Hi. As usual, excuses for my spanglish in advance. I make some changes on my electrical system i want to share with the board:

I have a second hand Daewoo alternator (from a crashed Tico) on my 121 amazon, it is a Delco SI 10 clone (in my country delco alts are unavailable).

On my first setup, i connect the "sensing wire" of the alt to the BAT terminal on the same alt (the usual way, the energizing terminal to a wire from the test idiot light and the bat terminal to the big wire from the starter). So far so good. The lights brightness was similar to the obtained with the previous datsun alternator (discarded due very worn hubs was making shorts).

Checking with a digital multitester, read 12.45 volts with engine off and 12.79 v with engine at 3000 rpm.

It was ok for city driving, but insufficent going night to my brother-in-law farm (no street lights). I add two additional lamps aft the front grill with a direct connection to battery (relay with fuse holder and separate switch). Of course, now i see the way, but I don´t like the brightness diference between the two light setups.

Surfing the net, i read a car electrical voltage guide on http://www.international-auto.com/index.cfm?fa=ad&aid=50 : Oops, the diference between engine off and 3000 rpm would be at least 0.5 volts!.

After it, I read a article about the convenience of connect the sensing wire to a + point (like fuse box) on the car, away from the alternator (the sensing wire only sense the good output of the alternator if connected to the bat terminal - a oversimplification good for new wired cars).

I make two changes:

a) I set a AWG 3 wire from the BAT terminal to the (+) post on the battery (idea taken from ipdusa website, on the alternator bracket instructions: http://www.ipdusa.com/pdf/PI-293AlternatorBracket.pdf ).

b) I wired (with a AWG 10 copper wire) from the upper left terminal on the fuse box to the sensing terminal on the alternator (of course, first I discard the original connection between the BAT post and the sensing terminal). I evolute the idea from the concept the sensing wire will be connected to the start switch (as in GM-Delco, see second paragraph on http://www.311s.org/tech/electrical/singlewire.htm).

Now, I have 12.67 volts with engine off, and 14.01 volts with engine at 3000 rpm (the attached photo was taken at midday, lights are now really bright).

I will post if the timelife of my lights change (signal of overload).

Happy Volving

Joaquin
Rojo 121 Amazon
Lima Peru

Hello Joaquin,

I have been to Lima, quite a few times, flying a white-painted C-130 Hercules. I liked Lima, the food, and the people mucho! I wish I could have visited other places in Peru. I have flown across the Andes to La Paz, at 13,000 feet. Needed to pre-breath Oxygen, descent to landing and definitely prior to takeoff. Beautiful, the Andes.

Hi Bob. Yes, peruvian food is unique. Ceviche, Huancaina, Rocoto relleno, we have many delicacies, one for every town. Also you know the fog on Lima mornings (sometimes it make airport closing). On the Andes the [Caminos del Inca] rally is made every year (the first version, on the 60's was winning by a 122).

Happy volving
Joaquin
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Joaquin / Rojo 121 / Lima, Peru