What is a Self Exciting One-wire Alternator?
A self exciting or “One wire” alternator as it some times called, has only one wire running to it., that one wire is the main large battery wire. Don’t confuse one wire because the plug going to the alternator only has one wire to it, this is a two wire system. The one wire, self exciting alternator that uses a special voltage regulator that doesn’t need an ignition wire to activate it. This type alternator only requires a battery wire hooked to it. The voltage regulator contains circuitry that uses the residual magnetism in the alternators fields to determine when to turn the alternator on, the regulator does this by sensing the RPM the alternator is turning. When the alternator gets to a certain rpm the voltage regulator “turns on”. Typically you start the vehicle, rev the motor slightly then the alternator starts charging. This type alternator is commonly used on custom cars & trucks, tractors and other non standard applications when wiring is a factor. In choosing this type alterna
A self exciting or “One wire” alternator as it some times called, has only one wire running to it., that one wire is the main large battery wire. Don’t confuse one wire because the plug going to the alternator only has one wire to it, this is a two wire system. The one wire, self exciting alternator that uses a special voltage regulator that doesn’t need an ignition wire to activate it. This type alternator only requires a battery wire hooked to it. The voltage regulator contains circuitry that uses the residual magnetism in the alternators fields to determine when to turn the alternator on, the regulator does this by sensing the RPM the alternator is turning. When the alternator gets to a certain rpm the voltage regulator “turns on”. Typically you start the vehicle, rev the motor slightly then the alternator starts charging. This type alternator is commonly used on custom cars & trucks, tractors and other non standard applications when wiring is a factor. In choosing this type alterna
