Alternator Hook Up For 12V Power

[Whitetal]

I was wondering if someone could help me with this. I'm trying to hook up a Mits alternator off a 1G DSM to a small gas engine and use it for 12V power source. I've hooked the one wire for pos and use the alternator body as ground. Do I have to do anything with the 2 wire plug? What are they used for? I did not use them but I was able to get power out of the alternator but I had to get the alternator spinning extremely fast untill it kicked in. I mean extremely fast. The alternator was screaming and the fan was blowing loud. I used a bench grinder and hooked it up to the alternator I know it doesn't have to spin that fast to put out power. I took it to autozone to test it. It doesn't even spin that fast on the machine that they test it with. What can I do to get it pumping out power without that speed? There must be something that will get it to kick in earlier.

 

[turborebel]

Sorry, I dont' know but it seems like AutoZone might.

 

[Whitetal]

Well actually autozone probably won't be able to help someone there know's about the alternator. The machine just tells us that it's good but we still don't know the what the two wires in the plugs does.

 

[Defiant]

You need to energize the field windings. That's what makes the difference between an alternator and a generator.

 

[Whitetal]

Huuh. Field windings? Well for now I'm just trying to figure out how to get the thing pumping out power at lower rpms. There's got to be something that makes it kick in.

 

[tqmx1]

What Defiant is trying to tell you is the Alterantor is NOT self exciting. You need to hook up a 12V DC sorace(AKA battey) between the bat and field termanal to make it work.

If you want somthing that is self exciting get a generator and regulator off a 50s GM that should fit the bill.

 

[Whitetal]

Oh ok. That's kinda what I thought too. I figure maybe the pos and ground need to go to something first like a battery before it will work properly so I connect pos wire on alt to pos terminal on battery and grounded the alt to the neg terminal. But it still the same. I have to spin the alt extremely fast till it kicks in. I figure maybe it has something to do with the 2 wire plug. That's why I'm here. Hopefully someone can tell me what I can do with the 2 wire plug. I'm not sure but they seem to be both ground. I can't remember for sure but I remember both wires have continuity with the alt's body.

Hey so what of the GM generator and regulator? Maybe if I could use something more simpler, I'll go get one.

 

[tqmx1]

You are missing one thing , the positve also has to go to the field termnal also(one of the small spade termanals). You have your choise of two touch the wrong one and everything blows up (Just KIdding!!) One will work the other will be dead.

 

[Whitetal]

Thank you tqmx1. That's what I've been waiting to hear. I knew it had to be something like that. I actually just searched on the net for websites and I just saw a diagram of a set up and on the alt it had the field terminal going to the alt as well. Now that you mentioned it, I'm pretty sure what to do next.

Now was wondering if this is possible if I do get the alternator pumping power. Could I somehow take out the volt regulator so I could get more power like 24v or 36v? If so, I could hook up an external regulator like a rheostat or potentiometer so I could control what voltage level.

 

[tqmx1]

Now was wondering if this is possible if I do get the alternator pumping power. Could I somehow take out the volt regulator so I could get more power like 24v or 36v? If so, I could hook up an external regulator like a rheostat or potentiometer so I could control what voltage level.[/QUOTE]

For that no. For that you would have to get the Alt. rewired and change the regulater. I don't think anyone uses 36V as for 24V aircraft are the only thing I can think of that use that voltage and all that stuff is $$$$.