9 replies to this topic

[Its a mini thing]

My 1976 clubbys alternator dosnt charge the battery, and we have a brand new alternator in the shed but its not for a mini, on the alternator there are 3 connections,
W
B+
D+
in that order
but the car has 1 plug going to the original alternator with 3 wires going to the plug
GREEN
BROWN
YELLOW/BLACK

which wire would go to which terminal on the alternator if the plug was cut off?
does anyone have a wiring diagram for a later rover mini as my dads sure they will have a new type alternator on that would be the same

cheers

Edited by Its a mini thing, 14 September 2008 - 03:44 PM.

[Its a mini thing]

anyone?

[lrostoke]

When you say one plug on your existing alternator then it souds like the two big spade connector plus small spade connector type ??

If so then the wires that go onto the big spade connectors, connect those both to the B+ terminal

The small spade connector is ignition warning light, this goes to the D+ connection

W is normally a rev counter, but leave that blank

[Its a mini thing]

yeh there is a plug in the car wiring loom that goes to the original alternator that has 3 wires and 3 spade connectors in it, 2 are large and 1 small so the 2 large go to B+ and the small to D+? thats it?

[Dan]

What was the new alternator originally designed for? All alternators are not the same, they are designed for the average speed of the drive belt on the engine, they don't all turn the same way and they don't all work the same way. There are many different types.

[Its a mini thing]

oh right, well it was originally for a JCB digger lol my dads friend got it for him from work, my dad has one on his lotus sunbeam and it works fine?

will it do any damage if we try it?

Edited by Its a mini thing, 14 September 2008 - 07:36 PM.

[lrostoke]

Personally I would give it a go, if you've got it and its new, and you know it works then worth a shot.

You may find the fanbelt is wrong size depending on pulley size on new alternator.
Once fitted do a few voltage checks, try voltage a tickover with nothing switched on, and then try with lights, heater, rear screen demister. See what sort of readings you get.

[pantera2075]

You might find it hasn't got much oomph. JCB's don't have much in the way of electrical equipment so usually have quite small alternators. Saying that, the usual mini only has a 45A ACR so you should be ok.

[Dan]

It's also quite likely to have a pretty small pulley fitted to keep the speed up if it's designed for a diesel. That could well result in it overcharging on a petrol engine. Doesn't really matter if it will work on a Lotus Sunbeam or not, that's yet another completely different vehicle and will have competely different needs of an alternator. Try to find out which way the engine in the Lotus turns even if you can't find out anything about the alternator. Then get a pulley of a similar size to the Minis original which will take the right size belt. On a commercial diesel the belt is quite likely to be much thicker than on the Mini as said above.

[Its a mini thing]

gonna give it ago later let you all know how it goes lol