Notices
Drag Racing Drag Racing (legal) & Associated Topics

one-wire alternator?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 01-26-2011, 08:23 AM
  #1  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
mikesrex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Port Arthur, TX, USA
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default one-wire alternator?

I'm thinking about switching to a one-wire alternator on the crx to simplify the car some more but wonder if I will encounter any problems with not having the ECU send (or get) signals from the alt while the car is running. I'm not familiar enough with the exact control scheme when it comes to what the stock Honda ECU does when it comes to the alternator. Does anyone here run a one-wire alternator or know if I would have problems running one? I'm about to rebuild one and this is one of the options I am given by my alternator guy.

FWIW the car is a 91 CRX HF converted to OBD1 running a P28 with a basic all motor setup. I tuned it using Crome Pro. So far it's run 12.0@110 but we haven't gotten a good run out of it since the alt took a crap lol. Hoping to get some 11 sec passes during the Houston IFO.

thanks

Mike
Old 01-26-2011, 08:38 AM
  #2  
Honda-Tech Member
 
Turbogixxer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 11,001
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

The ECU just sends a low charge output. You can disable it on a stock alt and do the same thing. You just have to power the alt with the blk/yel or run a one wire alt.
Old 01-26-2011, 08:47 AM
  #3  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
mikesrex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Port Arthur, TX, USA
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

thanks for the info. so there shouldn't be any problems running a one-wire?
Old 01-26-2011, 08:52 AM
  #4  
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
 
B18c1turboedEK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Turbo land, GA, USA
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

Out of the 4 wires going too the ALt, you just need a 12v going too it to turn it on?
Old 01-26-2011, 09:13 AM
  #5  
Honda-Tech Member
 
redboost10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,056
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

I only had one wire going to the alternator. It does simplify it. Can't tell you the color because it was a custom harness.
Old 01-26-2011, 09:34 AM
  #6  
Honda-Tech Member
 
tepid1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CT
Posts: 8,357
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

Originally Posted by Turbogixxer
The ECU just sends a low charge output. You can disable it on a stock alt and do the same thing. You just have to power the alt with the blk/yel or run a one wire alt.
That is true.
Old 01-26-2011, 01:42 PM
  #7  
Honda-Tech Member
 
E Town DSM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: elizabeth, nj, usa
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

i run one on my car idles at like high 13's and stays at a steady 14.5 at full throttle
Old 01-26-2011, 02:03 PM
  #8  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
mikesrex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Port Arthur, TX, USA
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

Originally Posted by E Town DSM
i run one on my car idles at like high 13's and stays at a steady 14.5 at full throttle
are you still on ECU or a standalone?
The following users liked this post:
Old 01-26-2011, 02:52 PM
  #9  
Honda-Tech Member
 
E Town DSM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: elizabeth, nj, usa
Posts: 1,974
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

aem
Old 01-26-2011, 02:59 PM
  #10  
Honda-Tech Member
 
.adam.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Elyria, OH, US
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

would this only be an option if you had a standalone or could hondata users do this also? seems like the other wires are there for some reason.....
Old 01-26-2011, 03:06 PM
  #11  
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
 
B18c1turboedEK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Turbo land, GA, USA
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

The other wires tell the ecu the voltage its putting out I belive..
Old 01-26-2011, 05:16 PM
  #12  
Honda-Tech Member
 
turbociv910's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: expensive land, usa
Posts: 2,501
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

black and yel wire needs power, rest is for dash dummy light. cut them off.
Old 01-26-2011, 07:46 PM
  #13  
Honda-Tech Member
 
Turbogixxer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 11,001
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

Originally Posted by turbociv910
black and yel wire needs power, rest is for dash dummy light. cut them off.
Two of them are for the dummy lights, the other is a low/high charge circuit. You can remove all of them BESIDES the Black/yellow wire. It needs that to charge the battery. No 12v going to the black/yellow wire, not charging alt.
Old 01-26-2011, 07:53 PM
  #14  
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Will_H's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: FL, U.S.A.
Posts: 480
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

i'm kinda in the same boat... So you need the plug but only the black yellow wire and just a main power?
Old 01-26-2011, 07:54 PM
  #15  
Honda-Tech Member
 
