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Nichrome wire bypass [message #350104] Wed, 13 November 2019 21:26 Go to next message
6cuda6 is currently offline  6cuda6   Canada
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Ok ok...i know there are tons of posts and pics etc but heres the question:

Should one re-wire the whole circuit as JB suggests? I see pics of how Kelvin did it by splicing in and clipping one end of the nichrome?

To much info sometimes is just as bad as not enough......the mechanic in me says re-wire the whole circuit....the practical side says a bypass can be just as good.

I only want to do this once so i want opinions from those who have personally done this.


Rich Mondor, Brockville, ON 77 Hughes 2600
Re: Nichrome wire bypass [message #350106 is a reply to message #350104] Thu, 14 November 2019 00:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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You could bypass it but do not use a 100 ohm resistor as Jim B. states. He misread the wiring diagram years ago. The diagram shows a 10.0 ohm resistance wire and he read it as 100 ohm (missing the decimal point).

Gene Fisher came up with a simpler solution by inserting a diode in series with the start lead of alternator. He makes a "plug and Play" device he calls an APC (Alternator Protection Cable). It is $20 or $25 and I think Jim K has them. It is a 5 or 10 minute no tool install.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Nichrome wire bypass [message #350107 is a reply to message #350104] Thu, 14 November 2019 04:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RF_Burns is currently offline  RF_Burns   Canada
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Diode will not allow current to flow in the nichrome wire if the voltage on Pin 1 (excitation) goes above the chassis battery voltage. It does not prevent the flow when the key is turned to ignition but the engine is not started... or if the alternator fails (broken belt, no power out etc) and you continue to drive (powering off house battery or onan)... in that case the GEN light will be ON and current will continue to flow in the nichrome wire and dissipate heat.

I'm thinking to replace the nichrome wire with a single filament 12V lamp that is rated at about 1 Amp current (such as a single filament tail lamp). The lamp will be the correct resistance and will dissipate the heat generated. If something happened to the alternator to cause excessive voltage at Pin 1, the bulb will get very bright and will burn out cutting the current flow.

Anytime the GEN light is ON, the nichrome wire has current flowing in it and is dissipating heat (about 10-12 watts).

Just a thought.


Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
Re: [GMCnet] Nichrome wire bypass [message #350108 is a reply to message #350107] Thu, 14 November 2019 05:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
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Since Gene Fisher's APC came into use, I haven't heard of a single Nichrome
wire incident (with the APC installed). So, I'd feel comfortable using it
only. However, Bruce's point about heating is valid -- I replaced the Wire
with a fixed 10Ohm/25W resistor, before the APC appeared, with it mounted
in the HVAC airflow.

Ken H.
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Nichrome wire bypass [message #350110 is a reply to message #350108] Thu, 14 November 2019 09:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jp Benson is currently offline  Jp Benson   United States
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Fixed resistor, light bulb, anti-feedback diode or even go to a 1 wire alternator. They all solve the problem of the overheating nichrome wire. My preference was to replace the nichrome wire with a 100 (hundred) ohm sandstone resistor, disconnect the dash light and add a voltmeter.
100 ohms worked fine for me. It has the added benefit of drawing less current. I've since switched to a 30 ohm resistor. For no good reason other than they look cool and were on sale. I also have a diode but haven't gotten around to install it.

https://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G23868

JP

Re: [GMCnet] Nichrome wire bypass [message #350115 is a reply to message #350107] Thu, 14 November 2019 12:40 Go to previous message
Richard Denney is currently offline  Richard Denney   United States
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That’s exactly what I did, when KenH and I were making do with what could
be bought off-the-shelf in Bean Station. It was a temporary measure. It’s
still there. :)

Rick “~15-watt lamp = ~1 amp = ~10 ohms” Denney

On Thu, Nov 14, 2019 at 5:19 AM Bruce Hislop via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:

> Diode will not allow current to flow in the nichrome wire if the voltage
> on Pin 1 (excitation) goes above the chassis battery voltage. It does not
> prevent the flow when the key is turned to ignition but the engine is not
> started... or if the alternator fails (broken belt, no power out etc) and
> you continue to drive (powering off house battery or onan)... in that case
> the GEN light will be ON and current will continue to flow in the nichrome
> wire and dissipate heat.
>
> I'm thinking to replace the nichrome wire with a single filament 12V lamp
> that is rated at about 1 Amp current (such as a single filament tail lamp).
> The lamp will be the correct resistance and will dissipate the heat
> generated. If something happened to the alternator to cause excessive
> voltage at
> Pin 1, the bulb will get very bright and will burn out cutting the current
> flow.
>
> Anytime the GEN light is ON, the nichrome wire has current flowing in it
> and is dissipating heat (about 10-12 watts).
>
> Just a thought.
> --
> Bruce Hislop
> ON Canada
> 77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.1 ton front end
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
> My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
'73 X-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
Offlist email: rick at rickdenney dot com
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