hi i got alternator problems i think ?

i have built my own wiring loom for the car and charging circuit and think i might have made a mistake ?

the brand new alternator wont start to charge till i give it a good rev to 1400rpm is ,everytime i start the car ? once it starts to charge it seems fine ,this fault was the same with the old alternator ?

so question is what are the 3 terminals for on a 2wd cosworth alternator

thanks

 

don't forget to connect one of the alternator connections back to the ign switch through a bulb.

when you switch on, the bulb lights up, (ign on), start the car and the light goes out when charging starts.

cheers

kenny.

 

thanks for the reply
i have 3 wires on my alternator,one is main feed from starter/battery and the other is ignition from the switch ,the 3rd i have not used

but why do i need to give it a good rev when i start it up ?

 

You have a lazy diode pack, that is why you have to rev a bit, should not need to at all.
Make sure your terminal marked "IGN" is nice and clean, and that you have the CORRECT wattage bulb in that works ok.
It uses the ignition light(battery) to feed LIVE to the alternator to initiate the charging process, once running, this terminal(IGN) then goes positive as the alternator starts to charge so extinguishing the warning light sas two lives don't make a bulb work!!
tabetha