Larry,
You got it right. Additionally, while the alternator may still be connected
to the battery, hitting your kill switch (assuming its otherwise like a
master
hot lead disconnect to ignition, etc) opens the ignition...no
ignition...engine shuts down...alternator stops spinning. All this takes
only a second or so.
Cheers,
Bill Sohl
----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Young" <cartravel@pobox.com>
To: "Mark J. Bradakis" <mjb@autox.team.net>
Cc: <fot@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 9:21 AM
Subject: Re: Kill Switches
>I may be confused on this thread. My alternator's output is wired to the
>positive battery terminal. When I flip the kill switch, the battery and
>alternator are still connected, but they're isolated from the rest of the
>system. If the alternator is still spinning, then it will still be happily
>charging the battery. Even if they weren't connected, wouldn't the voltage
>regulator handle it?
>
> Mark J. Bradakis wrote:
>
>>Hypothetical situation #1: You wired in a simple two post kill switch in
>>a car running an alternator. The tech inspector requests that you
>>demonstrate
>>that the kill switch works, so you fire up the motor, he flips the switch
>>and
>>your alternator explodes in a shower of sparks because the current
>>generated
>>by the still spinning alternator has no place to go.
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