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The shack has little indicator diodes that poke through a 1-4" hole in the
panel and "bolt" on. I use them for door latch indicators, belly board,
etc. and I guess I could put one in for Alternator. They draw microamps,
so it's like there really isn't a circuit there at all How does an
alternator detect a tiny load like a LED and distinguish between it and an open
circuit?
Unfortunately, the alternator regulator is sort of a black
box. If we knew the exact circuit, we could probably figure out more
about what will, and won't work for a light. The safest approach is
to emulate what Mazda did, because they do know what's inside the
alternator.
As for
burning up the alternator by not connecting wires, I imagine there's
some truth to that statement, for at least some alternators. It does seem
hard to believe that not connecting the IL circuit would cause a problem, but
again, we don't have any information about the actual
circuit.
BTW, will a ten or twelve foot 22awg wire excite an internally regulated ND
alternator? I have a two conductor sleeved run of 22 ga going from panel
to regulator. I'd like to split them and use one to excite the alternator
and the other for the idiot light.
I don't
really know how much current flows in the circuit, but my guess is that it's
very little. I'd be willing to bet your 22 ga wire will be
fine. I'll even back that with full money back guarantee for my
services :-)
Rusty (I
though Ed was Mr Alternator)
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