[Alpines] alternator relay rating ..

[Steven L. Finberg]

Hi Barry

My error,  the field cut out relay is stock but is not in my driver...

It is also part of the   bass aquaward Lucas set up.  
All it does is connect the alternator field to 12 V
when ever the ignition is on.  If I recall corectly the field current is 
<5A ( I don't have the alpine books here... )  Measure the 
field resistance between the 2 narrow terminals of the connector.
The max field current will be ~ 14.5V / field resistance.
All this relay does is to reduce the current flowing in the ignition switch.

Aside from requiring this relay and having a complicated warning light circuit
which modern alternators do not.. The Lucas circuit has one other serious 
flaw,  If perchance you leave the ignition on without the 
alternator turning...  It dosen't put out any charging current.. which
causes the regulator to command maximun field current, which heats up the 
field winding without any cooling ... which burns the field out....  
You are warned...

Steve F

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Steve Finberg                        W1GSL                       w1gsl at mit.edu
PO Box 397082 MIT Br        Cambridge MA  02139-7082              617 258 3754
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