Alternator to Battery connection

[reed62]

Hey all,

I have hooked up my alternator as per this diagram. My question is, what wire hooks to the positive cable pigtail wire? I have hooked an additional 10 gauge wire that runs from the BAT terminal on the back of the alternator to the pigtail wire hanging off the positive cable.

Without it, I am not sure how the battery would ever get recharged.

Am I off?

Randy

[The Rocknrod]

Doesn't the battery cable attach to the starter?

[reed62]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Doesn't the battery cable attach to the starter?

Yes, I got the large cable connected to the battery...but it has a small 3 inch pigtail that hangs off of it with a 10GA butt connector on it. Does it not need to be connected to the battery? My alternator has an internal regulator, but I'm not sure how the juice makes it back to the battery.

[The Rocknrod]

Where the Alternator (battery terminal) wire lead attaches to the starter - Does the large battery cable not attach on the same large lug (on the starter)?

[reed62]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

Where the Alternator (battery terminal) wire lead attaches to the starter - Does the large battery cable not attach on the same large lug (on the starter)?

Yep, the large red battery cable hooks to the large lug on the starter. So is that how the Alt send the charge back to the battery? Don't want to appear clueless, but since there is no other visible connection and I am not using an external regulator....

[ray_mcavoy]

The stock configuration for 63-66 had the output wire from the alternator running to a main power distribution point (which was the 2 screw terminal bus bar on the horn relay). From there, a main feed wire ran to the cab and another wire ran across the radiator support and connected to the positive battery terminal. The wire from the positive battery terminal over to the distribution point was originally part of the positive battery cable assembly. Replacement battery cables just have that short pigtail with the butt connector so you can splice onto the existing wire.

The configuration for 60-62 was similar except it used the "B" terminal on the generator's external regulator as the main power distribution point.

The diagram posted appears to be for an aftermarket replacement type harness ... not stock for 60-66. That setup is using the large BATT stud on the starter solenoid as the main power distribution point. And therefore doesn't need that pigtail off the positive battery terminal. The only thing to be aware of with that layout is that it won't allow you to hook up a factory battery gauge (ammeter) if you were planning on using one.

[reed62]

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

The stock configuration for 63-66 had the output wire from the alternator running to a main power distribution point (which was the 2 screw terminal bus bar on the horn relay). From there, a main feed wire ran to the cab and another wire ran across the radiator support and connected to the positive battery terminal. The wire from the positive battery terminal over to the distribution point was originally part of the positive battery cable assembly. Replacement battery cables just have that short pigtail with the butt connector so you can splice onto the existing wire.

The configuration for 60-62 was similar except it used the "B" terminal on the generator's external regulator as the main power distribution point.

The diagram posted appears to be for an aftermarket replacement type harness ... not stock for 60-66. That setup is using the large BATT stud on the starter solenoid as the main power distribution point. And therefore doesn't need that pigtail off the positive battery terminal. The only thing to be aware of with that layout is that it won't allow you to hook up a factory battery gauge (ammeter) if you were planning on using one.

Okay....that makes sense then. My wiring harness that I got from Speedway Motors is the exact color scheme as the one in the diagram. I will remove that additional wire that I installed. Thanks for all the responses and input....much appreciated...