Alternator wiring on sr20 install

[mapleridge818]

I've finished installing a s14 sr20det into my car, but have an over charging problem. The alternator has the large power wire, which is hooked to the + battery. The ground wire, is hooked to a good ground. The other two wires, come off the plug. One is white/red and one is yellow. I was told the yellow is the "sense" wire, and needs to go to the battery +, so that's where it's hooked. The white/red wire is was told goes to the charge light on the stock 180sx gauge cluster. I don't have a charge light, so I left this wire hooked to nothing.

When I first start the car, the battery doesn't charge, but if I give the engine a rev, the voltage jumps up to about 15.5V and stays there.

I tried hooking the yellow wire to the battery +, and the voltage reads about 15.2 when the car first fires up, and stays there.

I read that the yellow, "charge light" wire needs to be hooked up to some sort of charge light, or a resister needs to be installed somewhere so the alternator gets under 6V or something weird.

 

For people that have done SR swaps, where did you run the 2 wires from the alternator plug?

 

Thanks for any help.

[Icehouse]

Yes whoever told you how to wire it is correct.  You can hook the white with red stripe to any bulb.  The other "end" of the bulb needs to go to switched power.  This is what energizes the windings which then make power.  So just wire a bulb into whatever dash you have.  Simple.  Should work perfect then.  

[datzenmike]

The reason you can rev it up and power suddenly comes on is because there is a small amount of residual magnetism in the rotor assy. Once it starts making power it supplies itself. I can't believe any car does not have a charge light in the dash. 

[mapleridge818]

Ok, thank you for the response, I'll hook up a bulb tomorrow. 

I don't have a charge light because I replaced all of my gauges and instrumentation with aftermarket.

[mapleridge818]

Hooked up a bulb to the red/white wire and problem solved! Thanks guys. I've been scratching my head on this for a week now. 

[Icehouse]

Well you came to the right place :)  

 

I can see that.  The combo gauge has a lot of crap going on in it.  I've seen quite a few cars with the same problem when switching gauges.