<VV> Re: Delcotrons - some corvair

[JVHRoberts at aol.com]

Actually, rectifying 3 phase current, (virutally all automotive alternators  
are 3 phase) gives you remarkably smooth DC. Lose a diode, and it gets VERY  
noisy. In fact, if you can hear the whine in the radio, you've probably lost a  
diode. 
 
In a message dated 2/16/2006 8:43:10 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,  pp2 at 6007.us 
writes:

>My  63 Chebby (full-sized) had an alternator

Hokay folks. All Delcotrons  (R) are AC generators (as opposed to DC 
generators) in that they generate  alternating current. The also have a 
diode bridge inside to convert the AC  into a very noisy DC that uses the 
battery as a big capacitor to filter.  In the 70's and 80's there were 
devices available to turn a Delcotron into  a 110v ac source.

In general, ac generators are much lighter and more  compact than dc. There 
is nothing new (even when the Corvair was  introduced) about ac generators, 
in the late 1880s, Edison and Tesla were  in massive competition about which 
would be used at Niagara Falls. See  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_of_Currents . Am sure there will be more  
on the subject than you ever wanted to know available at this year's  
Convention.