Alternator wiring

[BobW]

Alternator question, does the small 2 wire plug operate anything but the GEN idiot light? My new alternator has the blades in a horizontal orientation, and there is a pigtail available to fit it. But everything I find say it only operates the idiot light and I can leave the leads off, and won't effect the voltage/charge gauge on my digital dash.

[Jason]

If the alternator has been converted to a one wire set up then you don’t connect the two small wires. If it has not been converted then those wires should be connected. One would be a sensing wire connected to plus side of battery. The other is for the idiot light but does serve as an “exciter” to turn on the alternator. this is connected to ignition power but you can use a resistor or diode in-line to replace the light bulb. There is debate whether diode or resistor is better however. When my son and I updated the alternator on his 73 J20 Jeep we just used a small light.  

[BobW]

After a lot of research (Google!) on multiple forums, I ended up connecting the red wire from the plug to the output post on the alternator. I then connected the blue wire from the original wiring (ignition hot) to the white wire on the new plug. It works great and shows increase in output as load is added.