Electrical Question

[retiredfire]

I started restoring a old 9n that I had sitting around, it did not have a battery on it. I know that it should be positive ground but if I connect the new battery that way the wires get really hot and spark. The cables seem to be setup for a negative ground because of the ends. How can I tell which way it goes without burning something up?

 

[JMOR]

I started restoring a old 9n that I had sitting around, it did not have a battery on it. I know that it should be positive ground but if I connect the new battery that way the wires get really hot and spark. The cables seem to be setup for a negative ground because of the ends. How can I tell which way it goes without burning something up?

Is it as came from factory with a generator or has it been changed over to modern alternator?

 

[retiredfire]

Is it as came from factory with a generator or has it been changed over to modern alternator?

It has a alternator, no generator.

 

[Bern]

It has a alternator, no generator.

Then it would be negative ground.

 

[old]

I started restoring a old 9n that I had sitting around, it did not have a battery on it. I know that it should be positive ground but if I connect the new battery that way the wires get really hot and spark. The cables seem to be setup for a negative ground because of the ends. How can I tell which way it goes without burning something up?

Are you 1000% sure the alternator is a + ground one?? If it isn't and you hook it up + ground you let the smoke out of it the moment you hooked the battery up and you now need a new alternator and that is why the cables get hot

 

[wore out]

Then it would be negative ground.

I'll say it again, (+) ground alternators DO exist and there's a few "out in the wild".

If a P.O. or "wrench" converted it they would have had NO problem acquiring a (+) ground alternator IF that's what they desired.

 

[retiredfire]

Are you 1000% sure the alternator is a + ground one?? If it isn't and you hook it up + ground you let the smoke out of it the moment you hooked the battery up and you now need a new alternator and that is why the cables get hot

I'll check on that

 

[retiredfire]

The wire from the alternator is going to the same place (whatever that is) as the black battery cable, the wire from the starter, and a wire going to the on-off switch.

 

[Jim.ME]

The wire from the alternator is going to the same place (whatever that is) as the black battery cable, the wire from the starter, and a wire going to the on-off switch.

The color of a battery cable is not a safe foolproof method of determining positive or negative ground, if that is what you are intending here.

 

[old]

The color of a battery cable is not a safe foolproof method of determining positive or negative ground, if that is what you are intending here.

What he has say to me make it hard to understand what he is really saying so he needs to go back and explain things a whole lot better

 

[retiredfire]

The color of a battery cable is not a safe foolproof method of determining positive or negative ground, if that is what you are intending here.

I understand that. I'm just saying all three of these wires, alternator-starter-and battery cable all go to the same place. And from the looks of it that's the way they have been connected for a very long time.

 

[Sean in PA]

Are there any markings on the alternator? Can you post a picture of it?

 

[Eman85]

Tractor will run without the alt hooked up, just disconnect it for now. Take the alt. to a shop or parts store and have them test it but you most likely have a 12v neg ground GM alternator.

 

[old]

I understand that. I'm just saying all three of these wires, alternator-starter-and battery cable all go to the same place. And from the looks of it that's the way they have been connected for a very long time.

How many wires are there on the alternator?? If only 1 and you hooked it up + ground you fried it. As for where the wires goes that is correct

 

[retiredfire]

 

[old]

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That is a Delco 10SI 1 wire and as I have said if you hooked it up + ground you fried it and let the smoke out of it and it is no good any more and can even short out the whole electrical system

 

[Jim.ME]

That is a Delco 10SI 1 wire and as I have said if you hooked it up + ground you fried it and let the smoke out of it and it is no good any more and can even short out the whole electrical system

old, just because it is a Delco type one wire, does not mean it is negative ground. As wore out posted, they make that same alternator in positive ground, in both 1 and 3 wire configurations.

The easiest thing to do would be to take it to a shop and have them check the ground and see if it is any good. Or just turn it in at a parts store and start fresh with a 12-volt negative ground one. Then be sure the tractor is wire for negative ground before hooking the wire up to the alternator.

 

[old]

old, just because it is a Delco type one wire, does not mean it is negative ground. As wore out posted, they make that same alternator in positive ground, in both 1 and 3 wire configurations.

The easiest thing to do would be to take it to a shop and have them check the ground and see if it is any good. Or just turn it in at a parts store and start fresh with a 12-volt negative ground one. Then be sure the tractor is wire for negative ground before hooking the wire up to the alternator.

True but it is like one in 10,000 you find one that is + ground and since he has said the cables get hot when he hooked it up + ground very good chance it is a negative ground and he has let the smoke out

 

[Jim.ME]

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1. Unhook the wire at the alternator and prevent that wire end from touching anything.

2. Hook the cables on the battery again, negative ground as you say the clamps fit the battery posts (positive post is larger than the negative post). Do the cables spark and get hot with the alternator unhooked? With the alternator wire unhooked, if the cables spark and get hot when connected, the problem is not in the alternator (or you might have more than one problem).

3. If the cables did not spark and get hot when you connected them to the battery, leave them connected and try touching the wire to the alternator output stud. If you get a big spark the alternator is likely bad. If not, it may work. You might get a very tiny spark given it is a one wire alternator, but i doubt it would be noticeable.

 

[retiredfire]

1. Unhook the wire at the alternator and prevent that wire end from touching anything.

2. Hook the cables on the battery again, negative ground as you say the clamps fit the battery posts (positive post is larger than the negative post). Do the cables spark and get hot with the alternator unhooked? With the alternator wire unhooked, if the cables spark and get hot when connected, the problem is not in the alternator (or you might have more than one problem).

3. If the cables did not spark and get hot when you connected them to the battery, leave them connected and try touching the wire to the alternator output stud. If you get a big spark the alternator is likely bad. If not, it may work. You might get a very tiny spark given it is a one wire alternator, but i doubt it would be noticeable.

Ok so I connected the battery with a positive ground, nothing, touched the alternator wire to the alternator, nothing.