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Max Welton
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 10697
Location: Black Forest, CO
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 Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 6:01 pm Post subject: Alternator wiring |
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I'm assembling my type-3 with an internally regulated alternator. The alt is a 3-wire job as pictured.
I have it wired according to this on-line diagram I found. But when I turn on the ignition the gen light on the gauge cluster doesn't light. The bulb is good, there is continuity from the gauge cluster to the #1 on the alternator.
Question. With power to #2 and the engine not running, should #1 be ground or hot?
Max
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1967 Type-3 Fastback
Under the Knife https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=151582
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ataraxia
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 4504
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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Mine is wired slightly differently - the switched hot goes to the coil (and technically, the wire should be black).
All of my lights work as they should, battery charges fine, no electrical issues.
The wire that normally goes to D+ at the generator and voltage regulator is not connected at all.
I additionally fused the connection between the battery and the dash under the rear seat with a blade fuse and I do not have spliced wiring anywhere. |
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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 10697
Location: Black Forest, CO
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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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ataraxia
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 4504
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2021 9:21 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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| Max Welton wrote: |
Looks like you have the same alternator. Good.
From your picture it looks like your red wire goes from #2 on the alt to +15 on the coil which runs to the ignition switch. Pretty much what I have.
And your blue wire (connected to alt #1 ?) ... goes where?
Max |
Green wire is from the wire harness for the dash light.
Red wire goes to the switched power on the coil. |
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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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ataraxia
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 4504
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:24 am Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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| Max Welton wrote: |
I'm red-green color-blind. I think your green is my blue.  Sounds like we are wired the same.
The "L" pin has be hot to illuminate the light. I'll check that tomorrow.
Bet I have something goofy in the gauge cluster.
Thanks!
Max |
To be fair - the green wire does look blue in the picture.
If you changed to LED bulbs in the gauge cluster - it's the bulb - if you're using filament bulbs - make sure the ground is real solid. But you likely already know all of that.
Here's a photo of the back of the alternator:
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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 10697
Location: Black Forest, CO
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:08 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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| Max Welton wrote: |
The "L" pin has be hot to illuminate the light. I'll check that tomorrow.
Bet I have something goofy in the gauge cluster.
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First, I am an electrical idiot. The gen light is ground switched. A test bulb between the S and L pins on the alternator verified it.
And ... somewhere between when I tested the bulb in the beginning and today, the bulb blew. Bulb replaced and ...
So, the alternator is fine, the wiring is fine and the bulb is now fine. Moving on. 
Max
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1967 Type-3 Fastback
Under the Knife https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=151582
Home Stretch https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=767836 |
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Erik G
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Joined: October 16, 2002
Posts: 13280
Location: Tejas!
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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| yeah, that wire is turquoise, the spark plug wires are blue |
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ataraxia
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 4504
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:18 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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| Erik G wrote: |
| yeah, that wire is turquoise, the spark plug wires are blue |
No turquoise wires in this ride...it's a weird green, trust me!  |
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vwfye
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Joined: April 15, 2000
Posts: 7661
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| Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2021 1:41 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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Max, you can turn any GM 3 wire into a single wire. Look at the Google, there will be videos.
Did you bypass the voltage regulator?
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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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cdorety
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2021
Posts: 23
Location: OR
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| Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:14 am Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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| Max Welton wrote: |
The stock VR has been elided.
Max |
Hey Max!.... in all seriousness: what did you mean by elided?
I am rewiring my 68 typ3 and am confused as to whether I can bypass the Voltage regulator. I have the same alternator as discussed in this thread.
Thanks |
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Max Welton
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Joined: May 19, 2003
Posts: 10697
Location: Black Forest, CO
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| Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 8:46 am Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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Omitted. Not installed.
The three big red wires that ordinarily come together at the stock voltage regulator are simply joined where the reg used to be. One goes to the front harness, one to the rear and the other goes to the battery.
I replaced the female spade ends with ring connectors and bolted all three together. Cover the joint with something to insulate.
Max
_________________
1967 Type-3 Fastback
Under the Knife https://shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=151582
Home Stretch https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=767836 |
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ataraxia
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 4504
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:19 am Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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| Are you using the D+ wire from the generator? I eliminated mine and ran a wire direct from the alternator to the starter which then returns to the battery. Installed a fuse between the generator and the front wire harness to protect it from frying to a crisp if something shorts out at the rear of the car. |
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Max Welton
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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cdorety
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2021
Posts: 23
Location: OR
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| Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 9:58 am Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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Thanks!!!
Previous owner did the alternator upgrade.
My '68 t3 had 2 Voltage regulators. One mounted under the rear seat driver's side. The rear VR did not seem to be hooked up, and one of the wires was very melted. The other VR was up under the dash. Before I started the complete re-wire of the car, I couldn't make heads nor tails of the mess under the dash. There were so many poor splices and soooo muuuch electricians tape. I just yanked it all out and have been using the bently and a new harness from rebelwire to put it all back together again. I have been taking videos of the process in the hopes that it will help others figure this stuff out.
I'm starting on the engine compartment today.
| Max Welton wrote: |
Omitted. Not installed.
The three big red wires that ordinarily come together at the stock voltage regulator are simply joined where the reg used to be. One goes to the front harness, one to the rear and the other goes to the battery.
I replaced the female spade ends with ring connectors and bolted all three together. Cover the joint with something to insulate.
Max |
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cdorety
Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2021
Posts: 23
Location: OR
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| Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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Hey thanks again to everyone in this thread. Very helpful.
Maybe you can answer one more questions for me? Sometimes I can be a dunce.
What is the black wire which comes out of the back of my indicator/fuel gauge?
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Max Welton
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Location: Black Forest, CO
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Bobnotch
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Joined: July 06, 2003
Posts: 22422
Location: Kimball, Mi
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| Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2022 1:20 pm Post subject: Re: Alternator wiring |
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| Max Welton wrote: |
| cdorety wrote: |
| What is the black wire which comes out of the back of my indicator/fuel gauge? |
Isn't that a +12v? I can't remember. Flip that over and it goes to the indicator light bases, right?
Max |
Yes, it should go directly to the fuse box, as it powers up all of the warning lights in the cluster (12v+).
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