Identifying Ignition wire VP 2003t for MC-614?

[MichelleWhy]

Hi there,

having problems to identify the ignition wire on my VP 2003t. I'm installing a Balmar 6-series alternator to charge my LFP bank directly. The MC-614 requires the ignition wire. Same wire should go through a relay, controlled by a VE.Bus BMS in case of HVD.

There are several wires which could be called "ignition wire". Which one to choose for the MC-614?

Hopefully there is someone who can dig that out for me please.

Thanks very much.

Stefanie

[omsray]

The Left side of Switch #4 or the Left side of Switch #3 looks to be the correct connection point to me.



omsray

[omsray]

Switch #4 is effectively your ignition switch.


omsray

[MichelleWhy]

Thank you @omsray ,

with switch #4 I turn ignition on. Switch #3 is the starter button.

Balmar MC-614 wants ignition wire from the "ON" side. No further explanation. It's a bit of a guess game ;-)

The left side of switch #4 has constantly 12V as soon as I turn on the main engine battery switch. So I'm not 100% sure you're correct.

But to be honest, I'm not a native english speaker, thus maybe I misunderstand the word "ignition wire". It's a diesel and as such doesn't require "ignition". Just a starter. And I wonder wether the Balmar MC-614 wants to see 12V when I turn on ignition by switch #4, thus having a "ignition on" indicator all the time, even when the engine is not running, or only when I press the starter button.

[dlane1181]

We have the same setup. I'm not an ABYC Certified Electrician, but ours is connected to the ignition (+) wire, meaning it is hot/energized when the key is turned on regardless of whether or not the start button has been depressed or the diesel is running.

[omsray]

Hi again. The switch #4 is your Ignition Switch, Looking at the diagram, the wire on the right side of the switch if you follow it down goes through a fuse and then ends at the starter main positive terminal. This wire is the constant power to your Ignition switch.
The wire connection on the left side of the switch on the diagram is the switched side and only has power when the ingnition switch is turned on and you are running your engine, this is the connection you need for the Balmar regulator ignition feed.


omsray

[MichelleWhy]

Thanks @dlane1181,

this would mean in my case running a wire directly either from the right side of switch #4 or left side of switch #3 (both in the pedestal back to the engine room. Yikes. But I saw that coming. That's a whole lot of work for just one single wire.


@omsray

I double checked again. For me the right side of #4 goes directly to left of #3. So that should be the wire needed for the regulator.

[omsray]

If your looking at the back of the instrument panel itself then yes the wire which goes from the ignition switch to the start switch should be what you are looking for.


omsray

[BruceS]

W for white wire looks like hot with switch on. Can be tapped into in engine bay or at key switch?

[AlanR]

There is no such thing as ignition circuit on a diesel engine.

[MichelleWhy]

Thanks everyone!

Problem sorted out by measuring voltage directly at the ignition switch.

Took some effort to put a wire from the steering pedestal back to the engine bay. But finally I was able to get the job done and started the engine for the first time.
Output was around 60A at 850rpm. So that's looking good.

What I noticed is that when only the ignition is on, there is a rising current which I can see on the BMV (alternator linked directly to the LFP bank, which has a shunt). After about a minute the current stops rising at around 4A. The only consumers when ignition on, is the instrument panel with its two lamps (oil pressure warning, charging warning lamp) plus tank and hour meter.

Could it be that the current is coming from the alternator, so to say as a result of the building "excitation voltage"?

[DougR]

Hopefully you have extra accessory pulleys to drive that alternator....
I don’t think the standard belt will last very long driving that Balmar.

[MichelleWhy]

Originally Posted by DougR

Hopefully you have extra accessory pulleys to drive that alternator....
I don’t think the standard belt will last very long driving that Balmar.

Good point.
I'll watch this carefully and already considering to upgrade the pulley kit. Until then a good belt tension and the belt manager hopefully will help.