Converting to 12 volt

[Barry B]

I have been reading this forum for about a year now and have found it very informative. I am getting ready to convert a 9N over to 12volt charging system. My father bought the tractor sometime back in the 1970s and used it on his 40 acre non working farm mainly to cut the grass in the horse pastures, plow snow and grade the dirt driveway. He purchased a second 9N sometime in the 1980s and after he retired he started restoring the first one. He converted the ignition system over to 12 volts when the 6 volt generator died but he just disconnected the charging system using the generator like an idler pulley and just ran it off of the battery temporarily. Before he could complete the 12 volt conversion Dad started suffering from postpolio syndrome and was no longer able to work on tractor, and he gave it to me about a year and a half ago. The tractor is about 90% restored and I am getting ready to start completing the restoration. The first thing I want to do is convert the charging system, I already have a good working 12 volt alternator and external regulator that I salvaged from my old 1978 Ford Econoline E150 van that I junked last year. It seems to me that all of the wiring diagrams I have seen so far are for alternators with internal regulators, so I am not sure how to hook up the one I have. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Barry B
I am posting pictures of the alternator and regulator.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

See if the second article at the link below helps.
12 Volt Conversion, N Newsletter

 

[Bob]

<img src = "http://ndtc3500.stellarnet.com/~blweltin/Bob/SimpleFordAlternatorCircuit2.jpg">

 

[Anonymous-0]

If you re "Restoring" a tractor, why would you want to switch to such an unattractive,unoriginal,charging system??? I have a 2n with a very tight rebuilt engine and the old genny system looks so cool and starts the old girl RIGHT up on 2 revolutions. Then again, this is my tractor and that one is yours. In any case, they are such neat hard working machines. How many of these new kubotas ond Mahindras etc do you think will still be around in 60 years??

 

[Barry B]

Thanks guys!
I have two additional questions:
First, I am assuming that the terminal marked STA Is a ground since it appears to be one of the three case bolts, am I correct?

Second, I am also assuming that this hookup gets its ground from the case through the bracket to the block?

I am asking this because there were wires hooked to all three terminals on the alternator and all four terminals on the regulator when they were on the van. I am pretty good with electrical systems but seem to be some what challenged when it comes to vehicle charging systems.


Again, Thanks for the help!

 

[Barry B]

Richard,

The tractor has already been changed over to 12 volt with new lights and all, everything but the alternator & Regulator.

 

[JMOR]

(quoted from post at 02:01:55 02/07/08) Thanks guys!
I have two additional questions:
First, I am assuming that the terminal marked STA Is a ground since it appears to be one of the three case bolts, am I correct?

Second, I am also assuming that this hookup gets its ground from the case through the bracket to the block?

I am asking this because there were wires hooked to all three terminals on the alternator and all four terminals on the regulator when they were on the van. I am pretty good with electrical systems but seem to be some what challenged when it comes to vehicle charging systems.


Again, Thanks for the help!

"First, I am assuming that the terminal marked STA Is a ground since it appears to be one of the three case bolts, am I correct? "

No, not a good assumption! STA is Stator. That is the center point of the "Y" configured stator (non-rotating/stationary) windings of the alternator.
The STA terminal on Alt is not used, here.

Your van probably had the 'charge indicator light' (affectionately known as the 'idiot light') instead of an ammeter....am I correct?

The simplified diagram that Bob sent you only used 3 of the 4 regulator terminals. The charge indicator connection to the regulator "I" terminal is not used, here.



The alt gets it's ground thru the mounting brackets/bolts, but a good plan is to run a ground wire from the GND stud on Alt case to a mounting bolt of regulator, as the is a more 'sure' ground than thru dirty /painted/rusty metal parts.