Alternator wiring, Had to do something today Options

[smrz914]

So I finally did something on my 914 v8. I couldn't stand not doing at least something on my car. There have been to many progress threads and then meeting club people at Parts Heaven today I had to get my fix (even if I didn't get enough of the fix). I want to do more work. I hooked up the idiot light. The alternator is a AC Delco 7127 that is internally regulated, 3-wire alternator.

wires:
1. Ground
2. Positive battery
3. Idiot light (#1 terminal on alternator)
4. #2 trerminal wire on alternator just goes to the positive post on the alternator. (not counted as a wire)

(IMG:http://www.rowand.net/Shop/Tech/images/AlternatorWiringOverview-1973to1985Buick.jpg)

For my 72 the idiot light wire is green/red. If you still have the relay board then the green/red wire goes to the number 5 spot (according to Haynes) and leaves the relay board as a green/red wire. I don't have a relay board so I just extened the green/red wire to the alternator. Maybe this can help someone with their v8.

[lapuwali]

I've never used a GM regulator, but that wiring diagram looks bizarre to me. The Bosch, Lucas, and Japanese internally regulated alternators all have a much simpler setup, where there's only the one fat wire to the + terminal on the battery, and one thin lead to the lamp, with the other terminal on the lamp going to switched +12. 100% of the field current then flows through the lamp until the alternator is self-energizing, when the lamp goes out as the voltage will now be equal on both sides.

Why the second thin lead from the regulator to unswitched +12? Why the bypass wire around the lamp?