24V Leece Neville wiring help

[bschwartz]

I just picked up a Leece Neville 24V 160A (110-1005) alternator.  I could use some expert advise on how to wire this thing.  It has 5 connections.  They are labeled +, -, R, E, L.  The + and - make sense, but the other 3 don't.  I was told that it is not self exciting (like an old girlfriend).  Any help would be greatly appreciated (with the alternator, not old girlfriend).

[mobile_bob]

this is all i could find, it explains some of your connections

http://www.prestolite.com/pgs_products/specs.php?item_detail_id=15040&item=086-215-100&product=ALTERNATOR

bob g

[bschwartz]

I did find that one, but it seems quite different.  I don't have a voltage adjustment and I have an E and L.  I don't understand what the R stator neutral tap is.  Where would I need to connect the batteries or ignition switch to energize the unit?

[mobile_bob]

the stator neutral tells me the stator is Y connected, why the oem provides this tap is unknown to me

the L should be for the lamp circuit, basically you connect a small bulb with positive to one side of the lamp
and then ground the lamp to the L terminal, this generally provides a bit of power to trigger the unit into operation
and once it is starting to charge the L terminal goes form ground to positive which turns out the lamp.

not sure about the E terminal, you might try and give prestolite, leece neville a call to tech support and see
if they can provide the needed info on how this unit works, i have found their engineering dept very helpful.

bob g

[bschwartz]

When you say the stator is Y connected, does this mean it would be 12v?
Ahhhh, so L is to ignition through a lamp to 'start' the alternator.

[mobile_bob]

yes key on through a switch to power the light, the light finds ground through the "L" terminal
and when the alternator starts up the "L" terminal goes from ground to positive
the lamp between two positives goes out.

that is the classic design, if there is a regulator on this unit, which i think there is.

Y connected is one of two possible connection schemes the other being Delta
delta provides higher current but at lower voltage, so you have to spin the alternator faster to get it to charge
at 24volts,
connected as Y (wye, or sometimes called star) increases the voltage for a given rpm to 1.73 x the delta connected voltage
so that it will begin to charge at 24volts at a much lower rpm., but

Y connectioned deliver about 57% of the amperage of a delta connected stator, but
it appears your unit is very heavily wound in order to have the 160amp rating.

best bet is to call prestolite and talk to there engineering dept about connections to be sure, although a small lamp limits the current
so much that it is unlikely that you can damage anything by trying to connect the "L" terminal as described.

the "E" post is a bit of a mystery, i haven't seen one, or don't recall having seen one used on other alternators of this type.

bob g

[squarebob]

Bschwartz, Did you ever figure out how to wire this alternator up? I am looking at getting the same unit but don't want to "smoke" it.
Thanks
Bob

[bschwartz]

I gave up on running anything on 24 volt, so it has just been a dust collector.  So, to answer your question, no, I never got to play with it.  Do you want one cheap?