Re: One Wire Alternator

Posted by HH56 On 2013/4/7 13:28:59

Agree with O_D. I don't think the gauge itself would burn out since essentially, it acts like and is like a straight piece of heavy wire. Once current flows it works like an electromagnet in relation to the needle mechanism -- either attracting or repelling a piece of iron to cause the needle to move. If it was a low current gauge 15-20 amp max then there could be some overheating but the 56 Packard gauge should be OK. It would probably just peg at anything over the rated scale.

I think what most of us were concerned with was leaving the original wire size from the generator to the ammeter and then to the battery. Using the original, it was only rated max current at about two thirds (I think it was around 38 amps) of what the alternator is capable of putting out. In normal operation, not an issue since with 2 biggest loads, headlights and AC, I doubt it would go higher than 25 anps or so. Should any worse case scenario or some kind of failure happen and alternator started putting out in excess of the wire's max current, the wire could have overheated and also destroyed the loom. Therin was the caution of something burning.

I believe your mechanic changed to a proper size #8 for the rated max current out between the alternator and battery. That would be the size needed to the ammeter and then out but getting that size installed also involved being very familiar with the Packard wiring and changing more than just the one wire. I got the impression he was not comfortable in the Packard wiring.