On Tue, 24 Jun 1997 21:35:48 EDT mgbob@juno.com (ROBERT G. HOWARD)
writes:
>Rick,
> Here's another request for information and correction. It has been
>my "knowledge" that a generator could energise itself, and so could
>run the car without a battery in the circuit, but that an alternator
>required an outside source of voltage to energise its fields, thus a
>battery with some tiny amount of power was required. True/not true?
>Bob Howard
>MGBob @ juno.com
Bob,
The answer is yes and no. Some alternators do require a small current
to energize the alternator. Some I can think of off hand are early 80's
Delco (though they could be fitted with a "self energizing" regulator ),
many Japanese alternators and some FoMoCo units. I'm sure there are
others.
But the Lucas 16A will "Pull itself up by the bootstraps" and charge
without a battery (or a completely dead battery) in the circuit. Thus,
with a completely flat battery, the car can be push started.
And I think it's safe to say that we've all been there, done that (or
if we haven't, we haven't been an LBC owner long enough - just wait, it's
coming)
Rick Morrison
72 MGBGT
74 Midget
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