GM ext regulated alternator, help please...

brakes, steering, clutch, fuel, etc all done, now fighting wiring.

I want/need to run the old style gm externally regulated alternator on the roadster, because of its shape it clears a tight spot next to the steering box much better than the later internal reg SI series , plus I have 3 or 4 of them sitting on the shelf along with a few regulators, stuff left over from my 67-69 camaro days. I think the early style should be more than adequate for the few circuits I have, really only head/taillights and the starting system. this diagram was posted some time back:



The first 3 terminals are easy enough. The question (probably a dumb one) is about the 4th terminal on the regulator, which looks to be for the discharge light, but is it also showing a connection to a resistor and then ACC on the switch. I dont plan on running the idiot light right away, but is the resistor shown in this diagram from position 4 actually the ballast resistor, or some other resistor? if it is the ballast resistor, should it not be going to the Ig post on the switch rather than the acc post?. Is the wire from acc to pin 4 necessary?

thanks for any help, its 1:40 am, maybe thats part of my problem, but i'm getting close to driving this thing at last.

 

The wire you are loking at is NOT the same as the balast resistor(sp). And it is not needed. It's only purpose is to let you know what your alternator is doing, or not doing.

 

Ive never seen this extra wire on anything. I agree with 57, forget about it. If you dont have an idiot light though you need a resister in place of it.

 

Ok, brain just kicked in and I just realized what the resistor wire is for. I just recalled that on both a 64 chevy I used to have, when the switch was in the acc position the gen light would come on but it would be dimmer than when it was in the ign position with the engine not running. Chevy must have done this just as an indicator so you would know you had left the switch on in the acc position amd again its not necessary.

 

Okay, so I dont need the ACC wire, as far as the ignition wire with the idiot light, this will connect to the same point on the ignition switch as the coil/ballast resistor wire?

 

yes