Without knowing much about your car, here is what I can suggest:
1. What makes you want to "hard wire" the alternator? Do you think there
is a problem with the connector? Other than cleaning and tightening, I
don't see what else you can do to it. Don't join the ranks of DPOs by
splicing around it.
2. At what RPM are you measuring the output? LBC alternators don't put
out enough voltage to charge the battery *at idle*, they need to be run
at operating speed, I think over 1500 RPM. Letting the car sit and idle
will *drain* the battery, not charge it.
3. Are you sure your battery is capable of taking a charge? Take it to
the shop and have it tested. Does it have any water in it?
4. It could be as simple as corroded battery posts and clamps creating
too much resistance. Even if they look OK, take them off and clean them
thoroughly until they are bright and shiny.
5. You are right that a smaller pulley would produce more voltage at
lower RPMs. this may be the real solution, if everything else checks out
OK.
Good luck...
Steven Miller had this to say:
> After taking out the alternator, and bringiing it to a parts shop to test
>it, it checks out fine. They get a voltage comeing off of it at 14 volts.
>So I can only think that it is one of two things. The pully assembly and
>original alternator was the wrong one for the car. The pully when fit on the
>new alternator is too big. I know that I should get the right parts, and I
>will probably order them tonight, but I am kinda on the broke side. Having
>said all of this here is the current situation. The belt is tight, and the
>pully is as centered as I can get it, the car runs fine and does not throw
>the belt. That is the good new. The bad news is that mounted in the car
>(with the three prong connecter plugged in) I am getting not getting enough
>voltage from the alternator to charge the battery. In fact with all of the
>lights off, I slowly drop in voltage until I reach ten volts, then it levels
>off and I do not get any change until I turn lights on, then the voltage
>starts to drop.
> Finally, I guess the question is this... If I disconnect the three
>prong connector and hard wire the alternator to the battery, am I going to
>have a problem? Can I disconnect the connector on this car and start the
>car, or will that fry the diodes in the alternator? I am truly at a loss,
>is it possible that something in my car is causing such a drain that the
>alternator cannot keep up?
> I am at this point desperate, I need a car to last me one more month,
>the MG was supposed to be my fun car, you know the one that if it broke down
>was supposed to be no big deal bucause I could fix it at my leisure...Sigh.
>In one month I am getting a 94 buick century, not a fun car but one with
>only 14,000 miles on it. I just need this car to last (the MG) until dec
>10.
> My other car is so close to dead I am not even going to give the honor
>of mentioning it in this letter.
>Please if anyone has any thoughts, please write to the list or:
>
>Smille@earthlink.net
> or
>Bonding@hotmail.com
>
>Thankyou all for all of your help!
>
>Steve Miller
>
>
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
|