<VV> Alternator question

[JVHRoberts at aol.com]

Gotcha, my squeamishness comes from getting bitten by an alternator on a  
test stand, no battery, 3450 RPM, and it was pumping out over 100 volts! There  
may be no field excitation, but there was enough magnetism in the rotor to zap  
my unsuspecting behind! A clip lead to ground stopped it, and that 16 gage 
wire  didn't even get warm. 
The diodes in most automotive alternators have a reverse breakdown  voltage 
of well under 100 volts, usually 50 volts peak inverse. 
 
In a message dated 4/11/2006 6:38:46 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,  
hyarnell1 at earthlink.net writes:

Not sure  this is a concern. Since there's no field excitation, there should 
be no  output.
That said, I still would be sqeamish shorting the output. Just  leave it 
unhooked; no shorts, or hookups.

Harry Yarnell
Perryman  Garage and Orphanage
hyarnell1 at earthlink.net
----- Original Message  ----- 
From: "Frank DuVal" <corvairduval at cox.net>
To:  <JVHRoberts at aol.com>
Cc: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>;  <akinzelm at greatnortherncorp.com>
Sent: Tuesday, April 11, 2006 6:31  PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Alternator question


>  NO!!!!
>
> If the alternator does produce current for any reason,  and it should not 
> with no field circuit, then you have shorted the  output! This will cause 
> failure in short  (also no pun intended,  but it works!) order.
>
> Never short the output of a generator or  alternator unless you want smoked 
> parts. Especially a generator since  they will self excite under most 
>  circumstances.