What SU stands for

[Andrew W. Macfadyen]

Lucas real weakness was alternator; the ACR series tended to have a 40k mile life
without a rebuild partly the fault of the car manufacturers who under sized the
unit to cut costs and tried to compensate by using a smaller pullley to spin the
alternator faster. . Main land european cars tended to use much  higher rated
units. Most UK cars used a 35ACR   a 35 amp  rated alternator where a   German car
of the same size would use a 45 amp unit.  Worst was the UK version of the Chevette
only  had a 25 amp alternator -- it would fail to   meet the demand by about 5 amps
with all the lights and heated rear window on.
Starter were much the same the car manufacturers always under specified  for the
engine.

mrvette wrote:

> But, gentlemen, gentlemen, lest we forget...Lighting by Lucas....prince of
> darkness...?   :-)))     GENE
>
> Chris Morriss wrote:
> >
> > In message <359C9480.DEFE1A4 at post.almac.co.uk>, "Andrew W. Macfadyen"
> > <am018 at post.almac.co.uk> writes
> > >Lucas Aerospace make the control systems for the world finest aeroengines,
> > >Lucas don't make auto-electrics or wiring and haven't done so for many years
> > >they sold that part of the business to Magneti-Marelli   which is pity
> > >because have ever dealt with the electrics on a Fiat. Now if you want really
> > >bad electrics buy a French car.
> > >
> > >
> > Yep, quite right there Andy.  My Alpine GTA has a wire that changes its
> > colour five times at connectors when going from an engine sensor (at the
> > back) to the dashboard.  I much prefer the UK method of denoting the
> > function of a wire by its colour(s).
> > (I guess other countries have colour defined functionality of automotive
> > wiring as well......just not the French!)
> > --
> > Chris Morriss