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-----Original Message-----
From: James Shanks <n1vbn@bit-net.com>
To: Military Vehicles List <mil-veh@uller.skylee.com>
Date: 15 January 2000 07:04
Subject: Re: [MV] CUCV alternator light turning on when started
>
> Just remember that if the idiot light in the dash will not come on
>it possibly is burned out. The current to supply the fields in the
>alternator to create power so as to be selfexciting comes through the itty
>bitty idiot dash light.
>
James is quite right and this is a real catch. The initial rotor excitation
(magnetic field) is generated by the tiny current through the warning light, if
that bulb pops you can spin the alternator until hell freezes over and nothing
will come out of it.
The light is a quite good health check of the alternator though since to light
it has to pass current into one rotor slip ring, through the rotor winding, out
of the other ring, and through the integral regulator electronics including the
high current field control transistor. If the bulb is good something is very
wrong with the alternator itself but hopefully only a worn and replaceable field
brush.
Richard
(Southampton UK)
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