Is the Alternator always hot w/ switch off? Testing blinker

Terry in TN · Post by **Terry in TN** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:12 am

While troubleshooting my taillights in my '61 bug I use the big terminal on the alt and ground to test bulbs. That got me thinking--is that supposed to be hot with the ign. switch off? Also, is there a quick way to test the blinker box. I don't have front blinker lights installed yet but I get a steady light at either rear sides that I set the blinker too.

Post by **Marc** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:41 am

The B+ post on the alternator is "hot" all the time (trace the wire to it, you'll see it goes to the front of the car for the loads and to the battery to keep it charged).
Some "heavy duty" flashers don't care how many bulbs are hooked up to them - they're the kind you'd use if you were towing a trailer frequently and didn't want to change the flasher every time you did - but most are designed to work within a specific load range, like 2 or 3 lamps' worth, and with less (or more) load they'll either fail to flash or flash more rapidly to alert you when there's a problem with the system. Odds are yours will work once you connect the front signals.

MNAirHead · Post by **MNAirHead** » Thu May 10, 2007 8:44 am

I always bench test the components before installing.. much easier than going through the complete install.

Our charger has 6v setting for the early ones.

Terry in TN · Post by **Terry in TN** » Mon May 14, 2007 6:29 am

O.K. I have the front blinker bulbs installed and they are bright, but they do not blink. I have a two prong blinker can. I used a spade adapter to be able to hook up the wire to the column and dash light to one spade and the other output from the blinker can goes back into the column. Does the blinker can need to be grounded to the body in this case?

Post by **Marc** » Mon May 14, 2007 1:54 pm

That type of flasher needs no ground. Power (from the ignition switch, via a fuse) goes into one terminal and the wire to the t'signal switch goes to the other terminal. You can piggy-back the indicator lamp wire to the one going to the t'signal switch (it'll blink in alternation to the external lamps, not in unison with them, but it'll work) if you're using a two-prong flasher...also works on a three-prong or VW flasher in which the indicator lamp function has died.

         American-style flasher           VW flasher

Power in                  X                     + or 49 or 15
Flash out to switch   L                      49a or 54
Indicator lamp          P                    KBl or Bl or K
Ground (some)                                       31