Alternator drain

[dzorde]

Right on the mark.  You will also find that most alternators (60's upwards)
will be self exciting above 1400rpm (roughly) if the alternator light is not
there (ie. the globe is blown).  Fred (I think you were the one with the
twin setup in your truck), it is a generator you have (I'm pretty sure I've
seen similar on old Mazdas and Nissans), although mabye it should be thought
of as a dynamo instead.

Dan     dzorde at geocities.com

>The startup current is usually the current that runs through the 
>"charge" indicator in the dashboard. Once the ignition is on, the charge 
>lamp has battery voltage on one side, and is connected to the field on 
>the other. The lamp current will run through the field windings and to 
>ground (via the regulator). One the alternator is running and charging, an 
>extra set of diodes will provide the field voltage, and the charge lamp 
>will see full voltage on both side, i.e. no current will flow.
>
>Egil
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