Alternator: Which wire goes where?

[Hydrofoilmaniac]

My 76 SN alternator is toast. SN sent me a new one but it's a bit different than my old one. I'm not 100% on where two of the four wires should be connected.

As per the sheet that came with the alternator:
- Alternator RED Insulated screw = Battery positive (Boat TAN as per pic)
- Alternator Tab with screw = Battery Neg (Boat BLACK as per pic)
- Alternator BLACK wire = Ignition (Boat GREEN???)
- Alternator RED wire = Battery Sense (Boat TAN???)

The boat GREEN appears to be going up to my dash, though I haven't tracked it down 100%. I haven't removed all of the wire harnesses to verify both wires but I'm fairly confident where each are going.

Does it make sense that the boat GREEN is connected to the new alternator BLACK (Ignition)?

Does it make sense that the boat TAN wire is connected to the new alternator RED (Battery sense)? The boat TAN wire was connected to the "AUX" screw on the old alternator.

Thanks for the help

[steelerguy]

Good luck with that. I had this exact problem 2yrs back. Could never get it right an most likely fried the new rebuilt altenator trying different things. I sent the new one back under warrenty and asked for the EXACT type of altenator that was originally in there.

Here is the link When i was asking the same question:

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewto...318&highlight=

[jhiestand]

wow -- I guess there alternator instructions just aren't that great, since I went through the same drill last season.

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....rnator+upgrade

I ended up taking mine in to my dealer/local mechanic and he gave me the low-down.

[Hydrofoilmaniac]

Well, I sent the same pictures to a Nautique dealership (Son's Auto) in Clearlake, WI.

The main difference between the two alternators is that my old one did not have the voltage regulator built in it. So, as per their directions, the red wire (Battery Sense) coming out of the new alternator should be looped back and connected to the battery positive terminal located on the alternator. The black wire should be connected to the ignition wire (Boat GREEN). The boat TAN, which goes to my old voltage regulator, is no longer needed.

It makes sense but I won't know for sure until I install it Friday. The folks at the dealership have been helpful though I think they're about tired of me.

[surroundsound64]

Ya, your old voltage regulator is the metal box under your ballast resistor that says "neg. gnd".

[Hydrofoilmaniac]

I installed the alternator as per my last post. The only difference was the ignition wire (Alternator BLACK). I checked conductivity to verify where the green and tan were going. They were both going to the voltage regulator.

I contacted Jeff at MW CC. He was very helpful and gave me some tips on where to connect the ignition wire. He also verified what the dealer in the area told me. Larry (surroundsound64) was good enough to check his boat and get on the phone with me (Thanks Larry!!) to also verify the wiring. In the end, I disconnected the TAN wire from the voltage regulator and connected that wire to a terminal on the ballast resistor (per Jeff's instruction).

Anyway, with everyone's help, I went foiling today. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh........Water temp was 45 but the ambient temp was 75F. Not much boat traffic Of course, they don't even have the docks in yet (ice has only been out for a week).

Just a side note.......my amp guage hasn't been accurate (never goes to 0 amps)....even with the system off. I think my old system was a 40 amp.....but my new is a 63 amp unit. The gauge climbs a little more than it used too.

[surroundsound64]

Awesome!