[FC] "one wire" alternators

[Bill & Chris Strickland]

OEM style internally regulated GM alternators typically use three wires 
(some special apps only use two), and it is a misnomer to refer to these 
units as "one wire".  True "one wire" alternators use a special internal 
regulator, and work (or not, depending on personal experience) using one 
single hot wire connection to the battery, a frame ground, and nothing 
else.  They seem to work better if that one wire is 8 gauge or bigger, 
but they do not have a provision for turning on the Fan light.  The 
original three wire style does and would be the preferred option for 
street use.

OEM style internally regulated units will often work with just the 
single battery wire (not to spec, but "working"), but not all rebuilt 
units use the GM engineering in the regulator.

Tim's recent experience has enlightened me as to the availability of 
this new series of "plug 'n' play" type regulators for some of these 
conversions. Transpo makes a whole series of these 14.2 volt universal 
regulators for alternator conversion work.  Not just GM but Nippodenso, 
Bosch, Ford, and everyone else.  In the old days we used to use the two 
wire Chrysler regulators and a diode or two to get all the bells and 
whistles (lights) to work, but it often wasn't straight forward, and 
certainly was not Plug 'n' Play, like these Transpo units are, but those 
old Chrysler regulators sure worked before electronics took over.

Seems everybody sells this Transpo stuff -- generally reboxed under 
their own name.  Again, these are not true "one wire" units but include 
an idiot light wire connection that can be used for the Corvair Fan light.

http://www.waiglobal.com/transpo_electronics.html

And, if one wants the output from a 10SI or newer style alternator (up 
to 300 amps or so -- see the high power stereo and trucking folks), but 
does not want the internal regulator, there are parts avaialbe to 
convert the 10SI to external regulation (so one could use that Chrysler 
regulator).

Bill Strickland