Turbogixxer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 11,001
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

Originally Posted by Will_H
i'm kinda in the same boat... So you need the plug but only the black yellow wire and just a main power?
Correct.
The following users liked this post:
Old 01-26-2011, 08:11 PM
  #16  
Honda-Tech Member
 
Redline130's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Hilo, Hawaii
Posts: 4,136
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

Originally Posted by .adam.
would this only be an option if you had a standalone or could hondata users do this also? seems like the other wires are there for some reason.....
I only run the blk/yel wire with my S300. No issues at all.
Old 01-26-2011, 08:29 PM
  #17  
Honda-Tech Member
 
EDLOVA23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

what are the benefits of running ONE wire?
Old 01-26-2011, 08:39 PM
  #18  
Honda-Tech Member
 
redboost10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 7,056
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

Less wires to run and no point in running unneeded wires on some of these standalone ecus since they are logging voltage.

edit: logging was the wrong term, i meant to say it like what tepid is saying.

Last edited by redboost10; 01-27-2011 at 05:45 AM.
Old 01-27-2011, 03:30 AM
  #19  
Honda-Tech Member
iTrader: (1)
 
B18c1turboedEK's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Turbo land, GA, USA
Posts: 1,984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

How does it log voltage if you cut those wires off? I could have sworn one of the wires tells the ecu the voltage. If not where are you getting the data for voltage? Does the ecu read it elsewhere?
Old 01-27-2011, 05:09 AM
  #20  
Honda-Tech Member
 
tepid1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CT
Posts: 8,357
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

I thought the ECU reads input voltage to the ECU itself. It's onboard measurement.
Old 01-27-2011, 07:05 AM
  #21  
Honda-Tech Member
 
Turbogixxer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Boca Raton, FL
Posts: 11,001
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

OBD1 ECUs (honda) reads the voltage from the power voltage inputs to the ECU (A25).
Old 01-27-2011, 07:46 AM
  #22  
 
xenocron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Hillburn, NY, USA
Posts: 5,724
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

Originally Posted by daboogy
what are the benefits of running ONE wire?
keeps the voltage in the "system" steady.

in a factory vehicle the alternator will go into low mode and run the vehicle at around 12.5-13 volts when there arent a whole lot of accessories on that will pull much current

when the A/C, rad fan, high beams...etc are on it will go into HIGH mode 14 - 14.5 volts to supply more voltage to these accessories to keep the current in the circuits down.
Old 01-27-2011, 07:53 AM
  #23  
Honda-Tech Member
Thread Starter
 
mikesrex's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Port Arthur, TX, USA
Posts: 1,364
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

thanks for the info guys. I'll post my results once I am done with it.
Old 01-27-2011, 09:47 AM
  #24  
Honda-Tech Member
 
EDLOVA23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

Originally Posted by xenocron
keeps the voltage in the "system" steady.

in a factory vehicle the alternator will go into low mode and run the vehicle at around 12.5-13 volts when there arent a whole lot of accessories on that will pull much current

when the A/C, rad fan, high beams...etc are on it will go into HIGH mode 14 - 14.5 volts to supply more voltage to these accessories to keep the current in the circuits down.
so it will always keep the voltage @ 14-14.5 volts once the car is started with only the blk/yel wire connect which is signal correct?
Old 01-27-2011, 11:45 AM
  #25  
Honda-Tech Member
 
tepid1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CT
Posts: 8,357
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
Default Re: one-wire alternator?

I believe it defaults to the "high" with no feedback to the alt. I get 14.5vdc out of mine with just the one wire.
The following users liked this post:


Quick Reply: one-wire alternator?



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:15 PM.