1963 Beetle Alternator wiring

62 posts · joined Sep 2010 · 19 Dec 2010, 2:24 pm

#817481

Hi, I have just reinstalled my 1500 engine with an alternator upgrade, does anyone have any ideas on wiring it up to the coil etc? I have tried to follow the labelling from when I removed the engine (when it had a generator) the wiring was a bit of a mess so looking to replace a few bits but would really like to know the main wires that need connecting, engine is turning over, there is fuel so im pretty sure im not getting a spark out of the coil

Thanks a lot for any help.

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 19 Dec 2010, 3:13 pm

#817489

The wiring to the coil is unchanged with an alt conversion.

There should just be a wire (usually black) coming from the front that powers the coil, with a test light it will only have power when the ignitions on.
Same wire feeds power to choke and cutoff solenoid if there is one.

Conversion Alts only have 2 connections. the big B+ one is the feed to the battery and the small D- goes to the charge warning light

kieranweston Commited Dubber

62 posts · joined Sep 2010 · 21 Dec 2010, 12:39 pm

#817791

Thanks Joel, Im still a bit stuck on wiring from coil to distributor and carb, any ideas there?

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 21 Dec 2010, 12:55 pm

#817795

Hopefully a bit clearer version of Joel's explanation:
- main ignition wire from the front of the car goes to + terminal of coil (it's usually a black wire)
- wire from the choke (RHS of the carb, just above the alternator) also goes to + terminal of coil (again usually black)
- low tension wire from capacitor on distributor goes to - terminal on coil (usually a green wire)

That's for a standard 1500 carb. If you have a later carb, you MAY have the cutoff solenoid... on the LHS of the carb, down low near where it bolts to the manifold... if so it also goes to the + terminal of the coil.

And that should be about it !!!

👍

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68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 21 Dec 2010, 2:20 pm

#817804

kieranweston wrote:Hi, I have just reinstalled my 1500 engine with an alternator upgrade, does anyone have any ideas on wiring it up to the coil etc? I have tried to follow the labelling from when I removed the engine (when it had a generator) the wiring was a bit of a mess so looking to replace a few bits but would really like to know the main wires that need connecting, engine is turning over, there is fuel so im pretty sure im not getting a spark out of the coil

Thanks a lot for any help.

Hi
the wire from the condensor on the side of the distributor goes to the -- minus terminal on the coil...

the wire from automatic choke and electromagnetic cut off valve go to the + positive side of the coil... [power]

this will give You spark...

do You have a two wire alternator? [most common]

the small terminal and small wire go to the dash lamp...
this must be connected for the alternator to charge..

the larger wire goes to the battery..
the thick wire from the battery goes to the dashboard...
to power everything....

the voltage regulator under the back seat is no longer used..
or maybe it was located on the generator???

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
if it was under the seat:
the large wire coming off the regulator is connected to the large wire going to the regulator from the battery...
its best to solder these two wires together...
and cover with heatshrink or lots of PVC tape

or put yellow terminals with a round hole in the wires and screw them together and tape them up with a lot of PVC tape..
then cable tie them so they can't move about...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
cheers

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 21 Dec 2010, 5:31 pm

#817817

There ya go... with 3 descriptions you shouldn't go wrong !!!

👍

Also should add that the alternator warning lamp MUST be a 2W bulb... going smaller than that will mean you need higher engine revs before the alternator cuts in and starts charging your battery.

Bit surprised at you tho Lee... no colourful pictures !!!

😂

VWDCQ vice pres & web dude - vwdcqinc.org.au
Join a car club - get car peeps

My toys
'70 Hillclimb Bug 'Jezebel' w/- Haltech EFI - http://bit.ly/VwTNtQ
'60 KG Coupe - resto kinda started
01 New Beetle - gf's car, but I turn the spanners

kieranweston Commited Dubber

62 posts · joined Sep 2010 · 22 Dec 2010, 11:58 am

#817935

thanks a lot for all that guys, fingers crossed when i get home tonight! cheers and merry christmas