Rover alternator wiring

[Robs cobra]

HI, Im about to start wiring up my engine so i can run it . Upon trying to understand the diagram , I've found that the pilgrim loom only shows two wires for the alternator conection , but my Rover one has three conections on it ,two large spade terminals and one small spade terminal ,
Any chance anyone can tell me how they have wired their's up.

Thanks for any help,

Rob.

[craggle]

Quite often they put two terminals on the alternator and then run two cables from the big terminals back to the same connection on the starter motor terminal which is then connected to the battery. This was to simply split the load over two cables so you din't need one big cable going to the alternator, two smaller cables could be used instead.

You can run two separate cables or connect the 2 terminals together with a short link cable if the single cable you have back to the starter is up to the job of carrying the full current.

Craig.

[craggle]

Here we are, not a great picture but this might help...

http://www.lrfaq.org/Series/images/lfig147.gif

This is a Land Rover diagram but you can see the alternator at the top right of this diagram and two brown (N) cables going back to the same terminal on the starter solenoid which is just off the top of the image. The other cable (NY) goes via the ignition warning light (41) which is then connected to an ignition controlled positive supply.

Pilgrim just supply one cable I guess rather than the two needed for earlier alternators.

Craig.

[Robs cobra]

Right, so the two large terminals are connected together with a link wire with the thick brown wire that goes back to the starter, and the small terminal is for the thin wire that is brown/yellow on the pilgrim diagram .

Got it , Thankyou chaps .

Rob .

[slogger]

Right, so the two large terminals are connected together with a link wire with the thick brown wire that goes back to the starter, and the small terminal is for the thin wire that is brown/yellow on the pilgrim diagram .

Got it , Thankyou chaps .

Rob .

Just a small point! What alternator have you got? Lucas ACR?

[Robs cobra]

Hi, yes i think it is, although i would have to check properly ,would this mean it needs wiring up differently than already suggested ?

Rob.

[craggle]

If it is a Lucas alternator the two big terminals are connected inside and will both be the main power feeds. The smaller terminal will be the ignition warning light one. Lucas ACR's were standard fit on most British cars a while back including the SD1 Rover.
Actually if they are big terminals 9.5mm wide they will be main power ones anyway, they wouldn't use such a big connector for the warning light or a rev counter feed!

Picture below of a Lucas ACR Alternator. If the alternator has a square pocket around the connections you can get a proper connector for that to make it all neat and tidy.
HGV Direct truck and trailer parts online - ACR EURO PLUG FOR LUCAS ALTERNATORS - 3 PIN - LUCAS 54960402

Craig.

[Robs cobra]

Thanks for that mate , Very helpfull , this is the part of the build i've not been looking forward too.


Rob.