So my 1993 D250 5 speed was reading a bit high and getting higher slowly...it sounded like the regulator from the posts so I went ahead and put in a new one and the alternator started smoking..turned off right away and put back all the old stuff with the black box and the 4 wires and it still smokes...I'm hoping for some clarification from you guys..Psycobilly64 did the write up and I was really impressed with it but I am unsure as to what happens to the bigger 2 wires on either end of the black box

followed the instructions on the https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...onversion.html with pics BUT I think I may have not done something that is not so clear.

when replacing the 2 middle wires from the black box on the alternator with a external one does one have to reconnect the other 2 wires to the alternator or leave the WHOLE thing off and JUST connect the 2 wires ONLY from the pigtail on the regulator to the alternator? I did it just he 2 but thinking it has to have a wire to the battery and that might have fried my alternator so really want to double check before I get a new alternator...

Hoping to get this figured out ASAP as it is my ONLY daily driver so walking or biking now

 

I can't comment, but I have a 91, and just went to a single wire alternator and was done with it. More expensive, but with 1 wire to the battery is allot less of a pain. Especially with the wiring in these trucks. I also went carb. And got rid of the ecm completely, and un-wired the harness for everything that was computer controlled under the hood, cleaner look, also replaced the fusible links with a small fuse block. And then I felt real froggy and pulled the cab harness and got rid of all the wires for the abs, and the engine light. I can understand wiring in a regulator for the cheap price, but I found the single wire alternator so much easier, it's internally regulated. Summit has them from 70 amp up to 130 amp or higher if you search a little. Like I said a little pricey, but the simplicity is almost worth it.
​​​​​
https://www.summitracing.com/search/...er-square-back

For what little electric I have, I got a 95 amp. Came rated for 100 so their loss my gain lol.

 

those alt won't work on a 93. i don't know if there is a 1 wire alternator that will bolt in for the serpentine belt setup.

sounds like you may have fried your alternator. hopefully you didn't fry anything else when you did that. you need to power the 1 wire and ground the voltage regulator exactly like you see in that 1 wiring diagram

 

So where does the one wire go and for the price do they last a real long time

 

Summit has them for the serpentine belt also, you just have to go in and put in what pulley you want. I forget 93 was the change over to Magnum engines grrrr. Just double check fitment, I kept the V belt system when I did the Magnum swap.

https://www.summitracing.com/search/department/ignitions-electrical/section/charging-systems/part-type/alternators-and-generators/one-wire-capable/yes/make/dodge/engine-size/5-2l-318/engine-family/mopar-small-block-magnum/pulley-style/serpentine?N=department%3Aignitions-electrical&SortBy=Default&SortOrder=Ascending

​​​​​ little pricey, but the amp rating is allot higher. I wired in a single wire regulator on another build I did, got the regulator from Napa just needed a hot wire in with key on, and a wire from the regulator to the alternator. But that was also on a 68 318 LA I put in a 92 Dakota.

 

a little price is an understatement lol. about 2-3 times the cost of a stock 120amp lol. definitely higher output but not really needed for a stock truck.

 

goes from the alternator to the battery, that's it. Can't say on how long they last, I'm on my second one only because I was being stupid and lazy and grounded out my battery positive wire to ground. I've only had it on the truck for a year. My second one about 3 months. Next time I'll just disconnect the ground.