My Ranchero originaly came with a generator. I am replacing the wiring and got an altinatorand voltage regulator.I am using the original ignition switch. The problem is when I look at the wiring dighram that goes from generator to the voltage regulator. it apears that the wire from the regulator goes to ignition side of the switch. Than on a altinator wiring dighram the wire appears to go to the acc on switch.Is this right? and that a volt gague goes to ground and to the ignition side of switch.My altinator wont charge .Thought may have it wired wrong? Thanks.
Ford alternator wiring is very simple, its just three wires, unless you want the warning lamp. The S-terminal on the regulator goes to the stator on the alt. This senses voltage and tells the regulator what to do. The F-terminal goes to the feild coil on the alt. This turns on the electromagnet and makes the alternator work. The A- terminal goes to the battery, and also connects to the bat terminal on the alt. This powers the regulator and is always hot. The I- terminal is for the warning light, when its off it is a ground, when its working it is hot and doesnt allow the light to ground, hence the light doesnt come on. Any question you have just ask. I have converted multiple cars, and even replaced my buddies rare expensive rambler regulator with a ford unit... wiring is my thing.
The problem is I have rewired the car and it does not charge. Where does the "I" termal go to to complete the circuit? I could do an idiot light But not sure where the other end goes? To which terminal on the ignition switch?
To answer your original question... the only thing you need the ignition switch to do is turn the warning light circuit on.. when the ignition is on. When you turn the ignition off it kills the power going to your ignition coil and the motor stops, there is no on/off switch for the charging system, it does it automatically.
You don't "need" the I wire hooked to anything to work. It is an option... but a very useful one. If you want the idiot light, run the I wire to the bulb, and connect the other end to and ignition hot source. What happens is when its working right, both ends are hot and basically a netrual circuit, so the light wont come on when the engine is running.
on my 64 falcon (that had a generator) i just changed to the 65 engine harness that plugs into the firewall--just switched to an alternator, even the idiot lite works with the alternator
Most 1964 Fords I have seen were set-up for either a generator or alternator, with a simple swap of the engine harness... the alternator was an option that year, and standard equippment in 1965.
The Jalopy Journal
