Alternator Diode Limiting Factor?

Hey there guys, I have installed My H.E.I and it is running good, i noticed from a previous owner that the wire coming from the alternator, ( i have the 3 wire setup) the one that i think is red out of the plastic clip has a diode on it, I understand why it is there to help with feedback issues, I also have a volt meter in the Jeep, no light is hooked up to it, is this a limiting factor for the power going through this for the H.E.I? or has the P.o installed this wrong, if I remember correctly the red wire number 1 or 2 cant remember, went from the alt to the balast resistor, I have bypassed the balast resistor but that is where the H.E.I is getting its power from just have the wires hooked up to 1 side of it and used the screw connector to make it easy. im just rying to figure out if this is hooked up wrong or not???

 

no one????

 

balcted to t
a

 

http://earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27773&highlight=alternator+wiring

 

Jim thanks for the reply, I guess what im most curious about is the H.E.I requires a 12 gauge wire on the switched side, now if i have the diode right in the middle if this 12 gauge wire wont this be a bottleneck as far as current flowing through it? ??

 

Depends on the size ( Wattage ) of the diode. To small will get real hot.

 

i see, guess i better check and make sure they did not just get the first one they saw..... what Wattage should i get?

 

In my opinion, there shouldn't be a diode in the power wire for the HEI
it's not needed
the feedback is from the alt, not HEI
the diode would need to be installed only if the engine won't shut off with the key, and would be installed on one of the alt wires.
the diode is simply a one-way device; let's current go thru one direction
only, not both ways

 

search turned up this discussion
http://earlycj5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8868&highlight=alternator+diode