bluegoose

Hey all
I have a 89 firebird with 383, Super Ram, Gen VII ECM, and lots of electrical loads, (4 fans, water pump, fuel pump, stereo amps , etc...).

My engine compartment electriacl wireing was re-done (custom) by me and now I need to know where to hook up the field wire on the alt. My fan setup is not the same as stock, therefore where is a good location to hookup the field wire. Any comments and suggestions will be appreicated.

Thanks in advance.

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

Field wire?
I run a cs-144, so hopefully I can be of some help to you, but i'm not quite sure what you mean by field wire? is that the wire that tells the alt when to turn on, and start charging?

bluegoose

yes, that is correct..

Also how hot does your case get when you first start car in morning, and it idles for about 15 minutes..can you put the palm of you hand on the alt case or is it too hot..

Brad

Sonix

iTrader: (1)

Lemme think here, I don't think I conciously rewired anything exotic. I had to put a resistor in my exisiting alternator wiring, but I didn't conciously move the field wire.
Here's my thread when I installed it
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/elec...?highlight=144
Post 29 on there is where I addressed that issue. Since I didn't have a "charge" light, just simply the "choke" light to show when i'm not charging, I used a 35ohm resistor I found at work IIRC. Little 1/4 watt.
Another link that might help
http://www.extreme4wheelin.com/tech/...ators/tech.htm

I just cut the wiring plug off the donor vehicle ('93 Lumina van), and left 6" of wire or so, then put in my resistor in there, and hooked it up to my existing alt wiring, put loom over it and no one can tell.

I think I can put my hand on the case after it's idled for a while, but I can't remember doing that on purpose. Car's parked now, so I'm afraid i'm not able to check it easily.

bluegoose

i've heard about that resistor also, maybe that is what I need to do...
R&D time.....

and lots of beer

Bill/T/D/Y

Used info from these sites for figurein out my different 144 alt hookups even installed 1 in my old 70 F-100.Hope they help.

http://www.novaresource.org/alternator.htm
http://www.alternatorparts.com/
link to repair manual http://www.alternatorparts.com/cs130_sbpage1.htm Probably will have the field wire location here.
http://www.extreme4wheelin.com/tech/...ators/tech.htm
http://verizonsupersite.com/4alterst...ovecomponents/

http://www.misterfixit.com/alterntr.htm

Bill/T/D/Y

Btw my cs-144 swap donor was a 96 lumina van and had to rebuild the alt so gutted 1 from a caddy and used the luminas case.I drive it daily and have checked the case daily still unsure about the bearings from the swap.My case gets warm after a 1 hr drive on the interstate to work or home.But not hot to touch.And it was all just plug and play.
Something most miss is that chev division is nice enuff to LABLE the connections for the alt on the plugs for us.If ya look at the plugs on the newer style weather plugs ya will see letters "s/f/l/p".


Direct quote from service manual in link i posted above page 2.....OPERATING PRINCIPLESUnlike other charging systems which have three wires connected to the alternator, the CS-121 and CS-130 may be used with only two wires connected to the alternator. The output wire to the battery positive, and an "L" terminal wire connected to the charge indicator bulb, or to the resistor, or to both. A basic wiring circuit is shown (Figure 3).
The charge indicator works in much the same way as on other charging systems-the indicator lights when the switch is closed, and then goes out when the engine is running. If the charge indicator is on with the engine running a charging system defect is indicated. For all kinds of defects, the indicator will glow at full brilliance. A new feature of this regulator is that it will cause the charge indicator to be on with the

engine running if the system voltage is too high or too low. The regulator is temperature-compensated; that is, it's voltage setting varies with temperature. As in other alternators, the regulator limits the system voltage by controlling the rotor field current. Unlike other regulators, this regulator switches the field current on and off at a fixed frequency of about 400 cycles per second. By varying the on-off time, the correct average field current for proper system voltage control is obtained. At high speeds, the on-time may be 10% and the off- time 90%. At low speeds with high electrical loads the on-off time may be 90% and 10% respectively. The use of the "P", "F", and "S" terminals is optional. The "P" terminal is connected to the stator, and may be connected externally to a tachometer or other device. The "F" terminal is connected internally to field positive, and may be used as
a fault indicator. The "S" terminal may be connected externally to a voltage, such as battery voltage, to sense the voltage to be controlled. For complete circuit, reference must be made to the vehicle manufacturer's wiring diagrams. Where the regulator is identified with an "I" marking on the regulator case, the circuit in Figure 3A applies. In this circuit, both the "L" and "I" terminals serve to turn on the regulator and allow field current to flow when the switch is closed. The "I" terminal may be connected directly to the switch, or through a resistor. Both are illustrated. The "I" circuit may be used with or without the "L" circuit; that is, with or without anything connected to the "L" circuit.
The vehicle circuit can be identified, Figure 3 or Figure 3A, by observing the terminal marking on the regulator, which will be either an "F" (Figure 3) or "I" (Figure 3A).


As ya can see it even refers ya to these connections.Hope this helps hollar if ya figure it out.....Bill

bluegoose

Bill
I was reading that same link when you posted this, I am going to get a resistor today and try that. I dont have a charge lamp. All the info you sent was great and thanks a million, more links in my favroites pages

have a great holiday season

Brad

Bill/T/D/Y

I wonder if ya just grab a sockett and wire that in place under the hood sumwhere with a bulb in it if that would work just as well.???
Well anyways have a good Merry new years yerself and glad I was some help.Holla if can help any other way....Bill