Author Topic: Help with alternator/generator  (Read 7880 times)

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Offline c2damofoj

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Help with alternator/generator
« on: August 27, 2009, 11:12:51 pm »
I have a Craftsman  mower with a 17hp briggs IC engine.  I'm having trouble with one wiring issue, the alternator (or generator, im not wich is the correct term for what i have), has two wires coming from it.  one red and one orange, the red makes a test light burn bright and the orange makes the test light burn a lot dimmer, my question is how do i hook this thing back into the battery to charge it?  i think the red wire was feeding accesories like lights, carb solenoid etc.  i tried going straight to the batt. with orange wire but it sparks pretty big.  any help would be greatly appreciated

Offline marcritter

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2009, 11:50:07 pm »
Its been a while but i think you need a regulator between the bat and the gen. check the amps    i can't remember and am pretty sure i will be corrected but its got to be like 10 amps i think  :doh:
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Offline c2damofoj

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2009, 12:21:10 am »
After closely examining the original wiring harness theres no regulator or diodes of any sort,  the orange wire went to the factory amp meter in the dash and then back out to the factory ignition switch which has been replaced by a push button.  could the amp guage or ignition switch step the power down somehow?

Offline birdman_express

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2009, 03:03:51 am »
You really do not need a charging system with a race mower.
Marc Baker

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Offline c2damofoj

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2009, 12:00:24 am »
does running the charging system  rob any power from the engine?

Offline austinculver

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #5 on: August 31, 2009, 12:19:25 am »
I've heard if you run alot of rpms they will burn up and seize the motor up

Offline jerb

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #6 on: August 31, 2009, 12:24:29 am »
the biggest issue you will have, if you run them with an un-governed engine, they could perhaps overcharge the battery, givin the short amount of time we actually run these engines, it could lead to reduced battery life, best just to take them out for a racing application!!
Tim Jerby
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Offline c2damofoj

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #7 on: August 31, 2009, 09:05:29 am »
i guess a set of charging posts from summit are in my near future then

Offline Toadworks

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #8 on: August 31, 2009, 07:26:00 pm »
I added a switch to mine, At warm up and idling around I can have it on, charging the battery.

Offline c2damofoj

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2009, 07:47:39 pm »
toadworks, where does the "out" wire on your switch go to?

Offline Rooster

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #10 on: September 03, 2009, 02:24:55 am »
not toadworks, but all you do is simply run the charge wire to a switch, then a wire from other side of switch to the battery.
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Offline Toadworks

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #11 on: September 03, 2009, 07:21:45 am »
Yep just like Rooster says.....


Offline c2damofoj

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #12 on: September 03, 2009, 07:32:37 pm »
would the charge wire be the one that makes the tst light glow dim or the wire that makes the test light burn bright

Offline c2damofoj

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #13 on: September 10, 2009, 08:06:36 pm »
i tried hooking both of theese wires to the battery but they spark awefully big, somethings not right. 

Offline Squidd

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Re: Help with alternator/generator
« Reply #14 on: September 11, 2009, 08:21:20 am »
You really do not need a charging system with a race mower.
Randy Stys
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