If you check the internal wiring on a Delco "1 wire", 10SI alternator. Unless you have some strange oddball built many years ago, you will find it has no internal connection to battery voltage, so it will no more discharge the battery than any stock "3 wire" 10SI alternator.
The special "1 wire" regulator is the only different or added part and it excites using residual magnetism in the rotor that generates enough voltage in the stator to excite the regulator and rotor.
Dont believe me ? ,then prove it to yourself. Connect your multimeter's Milliamp section between the battery wire and Bat stud on the alternator to see if a "1 wire" Delco draws any more power than a "3 wire" Delco.
Like I said, unless your testing some 30 year old oddball"1 wire" alternator, you will find the exact same milliamp drain between 1 or 3 wire alternator.
There is no additional internal wiring connecting the "1 wire" regulator to the battery, and nothing is connected to the external #1(excite) or #2 (sense) blade terminals.
The self excite using only residual magnetism, like an old generator does, without any added "tickle" from the battery.
That "1 wire" Delco 10SI alternators discharge the battery, is just another one of those persistant "facts" that aint so, like that ignition coils have an internal resistor.
I have built, rebuilt , modified, installed, retrofitted Delco SI series alternators since they were introduced in the early 70's so I know them well.
The "1 wire" Delco 10 SI needs more rpm to excite than a "3 wire" unit, But many do not realize that a small amp output "1 wire" unit self excites at much less rpm than the big units. In my experience, a 37 amp "1 wire" Delco will excite at 1/2 the rpm of a big 61 or 72 amp "1 wire " alternator. Most folks doing a conversion tend to oversize a "1 wire" alternator, as the big ones are what the stores keep in stock.
Also, If someone already has a "1 wire Delco and is not satisfied with the excite speed, or needs a working alternator light, just wire it as a stock "3 wire" alternator and it will work fine, no need to buy another alternator. The instructions that it is OK to do this came from my "1 wire "regulator supplyer. I have done this several times when all I had on the shelf ready to go was a "1 wire" alternator. Connect the stock regulator plug and all functions as it should.
This post was edited by Jon Hagen at 17:53:16 01/04/14.
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