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One-Wire Generator

Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=209813
Printed Date: 21 Jan 2026 at 10:35pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: One-Wire Generator
Posted By: Les Kerf
Subject: One-Wire Generator
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2026 at 8:21pm
No, that is not a typo, this gadget truly is a one-wire generator.



I have several old generators (thanks ORBill) that I am finally getting around to testing. This unit is a third-brush type and has no provisions whatsoever for controlling the field current; a quick google search for the part number 943U shows that it is for a 1931-34 Studebaker. Some further searching led me to a Studebaker forum where I found schematics that clearly show this generator having only one wire leading from the armature to the cutout relay.

The amazing thing is that it actually works! I realize that I am probably the last person on earth to learn that this was at one time state of the art technology, but I have always been a bit slow on the uptake Embarrassed


8 Volts at ~8 amps Cool



My high tech generator test bench



Replies:
Posted By: steve(ill)
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2026 at 9:16pm
never heard of one wire gen ...



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Like them all, but love the "B"s.


Posted By: Les Kerf
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2026 at 10:01pm
Originally posted by steve(ill) steve(ill) wrote:

never heard of one wire gen ...

Reckon I ain't never heerd'a sech neither Big smile But thar 'tis, right at the bottom of the diagram. The third brush picks off the field current from the armature, and the circuit is completed inside the generator by being grounded through the thermostat gizmo.

Whereas our familiar Allis-Chalmers charging systems give us the choice of manually selecting a high charge of ~10 Amps or a low charge rate of ~3 Amps, this unit simply provides a fixed charging rate of ~8 Amps depending on where the third brush is adjusted. The only other control is the thermostat which I presume to break the field circuit if it gets too hot.





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