one-wire alternator question

[BobB66SS]

OK, having a brain cramp. I have a polished aluminum one-wire alternator that's mounted by aluminum clear coated March brackets to aluminum heads. No connections to anything steel or iron. In that case, do I need to run a ground wire from the alternator to a ground?

[daygoslow]

i would say definately yes. you can never have too many grounds. i had an factory style alternator maounted to a powdercoated serpentine set-up w/ aluminum heads. my alternator worked for a couple of days then nothing. it baffled me for a while but it all turned out to be a bad ground due to the powder coating. i ran a ground wire from the back of the alternator to one of my motor mount bolts, been problem free ever since.

[buns]

Aluminum will conduct electricity just as well as steel, it's just not magnetic. In fact, back in the 'good old days', many houses used aluminum wiring. Until a short circuit caused the aluminum to melt............and caused a fire.

[Dwfastcam]

You do not need a ground bro! Bun is right on! and the alt. contains enough metal to ground itself anyway.

[6'9"Witha69]

(snip)and the alt. contains enough metal to ground itself anyway.

No. the alt needs a ground whether it is a 1 wire self excited job or a 3 wire. The circuit must be completed regardless of the mass in and around the alternator itself.

[Dwfastcam]

You are correct 69. I believe that I did not properly explain myself. A one wire self exciter alt/3wire alt, will ground through bracketry mounted to head/block/frame. Sounds like Bobs only issue is sanding the powder coating from the brackety bossing that bolts to the block/head. (as long as the block is strapped to frame/body) No real need to run an extra ground wire from alt.bracket bolt directly to a ground source unless you like extra wires.

[BobB66SS]

Thanks for the feedback, guys. It's what I expected. The brackets for this serpentine setup mount across the full width of the head. If you've used or seen March brackets it looks like they're dipped in clearcoat. Might actually be easier to run an add'l ground lead off the lower bolt on the back of the alternator down to a ground than to try to remove that coating. I can hide the wire with no trouble, I hate exposed wiring.