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Alternator question

Discussion in 'Ocean Yacht' started by Boomer, May 20, 2018.

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  1. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Is it normal for a alternator to be warm, not hot, when the motor is not running but the battery charger is on? It is definitely not wire melting warm.
  2. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    No, that is not good. A exciter wire is still hot or you have a leaking diode.
    Send a pic of the alternator and wire connects to help determine the model.
    OR, look for a tag or label with the alternators model number.
    Delco models have a SI in the model number.
  3. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    BTW, your near StPete?
  4. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Yes...boat is in gulfport....the old alternator crapped out and when I went to replace it, I noticed the old one was warm...put the new one on and she is now charging...but after 15 minutes it was warm also...wired it exactly the same...red wire goes from alt to starter then to the battery?
  5. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    It was a Delco remy i took out and got a replacement from will's
  6. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    2 reds on the alternator lug and a purple and red on the spades
  7. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Not sure about two reds on the output lug. Does one of them NOT look factory?

    O K, do you still have the old Alt?
    One of the spade wires is still hot. The purple should be ing switch hot, the other would connect directly to the battery for feedback.
    Look down between the male spades in the alternator opening, there is a sliver of metal connecting these two male spades together.
    Your original alt should not of had this jumper in place.
    Hang on and I'll find a proper diagram.

    BTW, this is standard Delco, internal regulator two pin (flat spade) hookup.
  8. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Don't have the old alt anymote..turned it in as a core...the spades appear the same...one redfrom the alt lug to a spade and a purple to a spade...the thicker red runs to the starter where it connects to another red to the battery...there is a 3rd spade that was not usedbefore or now
  9. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Your saying the second wire on the out put lug, comes back to a spade connect? Well that's messed up.
    If both of the male spades are tied, (you cant see this till you look down into the hole) the alternator is internally feed back and regulated.
    Pull that red wire and the alternator should cool off.
  10. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Typical two spade regulator. Please looks top rite of page 3. The regulator has the two flat male spades.
    At their bottom is a metal tag joining the two male pines.
    Don't do it yet, but we may need to cut this jumper. Lets verify it's there.
    I'm betting pulling the red wire from the out put to the feedback (your red wire) will fix your issue.

    Attached Files:

  11. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Will doublecheck everything this evening after work and take a pic....thanks for the schematic..i have a very large punch list of things I want to resolve...lol
    Last edited: May 21, 2018
  12. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Ok...at the boat and pics are too large to download...i have 2 reds coming off lug. One to spade and other to starter. There is also a orange attached to the red that went on the spade. There is also a purple on the spade...suggestions? I pulled the red and orange off the spade..the alt is warm
  13. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Leave off the spades and come back later. That's some heavy copper and steel in there and will take a while to cool down.
    In the mean time, I'll study your notes tonight when I get in (late).

    Could you see the connect between the male spade connects?

    Squeeze those pics, nothing is better.
  14. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    No sliver of metal joining the spades together..wires removed from spades..i traced the orange wire to a bus bar and it is disconnected on both motors..cut off some time ago...the purple meet up with 2 reds at the bus bar and go somewhere...same on other motor...other alt is not warm
  15. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Attached Files:

  16. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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  17. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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  18. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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  19. Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Hope the pics are goos...i am not computer savvy with this phone
  20. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    O K, I'm just in and it's late.
    I see three pin connect.
    Leave wires off and it will be cool tomorrow.
    I'm pooped and will try to research more tomorrow when I can.
    ,rc