In a message dated 97-10-30 11:43:54 EST, worsley@ebicom.net writes:
> James Charles Ruwaldt wrote:
> >
> > I understand all that, but why do we call them "alternators", when they
> > produce direct current?
> > Jim Ruwaldt
In reply, Joe Worsley wrote:
> They are really 3 phase AC generators. The stator winding produces the
> AC when the rotor magnetic field cuts the stator windings. The output is
> fed to a 3 phase rectifier to produce the DC.
Jim, Joe, and others:
I have just written an article on how alternators work - hopefully detailed
enough to be of benefit but not requiring electrical expertise to understand
- which Ken Streeter is in the proces of publishing on the VTR web site. This
article explains, with diagrams, how the three phase AC is produced and
converted to DC.
It also explains what the warning light means, and how the output is
controlled. I hope it will be of benefit to the group.
I also wrote an article on the differences betwwen ballast and non-ballast
coils, and how to convert from from a ballast to a non-ballast coil. Ken has
already posted this article, and it can be found on the maintanance page, if
anyone has an interest in this subject. Other articles are in the works.
Dan Masters,
Alcoa, TN
'71 TR6---------3000mile/year driver, fully restored
'71 TR6---------undergoing full restoration and Ford 5.0 V8 insertion - see:
http://www.sky.net/~boballen/mg/Masters/
'74 MGBGT---3000mile/year driver, original condition
'68 MGBGT---organ donor for the '74
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