<VV> Re: VirtualVairs Digest, Vol 15, Issue 54

[JVHRoberts at aol.com]

The current, although small, isn't trivial, especially when the diodes  break 
over in reverse bias mode. VERY few diodes that aren't built for that  
survive. 
 
In a message dated 4/12/2006 8:12:32 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  pp2 at 6007.us 
writes:

>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.

I wouldn't. With no field (the small wires), there might be some  voltage 
but there will be no current behind it. Worst case for an  alternator is 
to  charging a dead battery (high load) and someone  pulls the battery, 
voltage can exceed 200 v and will have a punch behind  it.

Ran a number of tests while a GMI student with Delco-Remy that lead  to the 
SCCA requirement for a dual pole kill switch that disconnects both  the 
battery and the alternator.

Padgett