GM Ignition Wiring

I'm wiring up this test stand, and my diagram for the manufacturer shows that the brown from the alternator to Start AND Run, and the Purple from the starter goes to Start. Now, if I hook it up like this I will have to make both wires contact each other at all times. Won't this engage the starter as soon as I mount this, and constantly thereafter? :confused:

The Ignition I have doesn't even have "Start" and "Run", It has "Battery" "Ignition" and "Accessory" located in the points of a triangle on the very bottom and a blank post in the middle which I'm assuming is ground. It has no papers or writing Indicating any valuable information like this..


From my guesses on this I have come to the conclusion that I should run the Purple to "Ignition" and Brown to "Battery",... is this correct and should it be grounded on this post? I am mounting it in Plexiglass so the unit itself has no contact with ny metal or ground.

I'm feeling quite confused at the moment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chief Smackaho

I'm wiring up this test stand, and my diagram for the manufacturer shows that the brown from the alternator to Start AND Run, and the Purple from the starter goes to Start. Now, if I hook it up like this I will have to make both wires contact each other at all times. Won't this engage the starter as soon as I mount this, and constantly thereafter? :confused:

The Ignition I have doesn't even have "Start" and "Run", It has "Battery" "Ignition" and "Accessory" located in the points of a triangle on the very bottom and a blank post in the middle which I'm assuming is ground. It has no papers or writing Indicating any valuable information like this..


From my guesses on this I have come to the conclusion that I should run the Purple to "Ignition" and Brown to "Battery",... is this correct and should it be grounded on this post? I am mounting it in Plexiglass so the unit itself has no contact with ny metal or ground.

I'm feeling quite confused at the moment.

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i think you need another switch. the way i see it, you cant start the motor with that sw. you got to have a start post:HMMM:

i think you need another switch. the way i see it, you cant start the motor with that sw. you got to have a start post


Yeah, it sounds to me like the ignition switch you have is made for use with a seperate starter button, like old Fords used. We have that on our forklift at work. you turn the key to on, then push the starter button to crank it. Get one of the marine ignition switches that have batt, start, ign on the back and you will be home free.


Don

It does turn to a start position and return like a normal switch does.

:confused: :confused: :confused: ALright, lets get this down to basics. Exactly what are the posts on the back of the switch labeled as? What kind of switch is it? Where did you get it?

Lets go back to square one.


Don

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chief Smackaho

I'm wiring up this test stand, and my diagram for the manufacturer shows that the brown from the alternator to Start AND Run, and the Purple from the starter goes to Start. Now, if I hook it up like this I will have to make both wires contact each other at all times. Won't this engage the starter as soon as I mount this, and constantly thereafter? :confused:

The Ignition I have doesn't even have "Start" and "Run", It has "Battery" "Ignition" and "Accessory" located in the points of a triangle on the very bottom and a blank post in the middle which I'm assuming is ground. It has no papers or writing Indicating any valuable information like this..


From my guesses on this I have come to the conclusion that I should run the Purple to "Ignition" and Brown to "Battery",... is this correct and should it be grounded on this post? I am mounting it in Plexiglass so the unit itself has no contact with ny metal or ground.

I'm feeling quite confused at the moment.

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you say your sw. has a bat., ign. and acc. post. that won't start your motor. the bat. is 12v, the ign is what you would use to run it, and the acc. speakes for itself. where is the start post?

See Mike, that is where I'm confused too. He says it springs back just like a normal start position switch would, yet he says there is no start post. Got to be something we aren't getting here.



Don

Come on Chief Smackaho, were hanging on your every word here.

It has three posts in a triangular pattern on the bottom of it, and a fourth post in the center of the three posts. Th three posts are labeled Battery, Ignition, and Accessory. The fourth post is in the center and not labeled anything. It has three stayed positions and one retracting position.

One sec and I will get pics.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Chief Smackaho

It has three posts in a triangular pattern on the bottom of it, and a fourth post in the center of the three posts. Th three posts are labeled Battery, Ignition, and Accessory. The fourth post is in the center and not labeled anything. It has three stayed positions and one retracting position.

One sec and I will get pics.

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put 12v to the bat. post, turn sw. all the way over, take a test light and see if one of the other post lights up on what you think is start.

Good idea. It has got to be that center post that he can't see any writing on.


