Alternator wires

[J. Kennedy]

What are all the wires coming out of the alternator are for? I know what the heavy guage one is for, but what about all the others?

 

[410Fortune]

power feeds
charging system
POwer goes to the battery for charging and also to the fuse panels for power.

 

[Opera House]

On the plug in connector, one goes to a 15A fuse that is connected to the battery all the time. This line monitors the battery voltage and also powers the regulator. If this line gets excessive resistance in it, corroded connections on the fuse, this may increase alternator output and cook the battery, or cause very low output.

The other goes to the idiot light. What is more interesting, it is this line that actually turns on the alternator since it is connected to the keyswitch. If the idiot light is connected to more than one volt, the alternator field turns on.

Finally, there is a wire that just loops around back to the connector connecting two pins together. Probably for manufacturing testing.

 

[Bigcheck1]

quick related question... does the one line that goes to the solenoid on the fender have to have a fusible link in it. when i took my engine out and rebuilt it, i replaced that line with some 4 gauge wire. just from the back of the alternator to the solenoid, it was wrapped in loom with other thin wires but i only replaced the one. i noticed that the old wire was corroded and i just replaced it. should i put a fuse on that line then?