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Old 11-06-2017, 10:48 AM   #10
jrelliott
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Pine, AZ
Posts: 792
Default Re: Alternator issue

I agree with others, you have a shorted diode in the alternator. There are three sets of diodes for each of the three phases coming out of the alternator and you are only getting two thirds of the potential output.
If you have a single wire alternator, 6 or 12 Volt, there is a small current drain in the alternator when you have turned everything off. Just remember to pull the fuse when you stop for a while.
The generator cut out only connected the generator to the battery when the generator was putting out sufficient voltage to pick the relay in the cut out. But you did not have voltage regulation only the third brush to change the charging current. Modern alternators have a built in regulator to control the field current based on the voltage and current required to keep the vehicle going and charging the battery.
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