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Generator Wiring

Your old Chris-Craft electrical system can be a challenge. If it runs on "juice" pose your questions and offer your advice here.

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jbyers
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Generator Wiring

Post by jbyers » Fri Jul 24, 2015 7:47 pm

I'm confused........ big surprise. I just had my generator and starter rebuilt. The guy went ahead and wired the generator to the new voltage regulator for my convenience. He said all I needed to do was connect the BAT (battery) terminal on the regulator to the wire that came off of the old one and ground the base of the regulator.

THIS is when I realized there WAS no wire connecting to the battery. The only wire connections were between the voltage regulator and the generator. NO wonder it wasn't charging the battery. (not to mention that the ground wire really isn't really grounded either)

So my question now is, what gauge wire do I run from the voltage regulator to the battery, and where on the battery does it connect? I assume the positive terminal?

Now I wonder if the starter has too many wires connected to it, even though it was working before I took the starter off. There is a large battery cable sized wire and a smaller curly red wire both connected to the large lug on the solenoid and a large battery sized wire and a smaller yellow curly wire both connected to the base of the starter under a mounting bolt (see picture).

Is one of these wires supposed to go to the BAT(battery) connection on the voltage regulator? If not, what function do these wires serve on the starter? Seems like too many wires to me........

HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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drrot
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Re: Generator Wiring

Post by drrot » Sat Jul 25, 2015 6:43 am

It does not go directly to the battery. Goes through the amp gauge first.
10ga
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

jbyers
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Re: Generator Wiring

Post by jbyers » Sat Jul 25, 2015 7:07 am

Thanks Jim. Doesn't the ammeter connect to the battery through the ignition switch?

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drrot
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Re: Generator Wiring

Post by drrot » Sat Jul 25, 2015 1:19 pm

see this
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cc Wiring_Diagram 1952.jpg
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com


1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

jim g
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Re: Generator Wiring

Post by jim g » Sun Jul 26, 2015 2:23 pm

If yours is a 12 volt system the regulator is mounted on the stringer. If its just the cutoff box mounted on the generator then you should have a black 10 gauge wire that connects to it. The wire comes from the amp gauge to the box the other side of the amp gauge runs to the big terminal on the starter solenoid.

jbyers
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Re: Generator Wiring

Post by jbyers » Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:39 am

Thanks Jim(s).

Yes, it's a 12 V system and the voltage regulator is mounted down on the engine stringer. The black wire you are referring to was attached with a mounting screw to the base of the VR when I bought the boat a few months ago. I guess someone assumed it was the ground wire. I traced it back to the ammeter. I assume all the other wires are correct (why I would assume that all things considering is just wishful thinking). I'll know pretty soon I guess...........

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