AAAAAARRRRRGH! (sound of pulling hair). I KNOW that between what Larry
said and what Steve said I should understand this--but I just don't get
it and I feel like a total DOOFUS!!!
Between the two of you I'm sure I have enough info to take to Smitty so
he can wire it up for me. Maybe then it'll make sense.
Anyway, THANKS to both Larry and Steve--and everyone else who replied to
my query.
You're a great bunch, and I really appreciate your help.
Best Regards
David
Steve Laifman wrote:
> Larry has delivered the goods. He has told you how you wire a "1 wire"
> alternator to give you a warning light. Easy as cake, simple as pie.
>
> Now, there are still a bunch of folk out there who won't believe it
> works, just because someone told them it did. They seem to want the
> 'scientific explanation' to "believe". Well, I believe Larry. BUT, for
> those that want the nitty gritty, without the relativity theory, or
> black holes, here it is.
>
> There is no ground!
>
> Yup. That's the deep dark secret. The other side of that idiot light
> goes to the battery when the key is in the "run" position, like most
> other switched stuff. When the alternator is not putting out as much
> voltage as the battery, the current flows through the light to the
> alternator's 1 wire, and thence to a lower potential (voltage), What do
> you get? Light!.
>
> OK, the alternator starts to turn and generate voltage. That voltage
> goes through the light to the battery. The light dims until the
> alternator voltage matches the battery voltage. Then the light has no
> current flow from a voltage difference and goes out.
>
> Now the cop-out. I'll leave it to Theo Smit to explain why it doesn't go
> back on again when the alternator output voltage exceeds the battery
> voltage for charging. Bet it has something to do with a diode, though. :-)
>
> Steve
>
> Larry Paulick wrote:
>
>
>>Gary, you guys are the EE, Sparky experts, they just give us CE's a
>>hammer, and tell us to go at it.
>>
>>The hook up is charging wire from alternator to solenoid/battery
>>connection, and the one wire to red warning light and then to #2 on
>>ignition switch.
>>
>>It works. I also use a volt meter.
>>
>>I still can't figure out how the wiring diagram on the flash to pass
>>circuitry that Theo did for me. Something is not right there but it
>>works.
>>
>>Larry
>>
>>PS - I felt good and that my EE days were over when the Heath Kit
>>stereo worked.
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