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alt wiring

Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:31 am
by bracketracer
How do you guys wire an alternator??? Do you use a relay from painless or just wire
it back to the batteryside of the switch?? IMO only problem with thatis there is a hot wire
to the alt all the time

Re: alt wiring

Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 10:03 am
by John_Heard
When I used to have one I wired it to the battery side of the kill switch. On mine with the Ford Starter solenoid on the firewall, I ran it to the battery side of the solenoid making use of that high current wire running to the battery. Less voltage drop on the alternator that way.

The whole idea of the kill switch is to kill the engine, also fuel pumps.

Course 99% of the time when you see a wreck, you will not see track personnel turn the kill switch off. I've watched videos of at least a dozen fires and you can see the track guys spraying fire extinguishers, etc. but NOBODY turns the kill switch off even when you can clearly see the fuel pump pumping fuel into the fire.

Do yourself a favor and mount a second kill switch in series where you can reach it from the drivers seat. You can't count on others to turn it off if you're in trouble.

Re: alt wiring

Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 11:31 am
by bracketracer
So what your telling me is to wire in an Ford starter sol between the alt wire????

Re: alt wiring

Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 12:05 pm
by John_Heard
No.

Like most cars, I have a Ford Starter Solenoid connected to my starter. I was suggusting instead of running a heavy cable all the way to the rear of the car to the Battery Post, instead hook it to the hot side of your Ford Starter Solenoid IF you're using one.

Re: alt wiring

Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:47 pm
by bracketracer
Ok but it will stay running if you shut the switch off in the back :shock:

Re: alt wiring

Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 2:55 pm
by John_Heard
bracketracer wrote:Ok but it will stay running if you shut the switch off in the back :shock:
Yes, if the kill switch is wired in series, either one will kill the car.