Ground for Hitachi alternator on a Yanmar

[svlamorocha]

Hello everyone
I am looking for detailed info on what is the proper way to tie this alternators to battery negative. In the standard setup I see on Moorings boats, the battrry negative is tied to a cable coming from the front/starboard part of the alternator that (once internal reg hits its voltage cutoff) is 13.7V away from the BAT terminal in the back of the alternator.
I wonder why don't they use the (so far unused) unlabeled terminal in the back, about 1 inch away from the BAT terminals, which is nice 14.2 volts away from BAT.

I would appreciate any insights.

Charlie



Sent from my GT-I9192 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[smac999]

gernally on smaller alts (80a and less) there is no ground wire. it's a metal alternator bolted to a metal engine. which is grounded.


I don't understand your voltage numbers. you should be reading the same voltage anwhere on the alt case, engine ground, battery ground ect.