Alternator output wire?

[Menace2Authority]

Tomorrow I plan on installing my second battery and battery isolator along with my 1100 watt stereo to get them musky riled up. I've been looking through the service manual. Am I correct in assuming that the orange wire at the battery is my alternator output wire to charge the battery? (Assuming of course the wiring hasn't been messed with). A quick look at the alternator looked as if there were 1 red wire, 1 white wire, and 1 black wire coming off the alternator.
Motor is 1979 165hp mercruiser
Thanks

Rob

 

[mariner1900]

Re: Alternator output wire?

Do you have an ammeter?

If so then the charging output from the alternator will normally go to the meter 1st and not to the battery.

 

[Menace2Authority]

Re: Alternator output wire?

Yes I do have an amp meter. Never even thought about that. Thanks. That'll make tracing the wire a lot easier.

Rob

 

[Menace2Authority]

Re: Alternator output wire?

Hooked everything up and it seems to be all screwed. Now the amp meter reads about 10 amps half the time and about 25 the other half the time. Where before it consistantly read 25 (ish) amps.
Any ideas?

Rob