Questions about installing a Podtronics unit in '66 Atlas

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Jan 23, 2019
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Hello all,

I am installing a Podtronics unit in my '66 Atlas (positive earth) (2 wire alternator) and am confused (not a stretch) by the instructions.

Alternator has two wires coming out:
1. Green/Yellow (goes straight to #5 position of light switch, does not go to rectifier)
2. White/Green (goes to rectifier)

Rectifier has:
1. White/Green (from alternator),
2. Brown/White (which goes to Zener then to the Ammeter and #2 position of light switch)
3. Green/Black (goes straight to #7 position of light switch)
4. Red (goes to ground)

Podtronics instructions say to attach:
1. Pod yellow to Green/White from alternator
2. Pod yellow to Green/Yellow from alternator
3. Pod Red to ground
4. Pod Black to Brown/White

#1, 3 and 4 of the Pod instructions are straighforward. However, I am confused by #2, because by attaching the Pod yellow to the Green/Yellow from the alternator, I will be detaching the Green/Yellow wire that runs straight to the #5 position on the light switch.
Also, the Green/Black wire, that once went from the rectifier to the #7 switch position, will be attached to nothing as well.

Are these wires now superfluous? Am I missing something here? Just want to be sure before I fry something.
Thanks!
Sean
 
Hi Sean, I have recently rebuilt a '66 Atlas and run into the same problem add to the fact that the new wiring loom i had had the extra wiring for the early 3 wire alternator, anyway do not wire your stator to the light switch, this was a facility for a 3 wire stator to control the charge rate, with the 2 wire stator the podtronics controls the charge rate, originally I wired the stator to the switch but had back feeding problems when the engine was running.
 
Sean,

The wires to the switch will be superfluous with the Podtronics. As possm says, they are for regulating the 3 wire alternator via the main lighting switch. I simply abandoned them in place.

Slick
 
Hi Sean, I have recently rebuilt a '66 Atlas and run into the same problem add to the fact that the new wiring loom i had had the extra wiring for the early 3 wire alternator, anyway do not wire your stator to the light switch, this was a facility for a 3 wire stator to control the charge rate, with the 2 wire stator the podtronics controls the charge rate, originally I wired the stator to the switch but had back feeding problems when the engine was running.
Thank you, Possm! I appreciate your quick reply. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't setting myself up for a disaster!
Cheers, Sean
 
Hello all,

I am installing a Podtronics unit in my '66 Atlas (positive earth) (2 wire alternator) and am confused (not a stretch) by the instructions.

Alternator has two wires coming out:
1. Green/Yellow (goes straight to #5 position of light switch, does not go to rectifier)
2. White/Green (goes to rectifier)

Rectifier has:
1. White/Green (from alternator),
2. Brown/White (which goes to Zener then to the Ammeter and #2 position of light switch)
3. Green/Black (goes straight to #7 position of light switch)
4. Red (goes to ground)

Podtronics instructions say to attach:
1. Pod yellow to Green/White from alternator
2. Pod yellow to Green/Yellow from alternator
3. Pod Red to ground
4. Pod Black to Brown/White

#1, 3 and 4 of the Pod instructions are straighforward. However, I am confused by #2, because by attaching the Pod yellow to the Green/Yellow from the alternator, I will be detaching the Green/Yellow wire that runs straight to the #5 position on the light switch.
Also, the Green/Black wire, that once went from the rectifier to the #7 switch position, will be attached to nothing as well.

Are these wires now superfluous? Am I missing something here? Just want to be sure before I fry something.
Thanks!
Sean
Not an Atlas, but I have a 1960 Model 50 that I added a Podtronics unit on back around 2000. Pretty simple job. The alternator wiring is straight forward and do as you described. Red goes to ground (doh). Black is the DC feed to your system. Connect it to the battery. The rectifier is gone, so eliminate the wire to the lighting switch. The lighting switch connects this wire to the alternator. Eliminate that too. Be certain to mount the Podtronics unit in the air stream. I mounted mine to the underside of the tool tray.
 
Sean,

The wires to the switch will be superfluous with the Podtronics. As possm says, they are for regulating the 3 wire alternator via the main lighting switch. I simply abandoned them in place.

Slick
Thanks Slick!!!
 
Not an Atlas, but I have a 1960 Model 50 that I added a Podtronics unit on back around 2000. Pretty simple job. The alternator wiring is straight forward and do as you described. Red goes to ground (doh). Black is the DC feed to your system. Connect it to the battery. The rectifier is gone, so eliminate the wire to the lighting switch. The lighting switch connects this wire to the alternator. Eliminate that too. Be certain to mount the Podtronics unit in the air stream. I mounted mine to the underside of the tool tray.
Thanks Dave! Appreciate it.
 
Update: after going for a couple long rides I feel able to say that my battery is getting charged! The addition of the Podtronics unit is successful. Thanks again for your responses and explanations. They made me more comfortable when the instructions were lacking.
 
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