2G How did you get your alternator to charge your standalone system? (FT550)

[GHSTII]

Standalone folks, care to share your setup? What was the most effective way to get your alternator to charge without the stock charge light?
FuelTech FT550 here.

 

[steve]

There are two paths for the initial charging current and neither pass through the ECU.

I'm guessing you stripped the engine wiring and removed the factory cluster when you installed the FT550, since you mention the stock charge light.

That's one of the paths, the second is the misnamed Alternator (Generator) Relay which is really a Resistor and Diode in series from the 10A fuse to the alternator field terminal like the charge lite is/was. The diode is positioned as to keep the alternator from backfeeding the ignition and the resistor limits the current like an incandescent bulb does without the functioning as a charge indicator.

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/what-amperage-is-the-charging-system-relay-on-a-2g.248161/#post151081889

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/2g-alternator-generator-relay-location.328124/

Also consider that there is charging control on a 2G ECU but it's easy to bypass.

https://www.dsmtuners.com/threads/alternator-isnt-charging.525712/

 

[GHSTII]

Yessir, you guessed right. I mention the ECU just as a note about the setup. I pulled the factory cluster, and I replaced the stock control harness with a custom harness that routes directly to the FT instead.

I figured I'd run the alternator straight to the battery positive, but it doesn't seem to like that. I want to switch to the resistor method you've mentioned. I'm just having a hard time finding examples of what it should look like. Thanks for the reply!