Author	[Modern View]
Owen Aaland 01-25-2013 02:39:05 216.47.34.216 Report to Moderator	Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Actually this set up might be the best of both worlds. The resistor will provide protection in case the battery to alternator wire becomes an open circuit which would cause the alternator output to all be on the #1 terminal circuit. The diode would provide a low resistance path to allow for a lower start up speed for the alternator. [Reply]   [No Email]
Owen Aaland 01-26-2013 02:01:00 216.47.32.228 Report to Moderator	Re: alternator diode question in reply to Owen Aaland, 01-25-2013 02:39:05   [quote="Indiana Ken"](quoted from post at 10:11:52 01/25/13) Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see It is basically a solution in search of a problem that you are not likely to ever see. It really only applies if the alternator wire on the #2 terminal is connected remotely such as at the starter solenoid instead of the alternator output terminal. Connected remotely gives better control over the battery voltage than having it connected at the alternator. Connect them in parallel. When starting the diode will provide low resistance to energize the alternator. It will also prevent any current from flowing back to the switch which ensures that the switch can control the power to the coil. The problem with having only a diode in the circuit to energize the alternator is if the wire between the alternator output and the battery should become open all the current would be fed through the #1 terminal back to the switch. With no path back to the sensing wire the alternator voltage will rise until it destroys the alternator. The resistor allows some of the current to flow back through the circuit so the sensing wire can still control the voltage but limit the current to prevent over loading the circuit. [Reply]  [No Email]