one-wire alternator question
so this weekend we fired off the bus and let it idle after we replaced the front engine cover, checking for leaks, when my son noticed the alternator wasn't alternating and the battery voltage was steadily declining.
of course my first thought was that I had somehow fubar'd the system when we replaced the front engine cover. When i gave the alternator a once-over I noticed it only has one wire, the fat battery cable, and that's it. There were 2 extra studs unoccupied, ... dang did I miss something. Then after a midnite internet scowering i found that I have a one-wire alternator that needs to be rev'ed past a trigger rmp before the regulator kicks in, we only idled the engine.
Now, the other 2 terminals are marked R and I, which turns out is probably a lower case L. R appears to be an out put for a (special) rpm indicator, and L is were the alternator light goes on a 3 wire alternator.
my question to the group here, given that this alternator has a stud marked for a light, what would happen if I connected a light bulb to this stud?? i am thinking 12 volt from a 'run' circuit, fuse, small light bulb, 2 watts or so, and then to the L terminal like on a 3 wire alternator....
The alternator is a Wilson with the number 90-01-4297N
Any thoughts?????
Thanks!
Gert
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