electrically there is no difference.
I guess I didn't see the whole story but the charge current output from any
alternator, generator, or whatever, connects to the same point in the rest
of the car's electrical system. If your gauge is reading funny but
everything else looks correct then why not check the gauge? Put in any other
ammeter and see what happens. Measure the battery voltage and the voltage at
the fuse panel. If it's 12 volts with the engine off, and 14 or so with the
engine running, then the alternator is definitely doing the right things.
Theo
-----Original Message-----
From: Jay_Laifman@countrywide.com [mailto:Jay_Laifman@countrywide.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2000 9:56 AM
To: msmall@roanoke.infi.net
Cc: alpines@autox.team.net; tigers@autox.team.net;
british-cars@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: RX7 wiring diagram needed
Unfortunately I wish that was the answer, but I know it was working fine
before I switched alternators. That's all I changed in the electrical
system. So, either the alternator does not really wire like the Nissan one
did - and as both shops have told me it wires, or there is something else
that is shot.
This new alternator is from a Mazda RX7. Is there any chance in the world
that the rotary engines spun the other way or that it makes any difference
even if it did to the functioning of the alternator? I've had both
answers!
The oddest thing is still that as I turn things on - car 15 amps,
headlights 10 amps, OD few amps, the ammeter keeps going up and never comes
back down. When I turn on the headlights with the car off, the ammeter
sure doesn't show a 10 amp drain - if anything it doesn't budge. But, I
haven't tried it with the ignition on, but the engine off.
Jay
Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net> on 11/28/2000 08:46:52 AM
To: Jay_Laifman@countrywide.com
cc: alpines@autox.team.net, tigers@autox.team.net,
british-cars@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: RX7 wiring diagram needed
Jay
The problem with your ammeter may just be that the wires to the meter are
reversed. If you converted your car from positive to negative ground and
at that point switched the ammeter wiring and THEN replaced the ammeter
with a negative-ground meter, you might have to flip the wires to the meter
back again.
Just a thought.
Marc
msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315
Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!
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