Don

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

Good idea. It has got to be that center post that he can't see any writing on.


Don

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cant see why they would make the center post the start post. that should be bat. post

That's why I was asking him where he got the switch. It almost sounds like some after market switch made for like a boat or maybe an ATV. I really want to see the picture he is going to post.


Don

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

That's why I was asking him where he got the switch. It almost sounds like some after market switch made for like a boat or maybe an ATV. I really want to see the picture he is going to post.


Don

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me to.????**)

While I'm waiting I've got to go switch my laundry load. Ah, the life of a bachelor is so glamorous. But at least I can put my feet up on the coffee table and nobody complains.:D :D :D :D :D :D

Don

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

While I'm waiting I've got to go switch my laundry load. Ah, the life of a bachelor is so glamorous. But at least I can put my feet up on the coffee table and nobody complains.:D :D :D :D :D :D

Don

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i kinda like this old married life.

Funny.:LOL: :LOL: :LOL: :LOL: Yeah, I was married for 28 years, and then lived with a girlfriend after that for 7 more, so I'm kind of enjoying finally having some time for just me. But I do miss certain things..............................like laundry.:D :D :D :D :D


Don

I think the Chief went to bed on us.

The post with a connector on it is the "Bat" post, to the left of it is the "Ign" post, and below all is "Acc" post. The labels are not stick on, they are molded in.


http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7-11-06006.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7-11-06009.jpg

And here is a pic of the Ignition with the label.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i2...7-11-06005.jpg

i dont know what that center post is. i'd check it the way i said before.:HMMM:

I think it's a pretty good bet the center one is start, but do what Mike suggested, it will take just a minute to do, and then you will know for sure.

Looks like you are building this thing to last.:D :D :D :D


Don

[quote=Itoldyouso]I think it's a pretty good bet the center one is start, but do what Mike suggested, it will take just a minute to do, and then you will know for sure.

Looks like you are building this thing to last.:D :D :D :D

i agree, if he ever get it started it will be right. :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Itoldyouso

I think it's a pretty good bet the center one is start, but do what Mike suggested, it will take just a minute to do, and then you will know for sure.

Looks like you are building this thing to last.:D :D :D :D


Don

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I'm going to try that, and yes I'm building it the best way I can.:D

this old man has played out, get the chief going Itoldyouso. let us know what happens chief. **) :D

I will keep you guys up on it for sure. If I get this all going I will also give a parts and part number list as well as a Diagram for wiring this up. Basically a "How To" for anyone in the future who wants to build one. so far I have got about $60 in the wiring and al of the connections.

That's a good idea about posting exactly how you did it. I like doing that too, because someone out there will benefit from seeing the post.


By the way, it took me a while to figure out your user name. Funny.:LOL: :LOL: :LOL:


Don

OK I tested it with the battery hooked to the "Battery" post on the ignition and the multimeter showed 13 volts only when I turned the key. SUCCESS!! thank you guys:D You were right, the bottom center post IS start.... I wonder why they gave no indication what it was?

But I still have the dilemma of my other question, my diagram for the manufacturer shows that the brown from the alternator to Start AND Run, and the Purple from the starter goes to Start. Now, if I hook it up like this I will have to make both wires contact each other at all times. Won't this engage the starter as soon as I mount this, and constantly thereafter?

Isn't the point of wiring them separate to keep them from contacting until I turn the key to close that circuit in order to engage the starter? I'm thinking if I wire them together it blows that point BUT, If I don't will I still get power to the coil when I turn it over to start the engine.

This is why I don't like wiring,.... GRRRRRRRRR!!

Nothing goes to the "start" post except the wire to the solenoid. The large wire from the alternator goes direct to your battery, not switched, post #1 on alt. is switched through the amp light, post #2 can be connected directly to power. This all assumes a GM internal regulator alternator.

yeah it's an internal reg, Ok cool so I'm wiring it up right. That's the way I was going to try it first.

Great! you guys have been SOOOOOO helpful on this! Thank you so very much!

I do have another question,.... I want to connect an LED I have to the 12v wire going to the coil so I can see instantly if I'm getting power to the coil.
Would it be ok if I tapped into it at the podium out of the ignition and grounded it there on the podium, or will it ground out the power prematurely?

Is there a better way to connect in to the wire for power verification?