Overheating Alternator???

[BobbyBee]

Late to the thread but researching a similar problem with alternator output.



Sad; we said the same thing: "Lucas, prince of darkness" in the 60's. Some of the guys in our college Sports Car Club would suddenly loose all their lights, others would have to stop and switch off all electrical to let the generator recharge the battery because the extra lights would draw more than the generator (not alternator) would provide.

[juicymilk69]

No dawg... I just installed a mini street alternator with one wire setup. Well first I have it running CCW. Was not charging. Almost gave up, but thens it hit me... try to excite the alternator. So I made a jumper wire and and touched to the first terminal... nothing changed. So then I touched it to the other terminal and the tractor volt gauge jumped to 14v and could hear the engine baug downa little. So no kidding the 1 wire self exciting gm style alternator needs to still be excited if not charging and have good ground. However a strong charge now the alternator is very hot after running 30 or so mins

[j cAT]

the field coils are shorted out .. the alternator is rebuild ...I replaced my alternator and bought it ,rebuild ... alternator 78amp...the voltage is not a lower voltage around 13 volts ... so the alternator take it out to go back to the auto store ..
then I put my hand on it was hot as hell ...............