The Toyota internally-regulated alternator on my Tiger has provision for a
charge warning light, and it's on when the ignition is on, but the engine isn't
running; and it's off when the engine is running, which
corresponds to the voltage output being high enough to charge the battery.
When it's cranking, I'm not sure, but I would guess that the light will
probably be on since the engine won't be turning over fast enough
for the alternator to cut in. The charge light is wired with one side to the
ignition circuit and the other to the light output on the alternator. I'm
curious to know why it's so important that the light be on when
you're cranking?
Theo
sosnaenergyconsulting wrote:
> Hi all:
>
> My situation is a little different from Rick's and Steve's, so I could
> use some feedback also:
> Mark 1 tiger with a generator.
> We installed the internally regulated one-wire alternator today.
> I left the old voltage regulator in place (didn't see any harm).
> All the wires that formerly connected at the voltage regulator [with the
> exception of the brown wire with a green stripe--the 'field'
> wire(?)which we left unconnected] were connected together at one place.
> Lessee, that'd be:
> The brown wire to the starter solenoid switch;
> The brown wire to the ignition/accessories switch;
> The brown wire to something called the lighting switch;
> The Big brown wire with yellow stripe from the Alternator;
> The smaller brown wire with yellow stripe to the idiot light.
> All sandwiched together.
>
> The alternator works and is charging up the battery, however:
>
> With the ignition off, the idiot light glows.
> When the key is turned "on", or the engine is being turned over, the
> idiot light is off.
> Smitty says that he couldn't see a way to wire it so that the idiot
> light is off when the key is off, and he said he couldn't see how to
> wire it so that the idiot light is on when the car is cranking (as was
> the case with the generator).
> Smitty says the light being on when the ignition is off means I've got
> power to the switch and will drain the battery. He had me remove the
> light bulb from the idiot light as a way of interrupting this drain.
>
> What I'd like is to have the idiot light glow when the engine is being
> cranked.
> Also, since I don't currently have an ammeter, it'd be nice if the idiot
> light glowed if the alternator cuts out.
> It may just be that with the one-wire alternator, these functions 'ain't
> gonna happen', but I thought I'd ask:
> Anybody got some wiring ideas that I can pass on to Smitty?
>
> I did pass on Steve's earlier input. Smitty says that the wiring is
> different from an Alpine to a Tiger--perhaps I explained it poorly to
> him, though.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
> Regards
>
> David Sosna
>
> Steve Laifman wrote:
>
> > Rick,
> >
> > Same thing happened in my Alpine in the Mojave desert , visiting
> > Edward's AFB. The Lucas alternator gave out and I picked up a Toyota
> > internal regulated alternator from a junk yard and mounted it. Light
> > would stay on until about 2000 rpm, or a throttle blip. Drove like that
> > for years. Gave the car to Jay, and he was restoring it and found there
> > is a feed wire to the battery connected wire that "energizes" the
> > alternator.
> >
> > Once wired like it is supposed to be in the Toyota manual it never
> > happened again. :-)
> >
> > Steve
> >
> > flynnr2@btopenworld.com wrote:
> >
> >
> >>After I replaced my alternator (w/built in regulator) with an identical
>unit, the ignition warning light stays on at idle. Its on at anything under
>about 1000RPM but goes off above that (driving about, etc.)
> >>
> >>This is a change in behavior from the previous alternator. Should I be
>worried? Is this a problem?
> >>
> >>Comments, opinions, & suggestions welcome ...
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>rick
> >>B9471206 : http://www.tigersunited.com/gallery/RichardFlynn.asp
> >>
> >>
> >>rick
> >>B9471206 : http://www.tigersunited.com/gallery/RichardFlynn.asp
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