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Ford alternator wiring


BlueBDA

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The alternator on my 1700 BDA is a Powermaster 8172:

 

http://www.powermastermotorsports.com/005___IS_Jum.pdf

 

In my car it has the battery wire connected to it, as well as two wires connected via spade plugs to two of the three connections shown in the above link. One of these wires (brown and black) is powered when the ignition is on, the other is not powered with the ignition (brown and yellow).

 

IMG_3292.jpg

 

I just had my alternator tested and it is working fine. The guy at the alternator shop said I don't need anything connected to any of those spade connections - he said that since testing showed proper amperage on his test stand without an ignition wire that I should leave those 2 wires disconnected.

 

When I called Powermaster to ask some questions they also told me that this alternator does not need any connections beyond the battery wire - it is a "one-wire" alternator. The link above to the jumper wire instruction is likely for an older version of the alternator that was not a one-wire.

 

My guess is that the Brown/black wire is to turn on an alternator that is not a one-wire alternator, and the brown/yellow is to control the charging idiot light, which I don't think has ever worked with this engine in this car. This car used to have a crossflow in it.

 

Can anyone confirm what those two wires are, and whether I should connect them or not (to the alternator - or anything else)?

Edited by BlueBDA
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The alternator on my 1700 BDA is a Powermaster 8172:

 

http://www.powermastermotorsports.com/005___IS_Jum.pdf

 

In my car it has the battery wire connected to it, as well as two wires connected via spade plugs to two of the three connections shown in the above link. One of these wires (brown and black) is powered when the ignition is on, the other is not powered with the ignition (brown and yellow).

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]16683[/ATTACH]

 

I just had my alternator tested and it is working fine. The guy at the alternator shop said I don't need anything connected to any of those spade connections - he said that since testing showed proper amperage on his test stand without an ignition wire that I should leave those 2 wires disconnected.

 

When I called Powermaster to ask some questions they also told me that this alternator does not need any connections beyond the battery wire - it is a "one-wire" alternator. The link above to the jumper wire instruction is likely for an older version of the alternator that was not a one-wire.

 

My guess is that the Brown/black wire is to turn on an alternator that is not a one-wire alternator, and the brown/yellow is to control the charging idiot light, which I don't think has ever worked with this engine in this car. This car used to have a crossflow in it.

 

Can anyone confirm what those two wires are, and whether I should connect them or not (to the alternator - or anything else)?

 

From what I can tell, the 8172 is the one-wire alternator set up for an ign warning light which would require those two other wires besides the main charge cable if you want to have a working charge light (see photo below). How many terminals are on the alternator besides the main charge cable, is it two or three? I can't tell from your photo. And is there any identification letters near the those terminals?

pmasterconnections.jpg

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I dipped into alternator wiring a few years ago when the smoke leaked out of my system: your plug looks like the NipponDenso voltage regulator on my alternator. There are many types of voltage regulators out there based on the vehicle and how it's wired.

IIRC your picture looks like a 1 wire output with three spade (L)ight, (I)gnition, (S)ensing connector. Most of which are optional for our cars per my alternator boffin. So If it ain't broke, don't fix it: I wouldn't worry too much over this detail.

If you don't see the terminal labels unscrew the alternator's back cover and research the voltage regulator item #.

 

p.

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Thanks for the help guys.

 

My alternator has 3 spade connections, just like in the graphic in the link I posted. No identifying letters anywhere, but I'll pull the cover off and check inside.

 

xcarguy that's the same link I posted. Your schematic is great - where'd you get that?

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Thanks for the help guys.

 

My alternator has 3 spade connections, just like in the graphic in the link I posted. No identifying letters anywhere, but I'll pull the cover off and check inside.

 

xcarguy that's the same link I posted. Your schematic is great - where'd you get that?

 

It’s a modified version of this photo (see below), which came about after watching this video (see link). I have the Nippon Denso on my Stalker, and that diagram is how I wired it.

 

1C05F597-8922-4817-9B0E-A16811DB8166.jpg

 

Denso alternator info begins at about 10:00.....

 

Edited by xcarguy
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