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Here is that connector that was on my alternator. Forget the two field terminals at the top of the black thingy. Instead, look at how they did the ground cable. The cable comes in from the right. You'll see it's just a stub because I lopped it off. The cable goes clean thru to the other side and that's what you see sticking out on the left with a ring terminal. That ring terminal was secured to a bolt on the alternator. Likewise, that ring terminal on the black thingy on the lower right in the pix was also attached to another bolt on the alternator. Is it possible that the ground had two grounding ring terminals going to different grounding bolts (thereby doubling the grounding surface) or is that one on the lower right just for securing the black thingy and plays no role in the ground?
Here is that connector that was on my alternator. Forget the two field terminals at the top of the black thingy. Instead, look at how they did the ground cable. The cable comes in from the right. You'll see it's just a stub because I lopped it off. The cable goes clean thru to the other side and that's what you see sticking out on the left with a ring terminal. That ring terminal was secured to a bolt on the alternator. Likewise, that ring terminal on the black thingy on the lower right in the pix was also attached to another bolt on the alternator. Is it possible that the ground had two grounding ring terminals going to different grounding bolts (thereby doubling the grounding surface) or is that one on the lower right just for securing the black thingy and plays no role in the ground?
Ummm....
That tab was ground on my Dakota; the one hanging out was the 12V power FROM the alternator.
That tab was ground on my Dakota; the one hanging out was the 12V power FROM the alternator.
The two on top were to the field.
It's like that to simplify installation.
RwP
My 12V power stud on the alternator is a few inches away. Looks like it runs to the fuse/relay box under the hood and then goes back out to the battery. I wish now I had left that ground cable intact. I'm trying to figure out if both those ring terminals (not the two field terminals) contributed to the grounding. I just crimped a new ring terminal on the end of the ground cable and attached it to one of the bolts on the alternator. Tried each one and still got the shakes on the volt gauge.
Charging system seems flawless. Getting good voltage across the charging spectrum (idle, with a little gas, load, no load, etc.). No problems charging with this external voltage regulator. Only problem that remains is my dashboard voltage gauge continues to have a bad case of the shakes. Went back and soldered my power feed splice (got rid of the crimp connector), soldered a ring terminal on the alternator ground cable (alt side) with the correct size ring terminal, removed and cleaned the ground stud on the other side of the alt ground cable. Swapped power feed from the cigar lighter circuit to the radio circuit. Dash gauge still shakes. It quits shaking when I put a load on it like fan full blast + headlights. Sometimes it's steady just staying above 1500 rpm, other times makes no difference. I'm beginning to think this guy's regulator has Parkinson's disease or something so I'm trying to call him to see what he can offer up. And, as always, I welcome anyone else's thoughts.
