What the heck is a 1 wire alternator?

Discussion in 'Technical' started by soooulpower, Jul 19, 2009.

Page 1 of 3
  1. soooulpower

    soooulpower Semi-Informed Tinkerer

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2007
    Messages:
    1,320
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    90
    Location:
    Mapleton Depot, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2 1974 four door Mavericks, one Black, one pastel lime
    I keep hearing about them and seeing them in catalogs. I have no clue what they are and why people seem to love them......
     
    soooulpower, Jul 19, 2009
    #1
  2. Mavaholic

    Mavaholic Growing older but not up!

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    14,992
    Likes Received:
    209
    Trophy Points:
    258
    Location:
    Live Oak, FL
    Vehicle:
    Original 72 Sprint Owner, 71 Comet GT, 57 Ranchwagon, 57 4 dr Wagon
    It's just what it sounds like. There is only 1 wire that goes to the battery side of the solenoid. You can eliminate the voltage regulator and associated wire harness. Cleans up the engine bay.
     
    Mavaholic, Jul 19, 2009
    #2
  3. soooulpower

    soooulpower Semi-Informed Tinkerer

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2007
    Messages:
    1,320
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    90
    Location:
    Mapleton Depot, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2 1974 four door Mavericks, one Black, one pastel lime
    I read one article that painted it as a dicey move. What are the risks?
     
    soooulpower, Jul 19, 2009
    #3
  4. Mavaholic

    Mavaholic Growing older but not up!

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    14,992
    Likes Received:
    209
    Trophy Points:
    258
    Location:
    Live Oak, FL
    Vehicle:
    Original 72 Sprint Owner, 71 Comet GT, 57 Ranchwagon, 57 4 dr Wagon
    I dont know that there are any. Had one on my Sprint for over a year now and have had no problems. Just bought another one to convert a friend's Maverick. Plan on buying another one when its time for the Comet GT. I buy mine from Bill Howard out of KS. He sells on Ebay or you can deal with him direct. I buy the 90 amp units for $99.95 which includes shipping to your door. You can contact Bill at: howent@hotmail.com
     
    Mavaholic, Jul 19, 2009
    #4
  5. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Messages:
    14,672
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    233
    Location:
    Issaquah/Grand Coulee, WA
    Vehicle:
    Fresh out of Mavericks
    It is a heck of a lot cleaner and modern looking. A heck of a lot less wires.

    There is actually 3 wires on it, but one is just a jumper back onto itself, and one is optional to go to the ALT light on the dashboard.
     
    scooper77515, Jul 19, 2009
    #5
  6. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2008
    Messages:
    8,075
    Likes Received:
    963
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    '74 Maverick 302 5-Speed.'60 Falcon V8. '63.5 Falcon HT
    My 1- wire alternator only has one wire. It's a Summit brand 100 amp for $$99.95
     
    rthomas771, Jul 19, 2009
    #6
  7. Mavaholic

    Mavaholic Growing older but not up!

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    14,992
    Likes Received:
    209
    Trophy Points:
    258
    Location:
    Live Oak, FL
    Vehicle:
    Original 72 Sprint Owner, 71 Comet GT, 57 Ranchwagon, 57 4 dr Wagon
    Nope, no jumpers or terminals on mine except for the 1 battery terminal.
     
    Mavaholic, Jul 19, 2009
    #7
  8. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Messages:
    14,672
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    233
    Location:
    Issaquah/Grand Coulee, WA
    Vehicle:
    Fresh out of Mavericks
    Mine is a $45 GM 64 amp one-wire. There is a pig-tail thingy you stick in the plug hole at the bottom, one wire is jumped over to power it up, I think, then the 2nd wire can go to your dash light.

    I guess it isn't a "true" one wire, but the car will run with only one wire running between it and the alternator.
     
    scooper77515, Jul 19, 2009
    #8
  9. soooulpower

    soooulpower Semi-Informed Tinkerer

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2007
    Messages:
    1,320
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    90
    Location:
    Mapleton Depot, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2 1974 four door Mavericks, one Black, one pastel lime
    Does it help with extra loads on the electric system? I have a lot of addons planned. Also- is the amp rating important? can too high of a rating damage anything?
     
    soooulpower, Jul 19, 2009
    #9
  10. soooulpower

    soooulpower Semi-Informed Tinkerer

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2007
    Messages:
    1,320
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    90
    Location:
    Mapleton Depot, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2 1974 four door Mavericks, one Black, one pastel lime
    That's what I'm looking at but the one I found is $89.00. It comes in ford blue too.:cool:
     
    soooulpower, Jul 19, 2009
    #10
  11. mashori

    mashori Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2006
    Messages:
    3,630
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    San Diego, Ca
    Vehicle:
    1971 V8 Maverick
    are you doing it to clean up the engine compartment or do you need a new alternator?
     
    mashori, Jul 19, 2009
    #11
  12. soooulpower

    soooulpower Semi-Informed Tinkerer

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2007
    Messages:
    1,320
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    90
    Location:
    Mapleton Depot, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2 1974 four door Mavericks, one Black, one pastel lime
    My alternator is fine. I'm looking for upgrades to improve my engine is all. I'm most definitely trying to clean up the engine bay. I'm looking to eliminate the EGR and getting rid of some wires would be nice too.
     
    soooulpower, Jul 19, 2009
    #12
  13. don graham

    don graham MCG State Rep

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2002
    Messages:
    15,800
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    302
    Location:
    arizona city, az.
    Vehicle:
    70 mav, 71 grabber, 73 Comet, 2004 f-250 crew cab diesel, 2001 f-250, 2004 explorer, 2007 Gold Wing trike.
    I use the Summit 1 wire 100 amp also. No problems at all with it. There is no problems with having more amps. That just means it is capable of 100 amps. The car will only draw what is needed.:)
     
    don graham, Jul 19, 2009
    #13
  14. soooulpower

    soooulpower Semi-Informed Tinkerer

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2007
    Messages:
    1,320
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    90
    Location:
    Mapleton Depot, Pennsylvania
    Vehicle:
    2 1974 four door Mavericks, one Black, one pastel lime
    Good. I was worried I might have the fourth of July under my hood or something. :tiphat:
     
    soooulpower, Jul 19, 2009
    #14
  15. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2004
    Messages:
    14,672
    Likes Received:
    73
    Trophy Points:
    233
    Location:
    Issaquah/Grand Coulee, WA
    Vehicle:
    Fresh out of Mavericks
    hmmm...fourth of july under hood is NOT good....

    hit the kill switch. and call it a night.:p
     
    scooper77515, Jul 19, 2009
    #15
Page 1 of 3

Share This Page